Tops of 2009:
[Fandom Edition I]

“For me, the cinema is not a slice of life,
but a piece of cake.”
~Alfred Hitchcock

Welcome to my Tops of 2009: Fandom Edition I. Complete with my favorite movies, tv shows, and episodes new and old of 2009. Here are my favorite visual stories both long and short:

+Movies
+TV Shows
++Episodes

Movies:

Star Trek (2009)
Directed by J. J. Abrams

I’ve been a Star Trek fan for a long long time: through The Original Series, The Next Generation, Voyager, Enterprise, etc. So, of course, I was excited to see the fandom brought back and by J.J. Abrams nonetheless. Still, if the movie had been a flop, then it might have been a guilty pleasure and I would have moved on. But thankfully, it was awesomesauce.

Hard Candy (2005)
Directed by David Slade

When David Slade was announced to film Twilight: Eclipse I knew I had to see the other two films he’d directed, Hard Candy and 30 Days of Night. Visually, Hard Candy is a beautiful film with intense performances by Ellen Page and Patrick Wilson. Underneath, it’s a movie that really unnerves you as it makes you think.

Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Directed by Edgar Wright

A nice blend of comedy and drama. In that way it’s very reminiscent of Buffy the Vampire Slayer when at its lightest. Essentially, it’s just my cup of tea.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
Directed by David Yates

Yes, the Harry Potter movies are not as great as the books. It’s a fact that I’m sure we all realize by now. But sometimes you have to take things for what they are and not as what they could be. And ‘what it is‘ is 87% on Rotten Tomatoes, so I know I’m not the only one who enjoyed it. Visually, it’s rich. Emotionally, the love, anger, frustration, and drama prepare us for the end: the last two movies.

The Fountain (2006)
Directed by Darren Aronofsky

I think a lot of people don’t like this movie because they don’t understand it. Because it’s not just one story told linearly from beginning to end. Instead it’s comprised of three stories, each set in a different time, each with their own two characters. But then where the movie really gets complicated is when these stories begin to intertwine. Then, you begin to realize that it’s all part of a larger whole: about a man and a woman and life and death.

Runners Up:
Terminator, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, 30 Days of Night, Contact,
Sunshine, Changling, New Moon, About a Boy, Caroline,
Sherlock Holmes, Push, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

TV Shows:

The Vampire Diaries (2009-present)
Created by Kevin Williamson

2010 People’s Choice Award for Favorite New TV Drama

“But in addition to being a solid hit, the supernatural drama is a first-class production, featuring an insanely gorgeous cast, sharp scripts and a brooding vibe that is hard for even the most levelheaded adult to resist.”

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (2008-2009)
Created by Josh Friedman

“It turned out to be intelligent, complex and consistently operated on a deeper emotional level than anyone could have expected. …Creator Josh Friedman and his cast did terrific work here and this was a great season of television – no matter what the future holds.”

Firefly (2002-2003)
Created by Joss Whedon

“Firefly is an absolutely brilliant show, perhaps the best sci-fi show on television today — and certainly the one with the most potential for future brilliance.” Other shows “burst onto the scene with slick pilots and quickly deteriorate into mediocrity…’Firefly’ is on the opposite creative journey.”

The X-Files (1993-2002)
Created by Chris Carter

“Chris Carter, the originator of the The X Files, first sat down with executives from 20th Century Fox to propose his idea for what was to become one of the greatest cult shows in modern television. “There’s nothing scary on network television any more. Let’s do a scary show,” he told them. And so began a process by which The X Files combined themes such as conspiracy theory, government cover-up, biological terror and decapitation to captivate a global following for almost a decade.”

Jack & Bobby (2004)
Created by Greg Berlanti

“Thus, what could have been a simple coming-of-age story gains the heft of a political biopic, or a clever mystery: What choices and influences land this kid in the White House? What kind of boy becomes a president? In our deeply analytical world, the series is resonant in another way: On a grand scale, ”Jack & Bobby” reflects the American obsession with picking apart our childhoods ad nauseam for clues to the adults we become.”

Alias (2001-2006)
Created by J. J. Abrams

“J.J. Abrams has a gift for working with actresses. With Alias, Abrams has fashioned a beautifully conceived espionage drama around star Jennifer Garner, complete with moments of light wit and deep emotion running beneath action sequences of stirring derring-do.”

Episodes:

Dollhouse, 1×04 Belonging
Written by Maurissa Tancharoen & Jed Whedon
Directed by Jonathan Frakes
Original airdate October 23, 2009

Sierra: This secret we have… can you keep it?
Topher: I can keep it, but I don’t know if I can live with it.
Sierra: I know I can’t. But I don’t have to.

The Vampire Diaries – 1×07 ‘Haunted’
Written by Julie Plec & Kevin Williamson
Directed by Ernest Dickerson
Original airdate October 29, 2009

Elena: Part of me wishes that I could forget, too. Forget meeting you, finding out what you are and everything that’s happened since.
Stefan: That’s what you want?
Elena: Yes, it is. Because I don’t want it to be like this. I don’t want to feel like this. But I can’t. With everything that’s happened, I can’t lose the way I feel about you.

Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles – 2×22 ‘Born to Run’
Written by Jeffrey Hunt
Directed by Josh Friedman
Original airdate April 10, 2009

Cameron: He upset you.
John: Me? I think he upset you.
Cameron: You know that’s impossible.
John: Is it?
Cameron: You said it yourself, John, I’m just a machine.

Fringe – 1×20 ‘There’s More Than One of Everything’
Written by Jeff Pinkner & J.H. Wyman
Directed by Brad Anderson
Original airdate May 12, 2009

Olivia: Where am I? Who are you?
William Bell: The answer to your first question is… it’s very complicated. The answer to your second… I’m William Bell.

Stargate Universe, 1×05 ‘Light’
Written by Brad Wright
Directed by Peter DeLuise
Original airdate October 23, 2009

Greer: I can’t think of a better way to move on from this world into the next or whatever comes, then to fly into the most powerful thing in creation: a star. Out in a blaze of glory. I like that. That’s beautiful.

Jack & Bobby, 1×01 ‘Pilot’
Written by Greg Berlanti & Vanessa Taylor
Directed by David Nutter
Original airdate September 18, 2004

Sable: If we could see into his boyhood years, and watching him become the man he became, would we have known then we were in the presence of greatness? Could we have seen it?

Runners Up:
The X-Files – ‘Ice’, ‘Anasazi’, ‘The Blessing Way’, ‘Paper Clip’
Dollhouse – ‘Epitaph One’, Stargate Universe – ‘Time’
FlashForward – ‘The Gift’, ‘Believe’, Gossip Girl – ‘The Debarted’, V – ‘It’s Only the Beginning’

Tops of 2009:
[Music Edition]

Music washes away from the soul
the dust of everyday life.
~Berthold Auerbach

Another year has come and gone. And with it are the release of new albums, the exciting discovery of new musicians, and the cathartic release of finding songs that touch you in all the right ways: mind, body, and soul.

Then, we have rinse and repeat as you listen to it all over and over again.

Welcome to my Tops of 2009: Music Edition. Complete with new genres, new sounds, new musicians, new albums, and new songs. Here are my favorite and most listened to:

+Musicians
+Albums
+Songs

Musicians:

Bobby Long

I already loved the song ‘Let Me Sign’ that he co-wrote with Marcus Foster and was sung by Rob Pattinson on the Twilight soundtrack. But I never thought I’d like blues rock til I went to his show and heard him for the first time. I fell in love with his style and his voice.

Fav Songs: ‘Who Have You Been Loving’, ‘In the Frost’, ‘Penance Fire Blues’, ‘The Stranger Song’ [+Grooveshark]

Marcus Foster

It’s interesting how similar yet different Marcus is from his friends Bobby and Sam. I can’t wait til the three of them get more widespread and popular. While Bobby is more mellow and powerful, Marcus can get more lively and frantic.

Fav Songs: ‘You, My Love’, ‘Shadows of the City’, ‘Kiss is a Knife’ [+Grooveshark]

Rob Pattinson

Having played the guitar and piano for all his life, he’s been a musician longer than actor. But for now he’s chosen to go the other route. We’re just grateful for his occasional live gigs and contributions to the Twilight soundtrack. I really hope he does it again for the Eclipse soundtrack. Or he could just release a CD under a pseudonym.

Fav Songs: ‘Let Me Sign’, ‘Broken’, ‘I’ll Be Your Lover Too’ [+Grooveshark]

The Fray

There’s just something about their style that is unique. I loved their last CD and I really love their new CD. Their lyrics and sound led by a piano rather than guitar separate them from other bands on the radio.

Fav Songs: ‘Say When’, ‘You Found Me’, ‘Over My Head’, ‘How to Save a Life’ [+Grooveshark]

Paramore

With its youthful sound a lot of people like Paramore, but few want to admit it. I’m not one of those people.

Fav Songs: ‘Decode’, ‘Let the Flames Begin’, ‘Crushcrushcrush’, ‘Brick by Boring Brick’ [+Grooveshark]

30 Seconds to Mars

I’ve loved 30 Seconds to Mars since I heard the first album and have stuck through two more albums. They have such a unique sound with uplifting, angsty, electronic, rock&roll. They’re a paradox.

Fav Songs: ‘Kings and Queens’, ‘Edge of the Earth’, ‘Hurricane’, ‘Attack’, ‘A Beautiful Lie’, ‘The Fantasy’, ‘The Kill’, ‘Savior’, ‘From Yesterday’, ‘Buddha for Mary’, ‘Capricorn’ [+Grooveshark]

Plumb

I can’t really remember how I got into Plumb, but I think it was through recommendation. But she’s had music in Bruce Almighty, Just Married, View from the Top, Brokedown Palace, Drive Me Crazy, The Perfect Man, Mom at Sixteen, etc. and TV series Dawson’s Creek, Felicity, ER, Roswell, One Tree Hill, The Vampire Diaries, etc.

Fav Songs: ‘In My Arms’, ‘Cut’, ‘Damaged’, ‘Sleep’ [+Grooveshark]

Albums:

Kings of Leon – Only by the Night (2008)

Even though their album came out at the end of last year, they took the world by storm this year with their unique sound influenced by Southern rock.

Fav Songs: ‘Closer’, ‘Sex on Fire’, ‘Crawl’ [+Grooveshark]

The Fray – The Fray (2009)

Debuted at #1 on Billboard 200. Nominated for a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album in 2010. Has been certified Gold in the United States, Canada, and Australia. So far the album includes one top ten single ‘You Found Me’ and one Grammy nominated single ‘Never Say Never’.

Fav Songs: ‘Say When’, ‘You Found Me’, ‘Enough For Now’ [+Grooveshark]

Paramore – Brand New Eyes (2009)

“If you didn’t like Paramore before, their third album is unlikely to sway you. They make the kind of forceful, commercial emo-pop that music lovers love to hate. However, as forceful, commercial emo-pop goes – and it does – Brand New Eyes is very good. It is brash and gauche, but charming.” – BBC

Fav Songs: ‘Decode’, ‘Ignorance’, ‘Brick by Boring Brick’, ‘Careful’, ‘Turn It Off’, ‘All I Wanted’ [+Grooveshark]

Switchfoot – Hello Hurricane (2009)

“Though the band choose the title Hello Hurricane to represent the storms of this life, the title is appropriate. When the songs sink into the eye of the hurricane, the calm is eerily beautiful and introspective. But when unleashed, the tracks land with the fury of the perfect storm. The collected effect is one of the best albums of Switchfoot’s career.” – Relevant

Fav Songs: The Sound’, ‘Free’, ”Mess of Me’, ‘Your Love Is A Song’, ‘Needle and Haystack Life’ [+Grooveshark]

Ben Moody – All For This (2009)

Half of the old Evanescence, and the better half, Ben Moody has also worked with Avril Lavigne, Kelly Clarkson, Daughtry, and Celine Dion. But there’s finally an album of his very own. And it’s been a long road to get here, but it was worth the wait.

Fav Songs: ‘10.22′, ‘Wishing Well’, ‘All For This’, ‘Perfect’, ‘Hold Me Down’, ‘Never Turn Back’ [+Grooveshark]

Carter Burwell – Twilight Score (2008)

I don’t usually care for scores too much, but sometimes something magical comes along.

Fav Songs: ‘The Skin of a Killer’, ‘Bella’s Lullaby’, ‘The Lion Fell In Love With The Lamb’ [+Grooveshark]

Songs:

[Zip of Songs]

She said walk on over here
to the bitter shade
i will wrap you in my arms
and know that you’ve been saved
Let Me Sign
Let Me Sign
Let Me Sign (Rob Pattinson)

Maybe god can be on both sides
Of the gun never understood why
Some of us never get it so good, so good
Some of this was here before us
All of this will go after us
Never stops until we give in, give in
Say when
Say When (The Fray)

Does your heart beat so softly without warning
Does it beat out to the slow pace of the morning
Oh when you close your eyes after all that you see
Will you let the stranger’s beat
The Stranger (Bobby Long)

But as the morning awakens
That light sends a shudder
Twist of hope that held you down
Is left to rest and stir
You back down a hallway
To flourish the darkness
And you fool yourself
You did it all for her
Penance Fire Blues (Bobby Long)

The truth is hiding in your eyes
And its hanging on your tongue
Just boiling in my blood,
But you think that I can’t see
What kind of man that you are
If you’re a man at all
Well, I will figure this one out on my own
I’m screaming “I love you so…” But my thoughts you can’t decode
Decode (Paramore)

I shot for the sky
I’m stuck on the ground
So why do I try, I know I’m gonna to fall down
I thought I could fly, so why did I drown?
I never know why it’s coming down, down, down.
Down (Jason Walker)

You know my darling I can’t stand to sleep alone
No sweetheart in the dark to call my own
You’re my own, you’re my own, I can sing it, I can grow
But the darkness is a stranger in our lonely, lonely, lone.
Sleep Alone (Bat for Lashes)

And if I only could,
Make a deal with God,
And get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
Be running up that building,
If I only could, oh…
Running Up That Hill (Placebo)

But I do not want to be afraid
I do not want to die inside just to breathe in
I’m tired of feeling so numb
Relief exists I found it when
I am cut
Cut (Plumb)

Television Show Pyramid

• A good solid base…: An intriguing premise or story that says something interesting and can be expanded upon over time.
• …on which all other factors are rooted: Good acting, writing, directing, cinematography, music, etc. For the most part these things just have to be average. But when they’re firing at all cylinders, and coupled with all the other qualities, is when we really know we’ve got something special.
• Someone to take us through…: Compelling multifaceted characters that you care about and want to know what happens to them from week to week.
• …the journey to the other side: Good character and story development every episode. Especially standalone episodes, even if it’s a crumb of a scene lodged somewhere within the episode.

The Shows

V on ABC

“V deals with issues of faith in a confusing world; terrorism; political leaders and the hope they offer. Beyond mere intrigue over what will happen next, viewers can debate the meaning behind various characters and plots and relate them to real world issues.” – The TV Addict

“For V to function well as a series, rather than an action-packed TV event, it’s going to need to get to work on its characters and dialogue. The premise, like I said, is rock-solid. And every actor in the ensemble is perfectly capable, with the right material, of being charismatic. But it won’t rise above the level of sci-fi curio unless things get a little deeper, or at least more rousing.” – The A.V. Club

Before the show had even premiered there was news of production problems and even a change in showrunner. Usually these kinds of problems so early in a show means disaster. And truthfully, I expected the worst. Instead, we got a show that is actually an intriguing look at a number of contemporary concerns in religion, politics, terrorism, racism, immigration, etc.

But while the premise and ideas the writers put forth are enticing, the storytelling is unfortunately too formulaic and really a drag on what could otherwise be a good show. Still, the writing in the last episode and the introduction of the Fifth Column as an alien resistance group, gives me hope that the writers may soon be fleshing out and adding more layers to their story.

Must See: 1×04 ‘It’s Only the Beginning’
Returns: March 30

Dollhouse on FOX

“Even without the behind-the-scenes featurettes and commentary that explicitly call out Fox’s interference, it’s obvious just from watching those episodes and the show’s evolution that ham-fisted executives screwed the pooch. They wanted sexed-up action-adventure confined to single-episode stories, killing what was most intriguing about this and all of Whedon’s shows: the through-line, the meta.” – SCI FI Wire

“The real challenge with Dollhouse (and it’s a doozy) was finding a relatable character. … The major story arc of the first season is Echo emerging as a person, a sort of composite of her imprints with a single organizing intelligence/identity. But for most of the first season, she’s not really anybody.” – GeekaChicas

I have a love and hate relationship with Dollhouse. As a fan of Joss Whedon, I love that we were able to get glimpses of greatness. But at the same time I hate that overall this show just wasn’t as good as it could have been.

I’ve been saying it since the beginning, the main problem with the show was not enough mythology and no relatable character. Both of these things we’ve finally gotten in the second half of season two with the awareness of Echo, stepping Victor and Sierra up as characters, and bringing out the mythology and story behind Echo and the Dollhouse. It’s now becoming the show it should have been all along. Sadly, it’s all too little, too late.

Even though many will choose to see this series as a failed experiment, at the least it was an interesting exercise in character development and atypical storytelling. And at the most, it introduced and brought together many great minds and talents. I’m eager to see where the cast and crew go next.

Must See: 2×04 ‘Belonging’, 2×10 ‘The Attic’
Returns: Jan. 8

Gossip Girl on CW

“This season’s Gossip Girl episodes have all been enjoyable, but the season overall has felt disappointing, as there’s been a lack of real scandal or overarching narratives.”…until the last two that is. – The TV Addict

The first couple episodes of the season had us waiting to see if the writers could create storylines revolving around the new college setting. And while we all tried to settle into this new world, their escapades sometimes felt out of place. Thankfully, this season then got a second wind as the writers realized that even more important than the gang going to college is the fact they’re having to grow up as they do so. They are now adults and having to deal with coming of age situations: dealing with the past, figuring out their future, trying to fit in the bigger world, establishing their own identity, etc. So, the show may have left high school behind, but it hasn’t lost its spark or its witty dialogue.

Must See: 3×11 ‘The Treasure of Serena Madre’, 3×12 ‘The Debarted’
Returns: March 8

Glee on FOX

“Writer Most In Need Of Reigning In: Yes, Glee is one of the most delightful shows to come down the pike in ages. But could someone please teach creator Ryan Murphy a lesson or two in pacing and longterm story telling?” – The TV Addict

“While the storytelling still remains a frustrating mess at times, the Fox series’ vibrant musical numbers and talented cast have consistently kept it on my TiVo must list, and I confess that even with its flaws, TV would be poorer without Glee.” – Variety

Yes, Glee is a highly enjoyable show. And yes, it has a great premise and it’s unique, innovative, and quirky. But the series relies too much on that Glee-factor, and not enough on fixing the underlying problems like the uneven pacing, unrealistic storylines, a tone alternating between wildly cartoonish and genuine heartfelt moments, and the archetypal over-the-top characters. So the show still has some things to work out, but I can’t wait until they do and it truly becomes great.

Must See: 1×04 ‘Preggers’, 1×09 ‘ Wheels’
Returns: April 13. But a DVD of Glee 1.0 is now in stores.

FlashForward on ABC

“Show That Should Be Better Than It Is: FLASHFORWARD’s premise is phenomenal, and it understands the importance of a weekly cliffhanger. And yet somehow… it just hasn’t found its groove.” – The TV Addict

I like FlashForward. And I’ve heard from quite a few people who really like it, too. But I’m also hearing a lot of people think it’s boring. What do I think is the problem? A little bit of a couple things. One, the characters. I don’t think people are completely invested in the characters as they should be. Most likely because this is a situational drama and the writers have focused more on the overall mystery and the flashfowards, than the characters in it. Sorry to say, but the writers may need to look to Lost for how to combine a crazy premise and interesting likable characters. I hear a lot of people liked the midseason finale, so let’s hope for better on the flip side.

Must See: 1×08 ‘The Gift’, 1×09 ‘Believe’, 1×10 ‘A561984′
Returns: March 18. But a DVD of FlashForward 1.0 will be in stores on Feb. 23.

Fringe on FOX

“We hope that Fringe will return its focus on this Other Side storyline full-time, not only for the good of the show, but because it means we’ll be seeing a lot more Thomas Newton every show.” – TV Fanatic

Compelling characters. Interesting premise. Good mix of comedy and drama. Shocking sequences that keep you on the edge of your seat. A much talked about season finale last year. Then, why do I find the show so difficult to stay interested in? I seem to have trouble figuring out where the writers are taking us and what is the long term story arc. I don’t think the show has found the right balance of MOTW and plot/character driven episodes. We’re still waiting to visit the Other Side and get back to the greatness of last season’s finale.

Must See: 2×04 ‘Momentum Deferred’, 2×08 ‘August’, 2×10 ‘Grey Matters’
Returns: Jan. 14

Stargate Universe on SYFY

“I, for one, haven’t seen a series with this many ups and downs in quite a while, but I’m happy to conclude that the ups outweigh the downs by a considerable amount, and that those ups make this a series worth watching.” – Den of Geek

Stargate Universe takes the great premise of its predecessors, but exchanged their lighthearted feel for a realistic character-driven drama. But in doing so, I think the show has gone too far to the other side. Episodes such as ‘Life’ that focus too much on the communication stones and the characters’ lives on Earth is the show’s weakest point. Whereas episodes like ‘Light’, ‘Time’, and ‘Justice’ which balance the character-driven elements with it’s science fiction premise are the clear highlights. In order to succeed, the show has to find the right mix of realism and drama with action and science fiction.

Must See: 1×05 ‘Light’, 1×08 ‘Time’, 1×10 ‘Justice’
Returns: April 2. But a DVD of Stargate Universe 1.0 will be in stores on Feb. 9.

The Vampire Diaries on CW

“Show That’s Way, Way Better Than You Think: No doubt viewed by many as a TV version of Twilight, THE VAMPIRE DIARIES is instead a surprisingly addictive thriller that just may be the best new show of the fall season.” – The TV Addict

Whether the show is your cup of tea or not is of course a matter of individual opinion. But structurally, this is the way a show should be done. Each episode reveals or develops a new part of the characters and the season story arc. And new information is not simply revealed by exposition, but as the story requires it. Everything just keeps unfolding like a flower.

Must See: 1×03 ‘Friday Night Bites’, 1×08 ‘Haunted’, 1×10 ‘The Turning Point’
Returns: Jan. 21

So yes, despite everything Stargate Universe has still managed to become one of the most buzzed about and top 10 most anticipated new shows of the fall. So sit back and let me have a couple minutes to suggest why you should join me tonight at 9pm on SyFy. Hopefully after you read this you’ll be as excited as I am about it. But we’re not going to take my word for it.

Background

“The first and most important fact about SGU is that it is truly accessible to anyone. If you’ve never seen an episode of Stargate before, that’s ok! … Stargate Universe gives television viewers a fresh start to, no pun intended, the universe that is Stargate, without having to know about a single character from either series.” (Source)

“I am not a big fan of the various Stargate TV shows. I liked the movie – by which I mean the Kurt Russel/James Spader one – but never really dug the television versions. … The only reason this is significant now is because of how much I absolutely loved Stargate Universe. … It would be bold, and probably a bit dangerous, but if SyFy were serious about this they would try to create a vehicle that looped in the hardened core of Stargate fans while simultaneously reaching out to the skeptics, like me. Thankfully, SyFy took that chance.” (Source)

“And while it’s a darker version, there are still enough elements of “Stargate” here to keep long-time fans satisfied. But the biggest strength is that, aside from a few familiar cameos, the pilot is accessible enough that fans who have little or no background in the previous two series can watch, enjoy and embrace this latest installment.” (Source)

“Universe is definitely a departure from the previous Stargate series . . . and yet not. All the roots, the elements that make Stargate what it is and all the reasons that we love it, are there. … Universe is not too dark. Small rays of hope come from surprising sources, touchingly beautiful in their simplicity.” (Source)

“Stargate Universe brings a fresh look to a relatively young television genre: dark sci-fi. Battlestar Galactica went there but overreached, being a little too dark for a lot of people. But SGU seems to have found the sweet spot somewhere in the middle. Pain borne of great loss and sacrifice, confusion, fear, questioning who the people around you really are when it matters most, and finally achieving that moment we can all identify with just after the storm, when you’re supremely grateful that everything is finally going to be okay, if only for a little while. That is Stargate Universe in a nutshell.” (Source)

“It lands firmly in between the hokey optimism of “Star Trek Voyager” and the grimness of “Battlestar Galactica,” two series with similar beginnings. It also pays homage to its franchise forebears “SG-1″ and “Atlantis,” but it looks and feels brand spanking new. Stargate Universe boldly goes where no “Stargate” series has gone before.” (Source)

Premise

“Early on in the three-hour “Stargate: Universe” pilot, it becomes apparent this isn’t your daddy’s “Stargate” series. The greatest threat isn’t from an external threat like the Wraith or the G’ould but instead comes from the question of who you can and should trust among a rag-tag group of humans thrown together on a distant starship, trying to find a way to survive and, possibly a way to get back home. (Source)

“I think this one, while it’s retaining the features that made the other ones successful, hopefully, it’s slightly different in the respect that this is about a struggle for survival. The guys, everyone’s been transferred onto this massive spaceship, the Destiny. … The Destiny is where the story then really takes off, and it’s how these guys survive. … Simple things like life support, air … The first three episodes are called “Air,” the struggle to breathe; “Water,” that’s another title; “Fire” is another; “Earth” is another. So there’s something quite basic about it. There’s not so much, maybe, alien interaction. It’s maybe a bit more drama this time, a bit more character-driven.” (Source)

“As a fan of Star Trek Voyager, I can tell you that, while there are similar aspects in the plots, Universe is a whole new monster in so many ways. … The differences lie in the fact that they are not in control of the Destiny. Creature comforts are at a minimum, supplies are almost non-existent, and their surroundings are crumbing around them. They don’t know how half of it works, and they certainly can’t just turn the Destiny around. Also, internal turmoil – both within themselves and amongst each other – is going to be key in this crew’s story. I know that I can say with absolute conviction that Universe is going to surpass Voyager in complexity, creativity, and variety so fast that Voyager will be left millions of light-years behind.” (Source)

“What’s also very good about the premiere is how small it really is. The span of time that passes is really only hours in the lives of the characters. They are all brought together in one place, something really bad happens, and then they are thrown onto the Destiny, an Ancient ship traveling from galaxy to galaxy on a sort-of automated landlord’s tour of every stargate seeded across billions of lightyears of space. … But what also happens is some tremendous character work that usually takes a show a season to establish and flesh out.” (Source)

The People

“When I met up with [Stargate Universe executive producers] Brad [Wright] and Robert [C. Cooper], I was just really impressed by them as people. And, to be honest, at first I was very much like ‘Why do you want me to do this?’ But when they explained the steps and their take on the drama they were trying to do on the show, I said, ‘I can understand why you wanted me to do this now.’ And the cast they’ve assembled around and about me is the top class.” – Robert Carlyle (Source)

“SGU marries many familiar sci-fi conventions with relatable emotional stories to create a non-genre spectacular. If you root for the underdog, you’ll love this completely enthralling, heartbreaking and inspiring epic. … The fact that this ambitious blockbuster is built with the intimate, personal stories of its characters is testament to the talents of Robert C. Cooper and Brad Wright, the writers/creators who are vets of the previous “Stargate” series.” (Source)

“The characters are astounding in their complexity, and if you can’t identify with their individual traits and histories, you will still identify with their reactions to their plight on a profound level.”( Source)

“Over the course of the first three hours, we’ll find that not all these characters are the squeaky clean people with came to know and love in ‘SG1.” And they’re not all on the same page about decisions and the command structure aboard the Destiny. “Air” seems to be setting up some potentially fascinating and complex character dynamics and conflict that could have some great payoff as the series goes.” (Source)

“While everything talked about above is very promising for the continuing Stargate franchise, the cast of this new edition is what will make this show go on. I was very surprised with how well this cast came together in the first three hours of SGU and made it believable. Anyone can write a show about a group of people who are stuck on a ship without any chance of returning home, but it takes a great troop of actors to make it believable and that’s exactly what they did.” (Source)

“The stellar ensemble, of course, brings the emotions of “SGU” to life. Robert Carlyle, Lou Diamond Phillips and Ming-Na may be the most familiar names here, but no one in the cast gets lost behind their star power. … Even secondary cast members–and I call them that for lack of a better term–bring it. I get the impression that by the end of the first season’s 20 hours, Wright, Cooper and Co. will have peeled back so many details about these characters that viewers will be hard pressed to pick a favorite.” (Source)

Reviews

“Stargate Universe is fantastic Sci-Fi fun wrapped in a compelling mystery populated by addictive characters whose fates you will willingly become invested in. This television season offers a lot of genre options, SGU is one that you should not pass up. And as someone who passed on SG-1 and Atlantis, I can honestly say that you don’t need to be steeped in Stargate lore to jump on board and have a good time.” (Source)

“There is no doubt in my mind that SGU will be a hit. With a more serialized season forthcoming, viewers will truly get a chance to get to know these characters while also going through the pains and hardships of life aboard the Destiny, Billions of light years away from home. If this show gets a chance to really grow, there is no telling how many more amazing stories this fabulous writers will come up with. … After watching “Air” part III, I was definitely left wanting more. All I know is that for the time being, Stargate is back, and it’s bigger and better than ever, 4/5!” (Source)

“Slice of SciFi Rating: 4.5 out of 5.0. And if the coming installments prove as fascinating and compelling as “Air,” Stargate Universe could prove to be the best entry we’ve had so far in this long-running franchise. (Source)

“The series premiere of the latest in the “Stargate” franchise rocked my universe.” – from Red Eye’s Fall TV report card. (Source)

Video

Actors

Antonio Banderas: He wanted to become a professional soccer player until a broken foot sidelined his dreams at the age of fourteen. He went on to enroll in some drama classes, eventually joining a theater troupe that toured all over Spain. He then began his acting career at age 19 with a series of films by Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar and then appeared in high-profile Hollywood films including Assassins, Evita, Interview with the Vampire, Philadelphia, Desperado, The Mask of Zorro, Spy Kids, and Shrek.

Penélope Cruz: She gathered critical acclaim as a young actress for films such as Jamón, Jamón, La Niña de tus ojos, and Belle époque. She has also starred in several American films, but she is perhaps best known for her work with acclaimed Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar, in Broken Embraces, Volver and All About My Mother. Cruz has been awarded three Goyas, two European Film Awards, and the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival. In 2009, she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, a Goya, and a BAFTA for her role in Vicky Cristina Barcelona. She is Spain’s first female Oscar winner and also becomes the sixth Hispanic person to win an Oscar.

Javier Bardem: He had garnered critical acclaim for roles in films such as Jamón, jamón, Carne tremula, Boca a boca, Los Lunes al sol, Mar adentro (The Sea Inside) and Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Bardem has been awarded an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a BAFTA, four Goya awards, two European Film Awards and two Coppa Volpis for his work. He is the first Spanish actor to be nominated (for Before Night Falls) and to win an Oscar (the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Anton Chigurh in the 2007 film No Country for Old Men).

Directors

Pedro Almodóvar: Almodóvar is arguably the most successful and internationally known Spanish filmmaker of his generation. His film Todo sobre mi madre (All About My Mother) has received more awards and honors than any other Spanish film: an Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film, Best Director Award at Cannes, the French César for Best Foreign Film, seven Goya Awards, and others. Almodóvar also won numerous honors across the world for Hable con ella (Talk to Her), including a French César for Best Film and an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. His film Volver competed for the Palme d’Or at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival and won Best Actress (shared by the six main actresses) and Best Screenplay. Penélope Cruz was also nominated for the 2007 Academy Award for Best Actress for Volver, making her the second Spanish woman ever to be nominated in that category. His next film Los Abrazos Rotos (Broken Embraces) will also star Penélope Cruz and be released November 20, 2009.

Alejandro Amenábar: Amenábar was born in Chile to a Spanish mother and Chilean father, but the family moved to Spain just one year after his birth. He studied cinema at Madrid’s Universidad Complutense but eventually dropped out. Amenábar’s first hit was Abre los ojos (Open Your Eyes), which inspired a remake by Cameron Crowe with Tom Cruise and Penélope Cruz in the same role as the original. His next popular film was the American film The Others starring Nicole Kidman, which went on to win eight Goya Awards including awards for Best Film and Best Director. Amenábar was awarded the Grand Prix of the Jury at the International Venice Film Festival in 2004 for Mar adentro (The Sea Inside), and in February 2005 the same film won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. His next film Agora starring Rachel Weisz and Max Minghella will get a general release on December 18, 2009.

Musicians

Enrique Inglesias: Iglesias started his musical career with Mexican indie label Fonovisa, which helped turn him into one of the most popular artists and selling more Spanish language albums than any other artist in that period of time. He then crossed over to the mainstream English language market, signing a unique multi–album deal with Universal Music for an unprecedented $48,000,000. Iglesias has sold over 45 million records worldwide, has had two Billboard Hot 100 #1s and one #3, and holds the record for producing 19 number #1 Spanish–language singles on the Billboard‘s Hot Latin Tracks.

Julio Inglesias: Spanish singer who has sold over 300 million albums in 14 languages and released 77 albums. According to Sony Music he is one of the top 10 best selling music artists ever. While Iglesias rose to international prominence in the 1970s and 1980s as a performer of romantic ballads and his success has continued as he entered new musical endeavors. Thus far, he has performed approximately 5,000 concerts.

Alejandro Sanz: Award winning, Spanish pop/ballad musician and singer-songwriter. Sanz is the recipient of 15 Latin Grammy Awards and two Grammy Awards. Sanz holds the record for the top selling Spanish music CD in history (21 million copies). He became known worldwide in 2005 after his collaboration with Colombian singer Shakira for her hit La Tortura.

Dover: My favorite Spanish music artist. I’ve been listening to them thanks to my cousin in Spain since high school. Most of the world doesn’t know who they are yet, but that’s going to change very soon. In early 2009, Dover has now signed up with Sony. Sony Music Entertainment Spain president Carlos López says the signing of Dover should not be a surprise. “Dover is one of Spain’s most important groups from the ’90s and in this decade,” he comments. López said he expects Dover’s first Sony release to be in January or February 2010. I’ve compiled a quick playlist of them above, so you can get a taste.

Los del Río: Los del Río specialized in Andalusian folk music, and for a number of years they were known for attending private “jet-set” parties at Marbella. However, in the summer of 1996, the duo enjoyed the success of their multi-platinum smash summer hit ‘Macarena‘, which sold over four million copies in the United States and spent a record 14 weeks at #1. This is the longest running #1 debut single in American music history. It was because of the lone success of this song that Los del Río is considered a one-hit wonder.

Sports

Real Madrid: The professional soccer or fútbol club based in Madrid, Spain. Probably best known for having David Beckham as a player from 2003-2007. Real Madrid is the most successful team in Spanish football and was voted by FIFA as the most successful club of the 20th century, having won a record thirty-one La Liga titles, seventeen Spanish Cups, a record nine European Cups and two UEFA Cups.

Artists

Salvador Dali: Spanish artist who became one of the most important painters of the 20th century. He is best known for his surrealist work identified by its striking, bizarre, dreamlike images, combined with his excellent draftsmanship and painting skills influenced by the Renaissance masters. An artist of great talent and imagination, he had a love of doing unusual things to draw attention to himself. This sometimes irked those who loved his art as much as it annoyed his critics, since his eccentric theatrical manner sometimes overshadowed his artwork in public attention.

Pablo Picasso: Spanish painter and sculptor. Also one of the most recognized figures in 20th century art, he is best known as the co-founder, along with Georges Braque, of cubism. Extremely prolific throughout his long lifetime, he produced around 13,500 paintings, 100,000 prints and engravings, 34,000 book illustrations and 300 sculptures.

Diego Velázquez: Spanish painter who was the leading artist in the court of King Philip IV. In addition to numerous renditions of scenes of historical and cultural significance, he painted scores of portraits of the Spanish royal family, other notable European figures, and commoners, culminating in the production of his masterpiece Las Meninas (1656). Since that time, more modern artists, including Spain’s Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí, as well as the Anglo-Irish painter Francis Bacon, have paid tribute to Velázquez by recreating several of his most famous works.

Francisco Goya: Spanish painter and printmaker regarded both as the last of the Old Masters and as the first of the moderns. Goya was a court painter to the Spanish Crown and a chronicler of history. The subversive and subjective element in his art, as well as his bold handling of paint, provided a model for the work of later generations of artists, notably Manet and Picasso.

Writers

One man scorned and covered with scars still strove with his last ounce of courage
to reach the unreachable stars; and the world was better for this. ~ Don Quixote

Miguel de Cervantes: Spanish novelist, poet, and playwright. His magnum opus, Don Quixote, often considered the first modern novel, is a classic of Western literature and is regularly regarded among the best novels ever written. First part published in 1605, the second in 1615. His influence on the Spanish language has been so great, that Spanish is often called la lengua de Cervantes (The language of Cervantes). He has been dubbed el Príncipe de los Ingenios – the Prince of Wits.

Love is this living death, and love’s the knife
that twists my innards. I wait for one word
and wonder if this bloom can last the drought,
if losing you would gain me back my life. ~ Federico García Lorca

Federico García Lorca: Spanish poet and dramatist whose many works include the poetry “Romancero Gitano” (1928), and trilogy of plays “Bodas de Sangre”, “Yerma”, and “La Casa de Bernarda Alba”. While a student he befriended Luis Buñuel and Salvador Dalí and many other artists who were, or would become, influential across Spain. From 1925 to 1928 he was also passionately involved with Salvador Dali. (This story can be seen in the recent film Little Ashes.) He was then murdered at the beginning of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 at the age of 38 and thought to be one of the many victims who ‘disappeared’ and were executed by the Nationalists and dictator Franco. He even foretold his own fate saying: “Then I realised I had been murdered. They looked for me in cafes, cemeteries and churches …. but they did not find me. They never found me? No. They never found me.”

Historical

Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand V of Spain: Sponsored Christopher Columbus’ voyages that led to the discovery of America and laying the foundations of modern Spain and the Spanish Empire. Isabella I was one of the most powerful and influential individuals of her time and is considered to be one of the most important sovereigns in world history.

Hernán Cortés: Spanish conquistador who led an expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec empire and brought large portions of mainland Mexico under the King of Castile. Cortés was part of the generation of Spanish colonizers that began the first phase of the Spanish colonization of the Americas.

Francisco Pizarro: Spanish conquistador, conqueror of the Incan Empire and founder of Lima, the modern-day capital of Peru. Through his father, Francisco was second cousin to Hernán Cortés, the famed conquistador of Mexico.

Hernando de Soto: Spanish explorer and conquistador who, while leading the first European expedition deep into the territory of the modern-day United States, was the first European to discover the Mississippi River.

Vasco Núñez de Balboa: Spanish explorer, governor, and conquistador, who is best known for having crossed the Isthmus of Panama and became the first European to lead an expedition to have seen or reached the Pacific from the New World. He traveled to the New World in 1500 and settled on the island of Hispaniola. He also founded the settlement of Santa María la Antigua del Darién in present-day Panama in 1510, which was the first permanent European settlement on the mainland of the Americas.

Francisco Franco: Military general and dictator of Spain from October 1936 until his death in 1975. During his almost forty year reign, Franco’s governance of Spain went through various different phases, although the most common ideological features present throughout included a strong sense of Spanish nationalism and protection of the country’s territorial integrity, Catholicism, anti-communism and “traditional values”. After he died and Juan Carlos I was appointed king, statues of him were removed or destroyed.

Juan Carlos I: Current reigning king of Spain. On 22 November 1975, two days after the death of dictator Francisco Franco, Juan Carlos was designated King according to the law of succession formed by Franco. (It just so happens he is also the grandson of the last true King of Spain, Alfonso VIII, who was deposed in 1931.) When Franco had named him successor before his death, Juan Carlos had to swear loyalty to Franco’s ideas and movements. However, after Franco’s death and Juan Carlos I placement as King, he quickly instituted reforms to the great displeasure of conservative groups who had expected him to maintain the authoritarian state. Juan Carlos I is credited with bringing Spain back to democracy and modernity. Juan Carlos I is also famous for telling Hugo Chávez, “¿Por qué no te callas?” or “Why don’t you shut up?” in November 2007 at the Ibero-American Summit in Santiago de Chile during a heated exchange. That was definitely heard around the world.

Aah, Spain. I love you.

Have you read the releases and watched the trailers for all the new shows? Have you made your TV schedule? Do you know what days and times everything will premiere? Do you have your DVR, VCR, or Torrents set?

Great, then there’s still time to advise you on my picks for this TV season. So, without further adieu:

My TV Schedule 2009-2010

Monday

Gossip Girl (Sep.14 at 9pm on CW): Gossip Girl from the creator of The O.C. and Chuck, is about a group of privileged teens in Manhattan attending a private high school and whose lives revolve around the blog of the all-knowing and secretive ‘Gossip Girl’ (voiced by Veronica Mars‘ Kristen Bell). Quick pacing, witty dialogue, and gritty feel are what made Gossip Girl well known in the first place. But now that the show has been on the air for two years and things are changing as the gang go off to college, will the show grow up in mood and style to make a successful transition? I’m curious to find out. Get up to speed on this past season of Gossip Girl with this video recap.

Tuesday

V (Nov.3 at 8pm on ABC): A last minute addition to ABC’s fall schedule, V is a remake of the 1980’s miniseries about the world’s first encounter with aliens who call themselves The Visitors. EOnline has given the pilot a good review saying, “V is the best pilot we’ve seen in, well, forever.”  Meanwhile, TheFutonCritic isn’t as sure, “let’s hope the subsequent hours find more ways to pull us in.” While the inclusion of Joel Gretsch (4400), Morena Baccarin (Firefly), Scott Wolf (Party of Five), and Alan Tudyk (Firefly) was enough to peak my interest, clearly the jury is still out on whether this show will be worthwhile or not. That and whether these Visitors or V’s come in peace or to eat our brains. We’ll just have to wait and see, but until then view the trailer. It’s ok, I promise.

Wednesday

Glee (Sep.9 at 9pm on FOX): This is arguably this season’s most anticipated new show. Glee is a comedy musical series that follows an optimistic high school teacher as he tries to refuel his own passion for singing while reinventing the school’s glee club and challenging a group of underdogs to realize their star potential. The early broadcast of the pilot episode this past spring averaged 10 million viewers and created a loyal fanbase, however critical response has been mixed. So, the question now is will all of FOX’s promotion this summer work out and will the show live up to the hype? And more importantly, will FOX’s gamble on unique programming pay off this season? Well, at the very least, FOX sure hopes so because it’s every network’s dream to have a show with this many commercial options in music singles, record sales, tours, merchandise, episodes, DVDs, etc.. See the trailer and get a taste for the show.

The Beautiful Life (Sep.16 at 9pm on CW): Produced by Ashton Kutcher and bringing The O.C.’s Mischa Barton back to television, this new series was inspired by the real life experiences of model-turned-writer Adam Giaudrone. The Beautiful Life follows the lives of female and male fashion models sharing a residence in New York. Plus, TheFutonCritic has given the pilot a great review. At the least, watch the trailer and see if it’s your style.

Thursday

Flash Forward (Sep.24 at 8pm on ABC): When a mysterious event causes the entire world to black out, humanity is given a glimpse into its near future, and every man, woman and child is forced to come to grips with whether their destinies can be avoided or fulfilled. I believe this is supposed to be ABC’s most anticipated new show this fall, but I think they’re promotion efforts may have been a little lax as I haven’t heard much about it. But lucky for them I liked the original premise, I’ve read the pilot script, have begun reading the novel the show is based on, and I’m still intrigued and awaiting the premiere this fall. Judging by the pilot script I read, this show is definitely the new Lost. Watch the half-teaser/half-bts trailer and decide for yourself.

Vampire Diaries (Sep.10 at 8pm on CW): I swear I don’t having a thing for vampires, my past history notwithstanding, but it only appears that way since they’re everywhere right now. From Kevin Williamson the creator of Scream and Dawson’s Creek, comes Vampire Diaries about 17-year-old Elena Gilbert who is the object of interest for two brothers, Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley) a centuries-old vampire who struggles to live peacefully among humans and his brother Damon (Ian Somerhalder, Lost) who embodies vampire violence and brutality. While the show may sound cheesy at first glance, the same could probably be said about the concept for Supernatural and that’s actually a good show. So, I’m willing to give Vampire Diaries a chance and see if it’s worth the time. Plus, after watching him in Wolf Lake, Smallville, The O.C., Everwood, and Fallen, I think it’s about time Paul Wesley gets his own show. And hey, the trailer isn’t half bad.

Fringe (Sep.17 at 9pm on FOX): Based on the idea of FBI agents investigating paranormal occurrences or ‘fringe’ science, this show quickly became known as X-Files Jr before it had even premiered. But let’s be realistic, all you really need are a male and a female investigating paranormal cases and you’ll of course get X-Files connections. What we really get though is a show that has gone beyond these comparisons and has developed it’s own unique mythology and world. Yet, the most important point is that creator J.J. Abrams, known for his twisty and myth-intense shows like Lost and Alias, has undoubtedly done it again. And pardon me while I fangirl a bit, but that first season finale kicked ass.

So, for those of you who are new or want to get a recap of Fringe, try watching a video recap of 1×01-1×10 and then skim through the official FOX video recaps of ‘Bound’ (1×11) down through ‘The Road Not Taken’ (1×19). Then finally enjoy the recap for the season finale, ‘There’s More Than One of Everything’ (guest starring Leonard Nimoy).  And now that you’re all caught up, you can get prepared with the exciting trailer for season two.

Friday

Dollhouse (Sep.25 at 9pm on FOX): Dollhouse is a highly illegal and underground place where ‘Actives’ or people who have had their personalities wiped clean are imprinted with any number of new personas so they can be programmed to fit their clients needs. And although I personally didn’t care for the first half of it’s debut season, all we need to do is recall the second half, the unaired episode ‘Epitaph One’, and the fact it’s crafted by Joss Whedon (creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly) and then we can just happily sit back and enjoy the ride. And since apparently there’s no Dollhouse season two trailer yet, I’m just going to have to send you to the season one recap.

Stargate Universe (Oct.2 at 9pm on SYFY): I remember when Stargate SG-1 started on Showtime and it was racier and darker for the first couple seasons. And it was good. Then, over time it got fluffier and more action and…it completely lost me. And that’s why I’m eagerly awaiting this new incarnation, Stargate Universe. It takes the mythology and Stargate you know and love, but we get back to basics. Back to the main themes of adventure and exploration, but darker and more character driven this time around. Plus, its already getting a lot of buzz. This is definitely not your daddy’s Stargate. I think you’ll agree after you watch the trailer.

Midseason

Day One (March 2010, Mondays at 9pm on NBC): Day One tells the story of life on earth following a global catastrophe where a group of survivors living in an apartment building in Van Nuys strive to rebuild society as they unravel the mysteries of what happened and face their uncertain future. The pilot to Day One has been directed Alex Graves who is a top director when it comes to pilots, having also directed the pilots for Fringe and The Nine. Originally the show was being compared to the now canceled Jericho, but it’s now safe to say that idea is unfounded after the trailer was mysteriously released a month ago.

Human Target (Jan.17 at 8pm on FOX, then Wed. at 9pm): Based on the popular DC Comics graphic novel, Human Target is about a unique private contractor/security guard named Chance who is hired to completely integrate himself into his clients’ lives and become the human target. Besides being another genre show on FOX, it also brings Mark Valley (Fringe) and Chi McBride (Pushing Daisies) back to television. Watch the trailer here.

Caprica (Jan.22 at 9pm on SYFY): Brought to us by the creators of the successful and critically acclaimed series Battlestar Galactica, comes a prequel with the same feel and character development we’ve come to expect from it’s predecessor. This time, however, we’re treated to a show that is more grounded in today’s reality and more subdued in the science-fiction/action elements that made the original show popular. For some fans of the original series, this may put a damper on their enjoyment of this new show. But for others of us, it makes us just as excited. Or in my case, even more excited that we’ll now get to see some of the themes such as science, religion, philosophy, etc. dealt with in a direct way. The pilot is already on DVD, but barring that you can see the trailer and wait for the premiere in January.

So, that’s my Fall TV 2009 and some Midseason options. What’s yours?

Quick Blips on Upfront Teasers

Day One on NBC – Everyone seems to be comparing the show to Jericho. It doesn’t have a proper trailer yet, but rather a behind the scenes clip. I’ll have to wait before I have further opinions on this one.

Mercy on NBC – Told from the eyes of the nurses, the only bright spot seems to be Michelle Trachtenberg. From what I saw ‘zzz…’.

Parenthood on NBC – Good actors, interesting characters, interesting plot. As I said in my previous post, the next Brothers & Sisters.

Trauma on NBC – Told from the eyes of the paramedics. I’m not interested, but at least it looks better than Mercy.

Human Target on FOX – He can be anyone you need him to be. It’s kind of like a new take on the Pretender, John Doe, or Dollhouse idea. Premise is interesting. Trailer doesn’t look too bad. Further viewing is needed.

Past Life on FOX – Interesting idea, FOX. But I think it’s pretty out there for the premise of a tv series. I don’t see this lasting. And I felt like I just watched the whole season premiere in the trailer.

Eastwick on ABC – CharmedRedux? I wonder if this will be the next chick series?

Flash Forward on ABC – More of a teaser than a trailer, but it looks good. I’m in.

V on ABC – Joel Gretsch (4400), Morena Baccarin (Firefly), Scott Wolf (Party of Five), and Alan Tudyk (Firefly) on one show about the world’s first encounter with aliens, who may or not be friendly. It doesn’t come out til midseason. But I’ll give it a try.

Three Rivers on CBS – My pick out of three medical dramas based on the previews. I may have to give this one a try. Plus, Alex O’Loughlin (Moonlight) and Katherine Moennig (Young Americans and The L Word) back on tv.

The Beautiful Life on CW – This show could be interesting and be the next Gossip Girl for the network. Plus, the return of Mischa Barton. And I never noticed her voice was so deep before.

Melrose Place on CW – Yawn. Felt like I was watching a daytime soap. The younger cast including Ashlee Simpson could be interesting, but otherwise…

The Vampire Diaries on CW – This show could go either way depending on how it’s played. So far it looks all right to watch. The next Roswell/Supernatural for the CW?

Well, that’s it. We definitely need more scripted television and less reality television. So, here’s hoping at least a couple of these shows stick and are a success with viewers.

2009-2010 Upfront Trailers

Make your own decisions and let me know what you think!

NBC 2009-2010 Upfront Trailers

FOX 2009-2010 Upfront Trailers

ABC 2009-2010 Upfront Trailers

CBS 2009-2010 Upfront Trailers

CW 2009-2010 Upfront Trailers

2009-2010 Schedule

Sunday

I usually like starting my week on Monday, but seeing as there just isn’t much to see on Sunday… Basically we’ve got Brothers and Sisters on ABC returning at 10PM. And then at 9PM we have Three Rivers on CBS, which is a new medical drama that goes inside the emotionally complex lives of organ donors, the recipients and the surgeons at the preeminent transplant hospital in the country where every moment counts.

Monday

At 8PM I’ll be watching Gossip Girl’s third season on the CW. I’d say the CW network’s best and most promising show. I’m most looking forward to seeing whether Chuck and Blair will actually stay together for a while? And how the show will run now that the gang are in separate colleges. Heroes is also back at 8pm on NBC for another year of pain and watching the beloved show of first season slowly waste away each year. Can the show ever go back to the greatness of first season? I doubt it. And our beloved Chuck will be replacing the show in the spring. House is also back at 8pm on FOX. Not sure how much life is left in this show either. Although I am interested in seeing where the events of the season finale lead the characters next.

Then at 9PM on CW we have One Tree Hill, the show that won’t die. Especially after they’ve lost two of their main stars going into the new season. Besides that we’ve got two new drama offerings on NBC: Trauma, an intense, action-packed look at first responder paramedics. Perhaps the next ER or maybe Grey’s Anatomy? And Day One, this season’s Jericho on dealing with the aftermath of a catastrophic event. Day One will actually be replacing Trauma in the spring. And we also have Lie to Me on FOX, which apparently will be having it’s second season even though I didn’t even know it existed til now. The premise sounds interesting though, so maybe I’ll have to watch it a bit.

Tuesday

At 8PM we have 90210 back for a second season on the CW, which will hopefully be better than the first season. Otherwise, zzz… And that’s about it for me.

Following 90210 at 9PM we have 90210Redux also known as the CW’s new show Melrose Place. Will it be any good? We’ll have to wait and see. But Sarah Connor Chronicles‘ Stephanie Jacobsen will be in this new show as well as Ashlee Simpson-Wentz. We also have another new offering from FOX called Past Life about a pair of past-life detectives who investigate whether what is happening to you today is the result of who you were before in another life. I don’t know about this FOX…

Wednesday

We have a new offering at 8PM on NBC that features a star-studded cast (among them are Maura Tierney, Erika Christensen, and Peter Krause) and sounds like it may be this season’s Brothers and Sisters. Parenthood is about a financially strapped single mother, returns home to her parents and siblings in Berkeley, Calif. after packing up her Fresno apartment and uprooting her two inconvenienced kids. Most likely one of the season’s biggest hits. Replacing it in the spring is another medical drama Mercy, portraying the lives of the staff at Mercy Hospital as seen through the eyes of those who know it best — its nurses. Michelle Trachtenberg from BtVS and Gossip Girl can be seen in Mercy. I don’t see myself watching either of these shows, but we’ll see.

At 9PM we have the much hyped Glee on FOX, which actually has the pilot available for viewing already. I haven’t had a chance to watch it yet however. Replacing it in the winter will be Human Target based on a comic book. Mark Valley from Fringe stars as Christopher Chance, a unique private contractor/security guard hired to protect by completely integrating himself into his clients’ lives to become the human target. Meanwhile on CW, Mischa Barton returns to television on The Beautiful Life about models, and which sounds kind of yawn-worthy.

Thursday

First at 8PM we have Flash Forward on ABC which may be one of the most interesting scifi/fantasy options this season. When a mysterious event causes the entire world to black out, humanity is given a glimpse into its near future, and every man, woman and child is forced to come to grips with whether their destinies can be avoided or fulfilled. Another new show is CW’s The Vampire Dairies about a girl and two vampire brothers. The added bonus is seeing Paul Wesley on tv again. I’ve been watching him for a while in different shows like Wolf Lake, Everwood, and the Fallen miniseries. Could be an interesting show, but we’ll have to see. Then, of course there is Bones on FOX returning for a fifth season.

At 9PM we also have the return of various fan favorites: Grey’s Anatomy on ABC, CSI on CBS, and Supernatural on CW. Plus, we now also have FOX’s Fringe which will be battling these other three shows for ratings in it’s new time slot. I’m not sure this is a wise decision to pit against the other three already established shows.

Friday

Smallville is another show that has gone past it’s shelf life. So, instead of canceling it, it’s been banished to Friday where shows go to die.

Meanwhile, at 9PM Ugly Betty on ABC and Southland on NBC have also been sent to Friday. And Medium while finally getting an earlier time slot, has also been sent to Friday. And Dollhouse on FOX, while it managed to get another season was not given a vote of confidence by moving to another night. And now it has another three new shows to compete with in the same timeslot that it didn’t have before. Perhaps this season Friday will not be where shows go to die? Maybe the networks will establish a new night of television?

Now I don’t know about you, but I get tired of having to check more than one site. Or update my status on more than one site. Or upload pictures to more than one site. Etc. etc. So, I don’t. So, what do I do?

Social Networking: Tips and Uses

Well, first I believe in using just one site for each purpose. One site for status updates, whether it be Twitter, Identica, etc. One site for photos: Flickr, Photobucket, Picasa, etc. This way each site has their own specialty and thus their own development, features, etc. designed exactly for one purpose. Plus, this way you don’t have to move things to each new social networking fad. Or upload things more than once.

Second, I believe in using a lifestreaming site to tie all the different sites you’ve updated/uploaded together and be able to share your identity all in one place. From Wikipedia: “Lifestreaming is the practice of collecting an online user’s disjointed online presence in one central ‘location’ or ’site’.” Thus making it easier for you to keep track of everything your friends are doing or vice versa.

The Sites

The best thing about social networking is being able to keep up-to-date on the web pages, photos, videos, music, etc. that your friends and family are interested in and sharing even if you’re not around. As an added bonus, you also get to discover and discuss new things.

First let’s check out some options for social networking sites. Now these are the sites that I use on a regular basis and make up my lifestream, but of course there are other options out there as well.

• Twitter

What am I doing? Yes, Twitter still has technical issues it needs to overcome. But it’s still the most widespread of all the status updating options. You can find a variety of people and celebs, tv stations, etc. adding to the masses. Plus, there are lots of ways to post and apps to keep track of all your friends’ tweets.

If you want you can even update your Facebook status with Twitter. So, why not create a Twitter account and use the Twitter application to update your Twitter and Facebook status at once.

• Google

I’m sure people have their reasons, but I don’t understand why someone would still use hotmail, yahoo, etc. for their email when they can use Google.

I love Google’s GMail, which allows me to add things widgets to the sidebar and tweak the way I see my mail. Plus, I can even filter my email automatically as it comes in. Or add labels (like folders) to tag my email as it comes in or when reading my inbox. Or I can even star an email for later. And

I also love their GCalendar, which allows me to create multiple calendars and set levels of privacy on those calendars and the events within them. Then, I can share my calendar easily with friends.

What articles/news am I reading? And I also love their GReader, which allows me to keep track of the feeds on lots of different sites, tag them, star them for later, or even share them with friends. I use all three of them everyday. I’m Google all the way.

• Flickr

Do you see what I see? The granddaddy site of photo updating. Options for privacy, tagging, geotagging, etc. And you can add photos by web, email, phone, etc. Now, you can even add short videos.

• Livejournal

My thoughts. My choices. My words. Livejournal is still my choice for blogging. Especially for private blogging. And especially for interacting with fandom. Livejournal allows you so many options for layouts. It also allows you to blog by web, email, txt, etc. I can even blog from an external blog like I’m doing now, and then crosspost it to Livejournal. And the best part, the levels of privacy. I can create different groups, place different readers in each of those groups, and blog to whichever group I choose.

• Last.fm

What are you listening to? It’s as easy as creating an account, adding the app to your computer, and listening to music. Everything you listen to will be added to your profile. You can also ‘love’ your favorite songs.

• Listal

What have I seen/read/bought? I use one site to keep track of all the movies, books, CDs I buy and watch. Listal allows me to mark something as owned or watched, and even provides an RSS feed or widget to display it on other sites.

• Orangutag

What have I watched on tv? Lots of tv to watch and hard to remember what I’ve seen and what I haven’t seen. Orangutag is an easy way to keep track of all of it. Plus, it comes with an RSS feed to display it on other sites.

• Delicious

What have I bookmarked? I love Delicious. Before I used Delicious, I didn’t know how I’d keep track of all my bookmarks on various computers at home and away as well as my iPhone. But now I have them all stored in one place. You can tag the bookmarks. You can choose to make them public or private. Etc.

• YouTube

The place to upload and watch videos. Enough said.

• Remember the Milk

Tasks and To-dos. You can add to it from Twitter. And you can even add it to your GMail page. My favorite to-do app.

Wrap It All Up

So many sites, so little time. Now, it’s time to introduce you to my weapons of choice for keeping track of it all and lifestreaming.

• Netvibes

I love Netvibes. I’m able to manage all my social networks from one site and one page. Netvibes allows you to create a startpage made up of widgets that correspond to each site you use. For the widgets I just use a mobile version of each site I use. Very useful. Then, you can either refresh your startpage and all the widgets are updated at once. Or you can refresh each widget individually.

Now, you can create your own startpage by going directly to the Netvibes site and addding/subtracting widgets. But may I suggest checking out my Netvibes startpage and building from there? You can see the layout for my personal Netvibes here.

• FriendFeed

Another way I keep track of everything is through this best kept secret. With FriendFeed you can get a feed or lifestream made up of all the content that your friends shared. FriendFeed automatically imports shared stuff from the sites you and your friends use across the web, so if your friend favorites a video on YouTube, you get an entry with a link and a thumbnail of the video in your feed. And if your friend uploads a picture on Flickr, you get an entry with a link and thumbnail in your feed. All the sites I mentioned above are a part of my FriendFeed.

Plus, there are so many ways to navigate FriendFeed. FriendFeed is also fully searchable, filterable by service, or hidable by service/user. This allows you to let’s say, filter and see just the photos your friend John posted. Or filter to see the photos all your friends have recently posted. And the hide feature allows you to hide a particular friend, a particular service from a friend, or that service in general amongst all your friends.

And let’s say a friend of yours doesn’t want to use FriendFeed, well you’re not just out of luck. Just create an ‘imaginary friend’ of your friend and add all the sites your friend uses to it. You can still follow everything your friend does without them even creating an account.

The imaginary friend feature is also useful for following other sites or LJ communities. Add an RSS feed to an imaginary friend and you have an automatic way to track the most important sites you frequent. Let me suggest adding these two RSS feeds from Facebook as an imaginary friend. The first is the Facebook notifications feeds and can be found here. The second is the Facebook Friends’ Status Updates and this one is a bit trickier. First go here and then when you click on the feed link for My Friends’ Links, replace share_friends_posts in the URL with friends_status. It used to be easier to find, but Facebook decided to disable it by hiding it. Oh, and don’t forget to create an imaginary friend for your Twitter replies as well.

FriendFeed is pretty easy to use once you get started. So the best way to learn about it all is just to dive in and have a looksie at the FAQ. And once you’ve gotten started, you can even get FriendFeed to update in real-time from your Firefox sidebar. ;) This way you can work and surf other sites and still keep updated in real-time. Trust me, FriendFeed is the awesome.

And I know this is a lot of information. So if you have any questions/suggestions. Let me have them!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone!

Don’t pinch too many people too hard.

Oh, and let me know if you’re not wearing any green,
so I can have a chance to pinch you, too.