Toss Up: Lost vs, Wait, Where's Veronica Mars?

After six weeks, Lost finally returned this week with an episode dedicated to the most interesting of the tailies, the mysterious Mr. Eko. His episode became pretty predictable after the first flashback making clear that he had something to do with the downed Nigerian plane that Locke and Boone found last year. The rub though being that Eko was supposed to be on the plane but was double crossed twice, first by his brother who tipped off the military and again by his associate who decided to take the drugs himself. What I found out with this whole situation was why the military was so eager to gun down Eko’s brother yet treated Eko with respect?

Much like Ana Lucia, and unlike the first flashback from the originals, Eko’s flashback doesn’t explain why he ended up on the plane but I think it is easy to assume that Eko was in search of his brother and had a layover in Australia. Although if you are in Nigeria, wouldn’t it be faster to reach Los Angeles going West? Unfortunately Mapquest doesn’t have a fastest route between the two. But Anyways. I also think the producer missed out on a great storyline and ended up having Eko’s brother survive the crash and then find his way to the third bunker or be captured by the Other because he is a “good” guy.

The big new from last night was that we finally got a better look at the monster which we have only see once before which could be pointed to as when the show started to lose it’s luster. All throughout season one, the monster was this huge mystical entity that could easily mutilate a human and tear down trees. Then in the finale, the crazy French chick mentioned it was the island’s security system and when we got a look at it, the monster turned out to be black smoke. But that was just a quick glance and last night we got a longer look at, and inside the monster. So apparently the monster is a fan of traveling vessels because it has shown up near the front of plane, near the Black Rock (the slave ship), and near the Nigerian plane. Then the only other time I can remember the monster showing up was when he met up with Locke. So we learned nothing about the monster unless you believe those who saw people from Eko’s past when the camera went inside it (click picture below to make larger).




Elsewhere on the island we learned a little more about Charlie and his statue. Apparently he has been hording the heroin filled statue so it is very possible he has been using again. But I do like the battle between his youth as an alter boy as represented by the Virgin Mary with his adult life of drub abuse to his current link to is currently encased inside the statue. Also we get to see more of Michael and (presumably) Walt’s primitive IM conversation. This just seemed to be filler until the next episode where Michael takes off with a gun to find his boy.

As for Veronica Mars, it was preempted for the soon to be canceled South Beach. Hasn’t UPN leaned anything from Hawaii, North Shore, and The Mountain that beautiful people in exotic locations with poor acting and worse stories fail miserably? And having Jennifer Lopez as a producer can’t help things. Luckily this is only for a week and wee get one more repeat of Veronica Mars before a new episode featuring the Zena the Warrior Princess as an FBI agent. There are quite a few reasons she could making an appearance in Neptune: the fleeing Big Dick, the missing sex tape, the bus crash, the dead dude with Veronica’s name on his hand, and the rarely mentioned Amelia DeLongpre who was last seen being discovered by Veronica and Clarence Weidman in a hotel ice machine. And of course there is also a chance that there is something new on the horizon.

They Say Misery Loves Company

The first thing I do everyday when I fire up the computer and hop onto the internet is to check out ESPN.com, which is my homepage, to check out the main headlines and have the page customized so it also has the top headlines for my favorite team then quickly answer the current poll. But this only takes a couple seconds as I then spend the majority of my time on Page 2 of the site which is basically editorials by some great writers like Bill Simmons and Dan Shanoff who writes the Daily Quickie which is basically a one person, written version of Pardon the Interruption (who rudely reminded me that today is the annaversary of The Drive). But when I open Page 2 yesterday, this image was staring back at me:



Needless to say as a Browns fan I found the cartoon as painful as the guy in it must felt. The cartoon goes along with Page 2's NFL Misery Index where they rated each team on six criteria to determine which NFL team's fan has suffered the most. Of course my hometown team topped the list beating the Saints out by a whole point and the Houston Oilers/Texans by almost five points. (On a side note, I thought the Oilers turned into the Titans, did I miss something?) But things could have been worse because I think they low-balled the Browns on some of the categories like recent pain was only a 6.0. In the past ten years we had a team unceremoniously move going four years without a team only to come back to be mired in bad drafts and bad coaching. Then in our one playoff appearance, our rivaPittsburghrg came back from behind to beat us for the third time that year. It should at least warrant a 9.0. They then end the Browns section with "Lousy teams, painful losses, a hijacked team. Sheesh. The only thing missing from the Browns' misery is Kathy Bates' crushing their ankles with a sledgehammer." Ouch, that really hurts.

To add to the misery, Page 2 also released its 25 NFL Misery Moments and indeed the Browns had multiple entrees including the top spot. And it is insulting that we had to share the top spot with the Baltimore Colts because Baltimore ended up getting our team and promptly won a Super Bowl. Then we showed up again at number five with The Fumble. Somehow The Drive didn't make the list even though I found it more miserable to watch than The Fumble.

And in an updated MLB Misery Index, my Houston Astros still in the top ten most miserable landing in at number seven. I should really think about picking new teams (as the St. Louis Blues haven't had thatsuccessucsess in my lifetime and outright stink this year). And while on the subject of the Astros, for anyone interested on what is going to happen to Roger Clemens this season, here is the most logical scenerio I can think of. This does hinge on USA not winning the World Baseball Championship so Clemens cannot go out on top there. So because the Astro did go through arbitration to keep Clemens and are unable to sign him until May. Clemens will take the first month off because he will need rest from the WBC anyways. Then when May comes around he will sign with Astros and have a couple warm up games in the minors where he will pitch to his son who was drafted as a catcher by the Astros in last years draft pitching for the big league team by June which will then boost the Astros into contention after yet another poor start eventually reaching the playoffs and hopefully with Preston Wilson and another bat they pick up along the way and win the World Series thus bolting then into double digets for next years Misery Index.

First Impressions - Emily's Reasons Way Not

After years of airing the iconic Monday Night Football on the first day of the week, ABC said goodbye to the football giant two weeks ago. And how to you replace the biggest draw among men? Well apparently ABC believes by bringing Rollergirl, Uncle Jesse, and The Bachelor, which I thought got canceled after the Jerry O'Connell’s brother debacle, is the answer. Even though it’s very doubtful any guy watched any of this lineup, I braved my way through Rollergirl’s attempt at television, Emily’s Reasons Why Not.

The show itself utilizes narration to guide the show. And if that sounds familiar, it should as every new sitcom does it, and for those keeping track at home that includes My Name Is Earl, Everybody Hates Chris, How I Met Your Mother, The War at Home, and I wouldn’t be surprised if I were missing some. But what sets Emily’s Reasons Why Not apart is ERWN is 75% narration which could be good because I believe Heather Graham should be seen and not heard. But when it’s Graham doing the narration, it really defeats the purpose. As for Graham herself, lets face it, the girl cannot act. Yeah she’s okay when playing a dirty dirty slut (see Boogie Nights and Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me) but can anyone name another movie she’s been good in? Didn’t think so.

The appearance of Mark Valley was also painful to watch to see how low he has had to stoop after Fox unceremoniously canceled the brilliant Keen Eddie (mmm, why does this sounds familiar, oh yeah, check out Won’t Be Fooled Again). I bet Fox now wishes they didn’t prematurely pull the plug now considering the show also featured the then unknown Sienna Miller who now routinely appears on tabloid covers and E! But anyways.

As poor of an actress that Heather Graham, the writing doesn’t help either. It took me forever to figure out what the Reasons Why Not were, and when I finally figured it out I wish I hadn’t. Apparently once Emily figured out five reasons why not to date a guy, she then dumps him. This will be the basis of the rest of the shows: Emily meets a dude, figured out five reasons, dumps him and repeat. The first unlucky guy seems to be gay but turns out he’s Mormon and hilarity doesn’t ensue. Helping her out are a girlfriend who looks like a dud and a gay guy who is nowhere as funny as the gay guy on Will & Grace. Emily also has an antagonist in coworker Glitter Cho, no seriously, that’s the character’s name, but even her catty comments were extremely boring.

Verdict: When does Monday Night Football start up on ESPN? Well not that this show will last that long anyways.

First Impressions - The Book of Daniel

When I first heard about The Book of Daniel it never really appeared on my radar. It sounded too much like Joan of Arcadia with the talking deity and all. I did watch Joan of Arcadia but I wasn’t really up in arms when they canceled the show as the whole talking to God routine was getting stale. But then last week I kept on reading about religious zealots were boycotting the show with a couple NBC affiliates refusing to even air the show. Personally I like to wait until I’ve actually seen something before I condemn it, but that’s just me. Now there is nothing like a little controversy to peek my interest ever since 2 Live Crew became a must own in my childhood after being deemed obscene by the government.

So I ended up taping the show to see what the fuss is about and I have to say I was a little disappointed. Not in the entertainment value but after all the hoopla I was expecting Sodom and Gomorra but it was no where near as bad as most stuff on TV today and I would say Lost, which has won Family Awards, is much more immoral at times. Everything tackled in the double episode has been dealt with many times before on TV including many that are considered family friendly, homosexuality, prescription and illicit drug abuse, drug dealing, inter-racial dating, the couple that brings in dude’s secretary to spice things up in the bedroom. The only thing that the religious fanatics should really be mad about is the mob-catholic church connection. That was the only time I thought the show was pushing it, everything else is dealt with real life brevity sometimes painstakingly so as with grandma’s Alzheimer’s. Those scenes were just painful to watch and always make my heart ache thinking about people that really go through that every day.

The show has a nice blend of well respected actors such as Aidan Quinn as the pill popping priest. Ellen Burstyn is Quinn’s Bishop who likes to mooch on his stash and his dad while Susanna Thompson of Once and Again plays his wife. Then the kids are virtual unknown with the adopted Asian son, the openly gay son (well except grandpa doesn’t know yet), and the weed selling daughter who looks like the blonde version of Thora Birch. The kids really bring most of the entertainment value to the show like when the Asian and gay sons tried to our slur each other at the family dinner. Hayden Panettiere also appears as the daughter of a family that tells the adoptive mom they “don’t want a bunch of Asian kids running around at Christmas” when they find out thing are getting serious between the two teenagers. Of course Panettiere is of importance because my sources tell me she is quickly becoming the next Lindsay Lohan. No not because she’s a former Disney actress who dreams of a singing career, but for her alleged underage drinking, smoking, and partying with Paris Hilton. Somewhere Wilmer Valderrama is practicing pick up-lines.

Sadly the least interesting character is Jesus himself who is no where as entertain as God on Joan of Arcadia. Jesus shows up usually whenever Quinn is thinking about taking one of his pills. This is not to be confused with Denis Leary on Rescue Me when Jesus shows up whenever he thinks about taking a drink. Hopefully he will become more entertaining in future episodes because dude can walk on water; he shouldn’t be too hard to write for.

Verdict: Not as offensive as some my have you believe and is worth a second or third look. But with a 10:00 on Friday timeslot, make sure to set your VCR.

I Got the Shakes That'll Make You Quake

I have to start off this review by saying that I have never seen the 1974 original with Burt Reynolds, who also shows up in the update as the inmates coach, so I can’t compare the two movies. This could be a good thing because most reviews I read always stated how much the first one was better. Granted I can still compare this version to the other Adam Sandler football movie, The Waterboy. It’s odd that no one complained about Sandler playing a linebacker in that movie yet everyone jumped on him for trying to be a quarterback. And he was a washed up one to boot so I really didn’t have a problem with it.

Of course the movie is about the washed up QB in prison but how he gets there is great with cameos by Courtney Cox’s newly enormous breasts and Dan Patrick, who apparently didn’t get the memo that the movie would be set in present day as he instead chose to go with the 70’s gay porn mustache with a dash of the Village People. But from there Sandler is shipped off to a Texan prison where the warden pulled some strings in hope that he would help out with the prison guard’s football team. And what would be better practice for the guards than a little warm up game against a team of inmates.

Even though most of the inmates and guards are played by former football player, pro wrestlers and other non-actors, most of the characters are so well written, it makes up for any lack of acting experience. Ultimate Fighter Bob Sapp is great as the mentally slow Switowski, Michael Irvin in a role before he started holding onto his buddies narcotics plays a con who still doesn’t trust Sandler after selling out his teammates in the NFL, and the giant Dalip Singh English was so bad they had to subtitle everything. As for the guards, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Brian Bosworth, who was always a better actor than football player, but that isn’t saying much, and Bill Romanowski all play their tough guys well but I bet Romo was mad that Stone Cold got to utter the racial slurs and not him. But the standout of the guard is Kevin Nash who even though goes into every cliché conceived is hilarious after the inmates replaced his steroids with estrogen.

But not all the characters are well flashed out. It’s hard to relate to Nelly talking how poor his character is when he has a couple gold teeth and Goldberg one running gag that his, um, chariot swings low, so to speak, gets old before it starts. The cast is filled out with more traditional actors with Chris Rock channeling Morgan Freeman as Caretaker, Terry Crews, who has gone on to play Rock’s dad on Everybody Hates Chris, is hilarious as the cheeseburger dude, as is Nicolas Turturro as the early recruit who is quickly benched as more black inmates show up.

The Longest Yard gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

There's Nothing Wrong With Ohio

One of the biggest stories of the NFL offseason looks like one that has been discussed the last couple years, is Brett Farve going to retire. With the Green Bay Packers dismal performance this season, which looks like it will continue into next, and the recent exit of his coach Mike Sherman, the odds of Farve’s retirement are a lot higher this year. But for football fans of my generation, we have a connection to Brett Farve and believe that the once invincible quarterback still has one more year in him and definitely don’t want him to go out on such a sour note. But since Green Bay is still a couple years until it can be rebuilt, here is idea for Farve to ponder: the Cleveland Browns.

After the debacle that was the Butch Davis era, things look to be turning around this year for new coach Romeo Crennel. First, the O-Line has finally been solid for the first time since the Browns returned which would give Farve more time and won’t have to resort to the wild bombs into triple coverage like he did many time this past season. Also he would have many weapons to throw to. Braylon Edwards, who should be recovered from his knee surgery in time for the 2006 season, and Antonio Bryant could quickly become one of the best tandem WR’s in the league. Plus Dennis Northcutt is always a dangerous third option. Then next season we should finally see the return of Kellen Winslow Jr. who has the possibly of being the TE that Farve really likes targeting especially in the Red Zone. And even if he isn’t a great of a "Soldier" as he claims, Steve Heiden was definitely productive this year.

Also the Browns have finally gotten a workhorse running back in Reuben Droughns that can also take pressure off Favre. Also with a treat through the air, Droughns could get into the endzone more than the two times he made it this past season. So with Farve at the help, the Browns turn into a instant playoff team. This isn’t to knock Trent Dilfer who won’t lose you games, but he won’t win you games like Farve can. And Charlie Frye showed us in the last couple games that he isn’t quite ready to lead a team. So how about it Brett, like a wise man once said, “There's nothing wrong with Ohio, except the snow and the rain.” But playing in Green Bay, you should be used to that. Plus if there are better fans in the NFL than the Cheeseheads, it would be the Dawg Pound.


As for the playoffs that start today, a look back at my preseason pick look to be extremely pathetic (see here, will have to scoll down) with only four of my picks actually making it (Steelers, Colts, Seahawks, Panthers) while my Super Bowl (Falcons) pick is already out of it while some picks finished last in their divisions (Jets, Packers, Eagles). So here are my revised picks:

AFC Title Game: Colts over Denver
NFC Title Game: Seahawks over Bears

Super Bowl: Colts over Seahawks 24-12

There’s nothing like chalk in the playoffs.

First Impressions - Four Kings

This has been a good year for sitcoms. After a good decade without a new good one, this year has seen three very watchable half hour programs that debuted this year. But then again, with all the great sitcoms this year, there still was the absolutely horrible The War at Home. But one of the better new ones, My Name Is Earl along with The Office, was moved to Thursday this week as NBC tries to resurrect its once unbeatable Must See TV lineup which hasn’t been Must See since Friends started to suck, and for those keeping track at home, that would be circa the mid-nineties.

To round out the new all comedy lineup is Will & Grace which I didn’t even realized was still on and is followed by the new Four Kings. The show follows four friends who are now living in an apartment left to one of them by his dead grandmother, who just so happened to coined them the Four Kings. The show stars the werewolf from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and three dudes whose IMDB pages look as impressive as mine, well that’s if I had one. For some reason my appearance on Letterman back in 1994 or the numerous times I was on public access don’t warrant my very own page. But anyways.

Last night started off in earnest with a decent theme song in the Counting Crow’s Hangin' Around. Then it was all downhill from there. There were very few jokes that actually made me laugh, but that could be due to the episode focused around the grandmother’s death and proceeding funeral and I’m not the biggest fan of dead grandma jokes. But that’s just me. Plus everything in the show was even easier to telegraph than Reunion. When the show is advertised as four dudes living together, you knew that the grandson would pick to live his buddies over his girlfriend, or as one of the guys put it “Bro’s over ho’s.” I think that was the first time someone used that phrase since Friends started to suck. Had she actually moved in with the Four Kings that may have made for an interesting show. Seriously, these networks really need to hire me as a consultant.

The only bright spot of the whole episode is when Oz went to break up with his girlfriend, even though I wasn’t really sure why all the guys had to break up with their girlfriends, or personal trainer in one of their cases, don’t ask, it wasn’t funny. But Oz’s confrontation with the twin daughters was hilarious. Sadly, since he broke up with their mother that will most likely be the last we see of them.

Verdict: It’s up against Survivor and Smallville, so even if it were remotely good, I still wouldn’t be watching it.

With Friends Like This

Well it looks like Reunion has aired its final episode, so I guess it’s about time I throw together a final review of the show even though it seems weird to whip up a review when supposable the most interesting aspects of the show have yet, and apparently never will be revealed because Fox had to make room for Skating with the Stars. And for those waiting for the proposed TV movie that will wrap everything up, don’t hold your breathe. It’s just something they say to keep from die-hards from rioting. Remembered how they were going to run a couple Buffy/Angel movies every year? The last I checked there wasn’t even one in the works.

What we did get to see was a drama that followed a group of friend, with poor acting skills, as they go from graduation all the way to their twentieth high school reunion where one of them got killed. Well or until almost their ten year reunion thanks to an untimely reunion. But even with the poor acting from most of the leads and some really predictable storylines (except for maybe the dude in the wheelchair but who didn't see him cheating with his secretary), the show was still addictive. And this may be due to the supporting cast. Even though some only appeared in a few episode characters like the Prison Buddy, the French Chick, the Abusive Boyfriend and his Wife, the Dead Soldier’s Sister, and of course the Obsessive Present Day Cop were all scene stealers. Even The Gay Husband was so over-the-top cheesy, he became entertaining. Plus with the retro years, they were always able to pick great songs from the era they were in.

But alas, all was for not and we will forever be left wondering who killed Sam. Even the last scene with the cop being run over with a car left us wondering. And I’m left to sue Fox to get those hours of my life back that they ruined for next finishing the story. Had it made it to the end Reunion would have had a higher Terror Alert, but thanks to Fox pulling the plug:

Reunion 1.x gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

Read even more ranting about the Reunion cancelation and how evil Fox is here - Won't Get Fooled Again.

First Impressions - Flavor of Love

Even though I typically don’t set out to watch VH1’s so called Celebreality, some how I think I’ve seen every minute of Hogan Knows Best and the other shows that don’t quite qualify for guilty pleasure due to that none are exactly pleasurable unlike, say, Laguna Beach. Then again, no one who stars in these shows really qualify as a celeb. But this past Sunday saw the première of the new season of has been line-up with the third reality show for Flavor Flav in as many years. Due to my soft spot for anything Public Enemy I decided to turn into the first episode even after the disaster that was named Strange Love.

So after striking out with Brigitte Nielsen in the last show, Flav has decided to go the root of The Bachelor to pick his next love, and by next love I mean his next baby’s momma for his latest reality show, Flavor of Love. Which I believe would make four, but I think even Flav has lost count. But at least he isn't an NBA player because then four would be low. And the show is such a blatant rip off of the ABC former juggernaut, I have a feeling Flav’s next reality show for VH1 will follow the rapper and into the courtroom after impending lawsuit if finally filed.

There are a few variations that might be brought up in court. For one instead of roses, Flav hands out his trademark oversized clock necklace while telling the lucky lady “You know what time it is.” Those unfortunate women instead are ushered out while Flav lets them know “Your time is up.” Sad thing is that they probably paid some marketing firm massive amount of dollars to come up with those taglines. As for the other variation, um, well, I really can’t remember any. Well except where The Bachelor recruits remotely classy woman who may just be three shots and a free t-shirt away from appearing on Girls Gone Wild, the woman on Flavor of Love look like small town strippers who think that guys find massive tattoos, knife wounds, and stretch marks sexy. If there could be anything that resembles entertainment on the show, it may be seeing how each girl try to out slut the others.

Verdict: Pass, although I bet just like the past Celebreality shows, I will end up seeing every second eventually because VH1 will show it again and again. If fact I think I’ve seen the show five times since Sunday.

Best of 2005

Since 1996 I have made a CD of my favorite music from the past year and here is the CD I have made from this past year but I like to put songs in reverse order as so they are counting down to the best song. This CD clocks in at 77:06.


1. Love Love Love - Tristan Prettyman
2. Boulevard of Broken Dreams - Green Day
3. Fix You – Coldplay
4. You and Me – Lifehouse
5. These Words - Natasha Bedingfield
6. Doesn't Remind Me – Audioslave
7. Existentialism on Prom Night - Straylight Run
8. Breakdown - Jack Johnson
9. Diamonds From Sierra Leone - Kanye West
10. Portions for Foxes - Rilo Kiley
11. Telescope Eyes – Eisley
12. The Blower's Daughter - Damien Rice
13. Ordinary People - John Legend
14. Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson
15. Mr. Brightside - The Killers
16. Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own - U2
17. Breathe (2 AM) - Anna Nalick
18. Gold Digger - Kanye West & Jamie Foxx
19. Landed - Ben Folds


To see how Landed stacks up to past #1's, here are a list of those from years past:

1996: No Diggity – Blackstreet & Dr. Dre
1997: Foolish Games – Jewel
1998: One Week – Barenaked Ladies
1999: Genie in a Bottle - Christina Aguilera
2000: Maria, Maria – Santana & the Product G&B
2001: Everywhere – Michelle Branch
2002: Fell in Love with a Girl – The White Stripes
2003: The Seed (2.0) – The Roots & Cody ChessnuTT
2004: All Falls Down – Kanye West
2005: Landed – Ben Folds


As for the artist that made the most impact in the last year here are the ones that showed up most on my Best of lists (for those lists, click on the Best of 2005 label):

1. Kanye West (Best Songs – 2, 11, 32, 39, 79; Best Albums – 2; Best Videos – 2, 9, 16, 28) - It looked like Kanye this year was the ultimate bridesmaid with the runner up position on all but one of my lists. But he did have the unofficial best quote of the year if that is any consolation.
2. The Killer (Best Songs – 5, 21; Best Albums – 14; Best Videos – 4, 8; Best Mash-Ups – 10, 21) - This band really grew on me this year with their blend of catch hooks, inane lyrics, and of course a video with Eric Roberts and a Kate Bosworth look-a-like.
3. U2 (Best Songs – 2, 50, 57, 60; Best Videos – 10, 20) – They may have been a little more higher had How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb had been eligible this year, but unlike the Grammy’s, my year actually runs from January to December. But the album would have definitely been high on my Best Albums list if it were.
4. Dave Matthews Band – (Best Songs – 35, 46; Best Albums – 5; Best Videos – 17, 27; Best Mash-Ups – 13) – A band so great I dedicated a whole week to when Stand Up was released and they didn’t disappoint.
5. Kelly Clarkson (Best Songs – 6, 26; Best Mash-Ups – 2, 4, 12; Best Videos – 21) – Had anyone said that Clarkson would be near the top of any list let alone Best Artist a year ago, I tell them they were crazy. But thanks to some amazingly entertaining mash-ups, the karaoke queen rightfully deserves to be on this list. And the mash-ups just keep on coming as I just heard another one, Since U Been in Centerfield - Kelly Clarkson vs. John Fogerty.