Although HBO’s new therapy series In Treatment does not rate well among viewers so far, and although the concept of a show that is based mostly on a dialog with a monotone background and relatively passive characters contradict what we are used to get from our TV, the show is very addictive. In Treatment airs daily, and each patient has one session a week, so the show deals with different issues every day. Don’t let the slow start mislead you, in Israel, where the show was created, it also took a while, but then the show became a hit, with a growing group of devoted followers. I’m sure that this crossed Mark Whalberg’s mind when he decided to bring the show to the states.
HBO wanted to increase the exposure of In Treatment and wisely decided to put full-length episodes on its YouTube channel. So if you are not yet acquainted with psychoanalyst Paul Weston (Gabriel Byrne) and his patients, here’s your chance.
Warning: This post has the potential of making you moody. Don’t read it if you are having a happy day!!!!
Riders on the storm
Riders on the storm
Into this house we’re born
Into this world we’re thrown
Like a dog without a bone
And actor out on loan
Riders on the storm
There’s a killer on the road
His brain is squirmin’ like a toad
Take a long holiday
Let your children play
If ya give this man a ride
Sweet family will die
Killer on the road, yeah
The recent rain and snow storms in my area reminded me of this wonderful song from the 1971 Doors album, LA Woman. And it also made me think about all those talented people who died at the same very young age of 27:
Jimmy Hendrix died on September 18, 1970 in London. He was 27. Just two weeks later, on October 4, 197 one of Janis Joplin’s road managers found her dead in the Landmark Motor Hotel in LA. She was 27.
Jim Morrison died in Paris. It was July 3 1971, and he was taking a bath. Guess how old he was. It took 24 years before our next 27 year old phenomenon checked out. It was April 8, 1994 when Kurt Cobain was discovered at his Lake Washington home by an electrician, after he shot himself.
Oscar ratings were dramatically down this year. This despite all the George Clooney pimping, the red dresses, and Sean Penn’s new arm candy. While the writers’ strike is rumored to be the primary culprit of ABC’s bad fortune in a year that was ripe with downer nominees, some fault needs to be shifted to the downright lack of charisma of the show’s host, John Stewart. Considering I had to wait till 10:50 PM before there was one comment that made me chuckle and that it’s all but erased from my memory, it can’t bode well for Stewart’s wittiness. Yeah, yeah, writers’ strike and there were 5 writers that had pitch in to write the telecast this year and they had fast turnaround given time restrictions, but isn’t Stewart a comedian after all? If Tina Fey can pull off of the more memorable SNL episodes to hit the tube in a long time, can’t Stewart work some magic? I always thought Stewart was a little bit of a whiny sissy anyways, but maybe he lacks that bitch is the new black factor after all…
Last night’s Oscars was as predictable and extremely boring (the Coen brothers looked like they really need some sleep.) No real surprises, no dramas. John Stuart may be a nice guy, but he is useless as a host, and the only true comic relief was that slippery something on the floor in front of the podium, that made almost every presenter to almost fall on their asses. Most of the winners, relaxed in their tuxedo and dresses, were almost indifferent in their acceptance speeches. The foreign actors were the only to give a genuine sense of excitement. Maybe the lack of surprises was the reason, maybe the long evening, but I think that the main reason for the dull event is that everybody was so busy being infatuated with George Clooney, that they forgot all about the Oscars. Don’t be surprised if next year, instead of the Academy Awards they’ll just have a St. George Clooney day.
The Oscars air tonight and since I’ve seen at least some of the films nominated, I have more of a vested interest in who wins and who doesn’t. The SAG and Golden Globes are usually somewhat of an indicator as to who will sweep, but as past years have shown, it’s not always a fool-proof litmus test.
But what about the other awards show of late?
Besides the fact that the Spirit (Independent Spirit) awards are the “coolest”- people get to actually show up in birkenstocks/tevas and it takes place along the beach after all in Santa Monica, there are the Razzies aka the “crappiest” (as my nephew would say) films of the year which were handed out just yesterday. At the top of the list was Eddie Murphy for worst actor, supporting actress, and supporting actor for his multiple roles in the flop, Norbit. Perhaps the most telling award was Lindsay Lohan picking up “Word Actress” for her role in I know Who Killed Me which may as well be called, I Know Who/What Killed My Career!
But back to the Oscars because while they might not be the hippest or funniest awards show, they are still the most prestigious for now and the ones that get the most play on national TV. Below is my list of this year’s winners. I’m not clairvoyant or anything, but I’d love to be a betting woman on these since I think I could accumulate some serious dough here…In bold is my pick for winner and with accompanying asterisk is my pick for “who knew” (either about the movie or why this person was nominated).
It’s kind of corny to repeat the same thing over and over again, but every day that goes by brings with him situations that make you think about The Office. Those little moments that of course are not as amusing as when they happen in Scranton, but still you stop and say: Hey, this reminds me of something from The Office… This guy looks like Kevin Malone… She is like Jen…
There is not much hope that we will get to see The Office or any other show if you come to think about it returning in the next month or so, and it is sad. But hey, at least we have Eli Stone played by Johnny Lee Miller tonight at 10/9c on ABC. Eli Stone is probably the best thing that happened on TV during the writers strike.
Seriously, who the hell gives a damn about Gene Simmons’ sex tape? So he was having sex with a model, so what? Is it not mandatory for a Rock star, especially almost a has been like our Chaim to fool around like that? And one more thing, who the hell wants to see a 59 year old man perform? Apparently, plenty of people not only want to watch it but paid good money to avn.com, a site that flourishes from such events for the pleasure to watch the clip.
I know that Shannon Tweed has been Gene’s girlfriend since 1985, and that they have two kids together, and that she is defiantly, not the woman from the clip, but come on, he’s a rocker.
Any way, it remind me of that Family Guy episode when the Griffins meet Simmons in a diner, and Lois recognizes him as without his makeup as Chaim Witz, who she dated before he changed his name, and Peter is so proud that he announce that his wife did Kiss on public television… That was a great episode….
By the way, although he did not deny it has not been confirmed yet that the man in the clip is actually Gene Simmons. Therefore, this all might just be much ado about nothing.
OK, so here is the story: About a year ago we got robbed. That’s a long and sad story, involving an insurance company that gladly took our money when we got the policy, but for various reasons would not pay for our stolen stuff. But let’s not talk about it now. The kind thief who visited our apartment that night did not steal our DVD, but in order to make sure he has the right equipment for the things he did stole, he took away our remote controls, all of them.
So after a few months of running to the TV stand to pause, stop, or fast forward (and after we moved from that place thank God,) and since the device wasn’t doing a great job playing movies, we decided it’s time to get a new one. When we got to the store we had three options: To get a standard DVD (a known brand cost about $50 back then,) a Blue Ray machine (About $350,) or for $75 we could get an HD-DVD device. We got the last one. Both were new technologies, both offered amazing quality. Back then we couldn’t tell which one will dominate the market. Now we know. A couple of days ago, Toshiba announced that it will abandon its HD-DVD format. Now we learn that Amazon.com will stop selling HD-DVD and will side with Blue-Ray. Cnet News reports that Peter Faricy, Amazon’s vice president of movies and music, said in a statement from the company: “The high-definition landscape is rapidly changing, and consumers are looking for guidance on how to make the best high-definition buying decisions, our customers have clearly voiced their support for the Blue-ray format.”
Also, the presence of the format in the popular Sony Playstation 3 game console, and Blockbuster early siding with it, put a lot of weight on the preference to go Blue.
I’m not too sorry for buying the DVD I have now, I prefer it this way on buying a Blue-Ray and then the HD-DVD would come on top. Then I would have lost a lot more… I will buy a Blue-Ray DVD, but not today.
During the recent writers strike, we’ve been bombarded with TV shows that on normal days would never even be considered for American prime time TV or for any time actually. Now that the strike is finally over, and the writers are back at their desks, writing like there is no Mañana, and just before we are going to watch their recent creations, here are the four lowest levels of TV entertainment. Counting from worst to better:
Level 4: Reality TV: I know people are addicted to reality TV, and I understand that the desire to peak into other people’s lives might cause resistance to this post by those people. Nevertheless, Reality TV has the same features as Porn. Like porn it is being semi- directed, the participant are semi- actors, using semi- script. And the most important thing is: The viewers are convinced that they are watching the real thing. Well they are not.
Exceptions: One, The Biggest Loser. This show actually encourages people to take positive steps in improving their lives.
Level 3: Season long contests: This level is dedicated to some of the most watched shoes in the country, and includes but not limited to: American Idol, Dancing With The Stars, The Apprentice, and more. These shows are rubbish. The joy of looking at 3 judges, so full of themselves, criticizing and slaughtering the poor contestants who should have probably known better then to participate in the first place. Recent revelations regarding the new season of American Idol only emphasis how these shows are handled, by who, and for what purpose.
Exceptions: None.
Level 2: Substitute Game Shows: These are horrible, the worst of the worst. These shows were rejected by the networks, but still managed to film a couple of episodes. And just because something happened (like a writer’s strike,) they are being aired. Last night’s My Dad Is Better Then YourDad was and amazing example, in normal times, this show will not pass as a substitute for an infomercial. And don’t you start talking to me about Seinfeld, who started as a substitute, it wasn’t a game show.
Exceptions: None.
Level 1: Game Shows: There are all sorts of game shows, so excuse me for gathering all of them under one roof. Game Shows are what we watch when there is nothing else on, or when we are waiting for one of our favorite shows to start. It is often extremely boring, and may cause you to fall asleep earlier then what you had planed. But there are good sides to the genre: A. No need to follow up. You don’t need to wait a whole season to see who won. B: After a hard day, when your brains can’t take any more information, it’s a guarantee these shows will not make it harder on you.
Exceptions: One, Moment Of Truth. This show should not have been produced at whole, absolutely terrible.
I’m sitting here watching the intro to NBC’s latest wunderkind, My Dad is Better Than Your Dad and wondering how they managed to depict kids in such an evil light. These competitive, bratty kids actually make their dads look passive and somewhat sympathetic comparatively, but isn’t it meant to be the other way around? Showing how unlikable the parents are that spawn such annoying kids. Who hasn’t seen Willy Wonka?
Anyways, I’m just happy that an all new Medium is back at 10 PM on NBC. With the writers’ strike kickin’ it in high gear over the last few months, I grew to immensely enjoy the acting delights of Patricia Arquette’s silly little show. Call me crazy but knowing there is someone else who wakes up in trembling in a sweaty panic over their work makes me feel a little less alone.
How dare I even ask… Of-course it’s on tonight, in fact, not one, but two episodes will air, one after the other. Now don’t get me wrong here, I like TV, and I like TV series. But there is something about Lost that I just can’t stand. Maybe it’s this collection of amazing people, who just happen to be together on the same plane when it crashes on that island, or maybe it’s just that the acting is not so good, or the story is boring, or all of the above, and then some more. I am aware of the fact that other Amaldo’s Blog writers absolutely adores the show, but every Thursday for two hours, I actually appreciate the fact that we have another TV set at home.
At least after Lost there is a new Eli Stone episode.
Now it’s official, msnbc reports tonight, that the The Writers Guild of America voted to end it’s three+ months strike and go back to work. The writers will start on Wednesday. As a result of this development, the Academy Awards will take place as planned, on February 24 without any pickets or boycotts in sight.
Family Guy Re-runs became such a necessity since the writers strike started, but how many more times can we see the same episodes? I was never a Seth MacFarlane fan, but I am a Peter Griffin one. And although Blue Harvest is out and running with it’s fancy special edition thing, I know I’m not the only one who craves a few new chapters in the Rhode Island’s most famous family. Like the time we went to the beach and Stewie wet his diaper….
(Click here for more Amy Winehouse stuff)
I did not watch the Grammy Awards. I was experiencing some unprofessional treatment by a verity of Airport employees. But even if I didn’t have this pleasure, I doubt if I would have watched the event. i just don’t like this kind of shows.
However, when I found out that Amy Winehouse, one of this blog’s favorite singers picked FIVE(!) Grammys, and also looked kinda OK on the screen, I was happy. Although at first, she could not get a visa to the US, and by the time she got it, it was to late for her to come, she still managed to pull out a show via satellite (So I’ve been told…) When she sang her most famous song, Rehab.
So, this is Amy’s time now. If she’ll know to take it easy on the alcohol and the drugs, and for God’s sake, grab a bite, she can have a great future.
Now they say Heath Ledger died of an accidental overdose. Well, I’m not sure what it means, but regardless, does it help his family and friends that on top of mourning his death had to deal with those ugly suicide assumptions? And what about all those pre-written eulogies which guarantee celebrity’s life summery even before his or her last breath. The media should take a step back not before something bad happens, because it’s already happening. Cynicism is a great defense mechanism when you are 15, but when adults over use it, like in the case of AP and the rest of the gang, it’s a dangerous weapon, a weapon of mass communications.
I love Jeffrey Tambor. Don’t get me wrong. He was brilliant in Arrested Development and I’m sure will be outstanding in the movie version of the show when it premieres. However, when it comes to comedy pilots as of late, his choices need some serious revisiting. First there was the failed pilot, Twenty Good Years, which despite the power duo which coupled him with John Lithgow, bombed, and with great reason, after a handful of episodes.
Today CBS launched a new pilot starring Tambor in an ensemble cast which stars a no-name lead, Fran Kranz (see right), whose most notable contribution to comedy comes via The OC, where I’m quite certain his walk-on role fell under the “drama” category, but still not clear. Other cast members include Chris Klein of American Pie fame whose acting range extends to looking classically clueless while playing a caricature of himself to being Katie Holmes’ ex in real life (hmmm…connection?). Rounding out the cast is Reba star Joanna Garcia, who could very well be Cheryl Hines’ little sister/daughter and has the “damsel in distress” act down pat.
In typical sitcom fashion, the pilot revolves around Kranz’ character falling in love/lust with Garcia’s girl-next-door and from here emerges a plot hook which CBS hopes will keep audiences in captivity, until at least the end of the writers’ strike. Given the rumoured imminent end to the strike, it’s possible CBS may scrap Tambor’s latest effort in favor of a new episode of CSI. Maybe ABC or better yet, HBO, will have better luck channeling Tambor’s talent?
If you’re a Lost fan, it’s hard imagine what next after a season finale which featured never-before-seen previews of the life after the island (yes, they do manage to get off somehow); a climactic showdown between the show’s two bitter rivals/archenemies; the death of a beloved, yet flawed character who left us with a fateful message or one that’s construed as such anyways; and a possible pregnancy forcing the Jack/Sawyer/Kate love triangle storyline to its near breaking point.
With build-up in tension like that, it’s easy to see the rationale behind ABC waiting 8 mos to launch a new season of their most popular show and even more so why there was no way the premiere could hold a candle to the fireworks that ignited back in May.
Still, my biggest pet peeve about the Lost season premiere on Thursday was the lack of imagination and forethought into the characters’ development. And most of all, this overplay of the same 2-dimensional theme that the island holds some magical force which perpetuates good and that once you’re off the island you become dysfunctional and your entire sense of equilibrium gets shifted off-kilter to the brink of insanity.
Case-in-point: the anti-burly Hurley aka Hugo. Read More…
Superbowl!!! Superbowl!!! After all that’s been said and done, now it’s time to put everything aside.Tonight’s the night. Superbowl 42 is Football history in the making. The Giants are no wallflowers, they come to play the NFL biggest game and win. I think the Patriots understand this, but not so much the fans. If both teams play at their best, the Giants will lose, but we can’t count on that. I also think it will all come up to the last few minutes of the fourth quarter, and will be determined by a field goal or a single touchdown.
So for the last time this season GO PATS!!!!!!!!!!
More proof that he writers’ strike is putting a serious dent on the availability of celebrities for late night appearances on talk shows: A guest on her longtime boyfriend, Jimmy Kimmel’s talk show last night, Sarah Silverman had a seriously scandalous confession to make to her honey.
I’ll give you a hint: While Jimmy Kimmel’s home drinking diet snapple, Sarah is [insert blog subject header] on the bed and on the floor.
Although HBO’s new therapy series In Treatment does not rate well among viewers so far, and although the concept of a show that is based mostly on a dialog with a monotone background and relatively passive characters contradict what we are used to get from our TV, the show is very addictive. In Treatment airs daily, and each patient has one session a week, so the show deals with different issues every day. Don’t let the slow start mislead you, in Israel, where the show was created, it also took a while, but then the show became a hit, with a growing group of devoted followers. I’m sure that this crossed Mark Whalberg’s mind when he decided to bring the show to the states.
Oscar ratings were 
The Oscars air tonight and since I’ve seen at least some of the films nominated, I have more of a vested interest in who wins and who doesn’t. The SAG and Golden Globes are usually somewhat of an indicator as to who will sweep, but as past years have shown, it’s not always a fool-proof litmus test.
It’s kind of corny to repeat the same thing over and over again, but every day that goes by brings with him situations that make you think about 
/best_dressed_animation_lois.jpg "Lois Griffin did Kiss")
Seriously, who the hell gives a damn about 
OK, so here is the story: About a year ago we got robbed. That’s a long and sad story, involving an insurance company that gladly took our money when we got the policy, but for various reasons would not pay for our stolen stuff. But let’s not talk about it now. The kind thief who visited our apartment that night did not steal our DVD, but in order to make sure he has the right equipment for the things he did stole, he took away our remote controls, all of them.
Level 3: Season long contests: This level is dedicated to some of the most watched shoes in the country, and includes but not limited to: 
Level 2: Substitute Game Shows: These are horrible, the worst of the worst. These shows were rejected by the networks, but still managed to film a couple of episodes. And just because something happened (like a writer’s strike,) they are being aired. Last night’s 
excuse me for gathering all of them under one roof. Game Shows are what we watch when there is nothing else on, or when we are waiting for one of our favorite shows to start. It is often extremely boring, and may cause you to fall asleep earlier then what you had planed. But there are good sides to the genre: A. No need to follow up. You don’t need to wait a whole season to see who won. B: After a hard day, when your brains can’t take any more information, it’s a guarantee these shows will not make it harder on you.
I’m sitting here watching the intro to NBC’s latest wunderkind, My Dad is Better Than Your Dad and wondering how they managed to depict kids in such an evil light. These competitive, bratty kids actually make their dads look passive and somewhat sympathetic comparatively, but isn’t it meant to be the other way around? Showing how unlikable the parents are that spawn such annoying kids. Who hasn’t seen Willy Wonka?
How dare I even ask… Of-course it’s on tonight, in fact, not one, but two episodes will air, one after the other. Now don’t get me wrong here, I like TV, and I like TV series. But there is something about Lost that I just can’t stand. Maybe it’s this collection of amazing people, who just happen to be together on the same plane when it crashes on that island, or maybe it’s just that the acting is not so good, or the story is boring, or all of the above, and then some more. I am aware of the fact that other Amaldo’s Blog writers absolutely adores the show, but every Thursday for two hours, I actually appreciate the fact that we have another TV set at home.
I love Jeffrey Tambor. Don’t get me wrong. He was brilliant in Arrested Development and I’m sure will be outstanding in the 
Superbowl 42 is Football history in the making. The Giants are no wallflowers, they come to play the NFL biggest game and win. I think the Patriots understand this, but not so much the fans. If both teams play at their best, the Giants will lose, but we can’t count on that. I also think it will all come up to the last few minutes of the fourth quarter, and will be determined by a field goal or a single touchdown.
