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Wednesday, September 27, 2006 - 10:56:06
Confidential Ramblings on NPR
Well, I’m riding in to work this morning, listening to the NPR, and hear again how the press keeps asking George Clooney if he’ll be running for President. Apparently someone out there has made some shirts up and one thing led to another. America is just not going to be happy until we elect one of the celebrities to office. I swear, it’s the most ridiculous concept I’ve heard. Does Clooney know thing one about running this country, no, he doesn’t and he’s said that. He has his political causes, mostly international aid, etc. He doesn’t want to think about taxes, economic indicators, the conservative right, the extreme left, prison reform, the war on drugs, the war on terror, the war on obesity… we sure have a lot of wars on things… and Clooney shouldn’t. Why would you take a huge pay cut to do a job that is a million times more stressful? Idiots. Clooney is not running for President, at least not yet, he’ll have to become Governor of California first, duh…. Just in case though:
Clooney isn’t the only one being pressured into public service, Oprah Winfrey has her own grassroots efforts to contend with. Some retired teacher in Kansas City has started an Oprah for President website. He even wrote a song about it. I know, a song, I don’t know where these people get their ideas. As reported on every news service in the world, Winfrey's lawyers sent a cease and desist to him and then she later apologized after all the press, saying she has no political ambitions (though she has tons of influence) but wasn’t going to sue this cat for $100 million dollars for infringing on her "brand". When is Mr. Ricky going to be a brand? Hello, people, Mr. Ricky for President, I'm just saying.
To get the Oprah campaign song straight from the horse's mouth: http://www.dreamagic.com/oprah/oprah.html.
While retiree's may get away with slapping Oprah on their websites, www.cafeexpress.com already has a slew of Oprah ’08 goodies which may not fair as well. Someone is making money off of it and I’m sure they may see a similar letter in the mail and I doubt they’ll get off so easy.
Lastly, NPR also had something on about Mexican drug cartels having to rely on growing marijuana on national parks land, etc. instead of bringing it across the border as border security has increased. Their new found pot farms are ranging in the tens of thousands of plants per acre, siphoning off water from streams containing endangered fish species, leaching untold amounts of pesticides and fertilizers into the surrounding area and the workers that live with the plants to make sure a competitor doesn’t come along and beat them to the harvest are creating mini-landfills of trash and debris.
- killing more than your brain cells.
Now I’m not getting on you for lighting up some ganja, if that’s your thing, that’s your thing. But I am saying every nickel bag you put in on is causing destruction and financial burden on the ailing national park system. So if you don’t think your pot habit is hurting someone (assuming you don’t count the illegal immigrants caring for the plants and trafficking them, the drug dealer turf wars or the law enforcement personnel combating all of this or your own health and well being) then remember, its hurting the animals, the environment and our national treasures.
So is this just another in a long line of reasons to legalize marijuana? I don’t know, there are countries that have legalized the chronic and still function pretty well, but they are also the size of Rhode Island, we would be talking about more in dime bag sales than their GNPs. This is, however, definitely another reason Drugs are Bad, mmmkay?
Stepping off my box. wow, I get fired up over National Park lands used by illegal drug dealers who don’t clean up after themselves, I really do, cleaning that stuff up costs millions every year, I’m sorry, fired up.
That’s all for today, my suggestion for this week is everyone go see The Second City at the Arkansas Repertory Theater. The show is always a good time. Hurry, they're only here for two weeks!
(Click on the pic for details and tickets)
Environmentally and Confidentially friendly, Mr. Ricky.
Monday, September 25, 2006 - 09:45:36
Monday Mornings, why?
Well, it's Monday morning and I'm tired, sore and just not willing to work right now, so why not a quick blog, right? Mr. Ricky, rebel!
So how was your weekend? Mine was okay. Hung with friends, saw some music and got nothing productive done. I'm slowly realizing that 1) I'm far more concerned with my friendships than my friends are; meaning I'm always over analyzing everything, did I make this person mad, hurt this one's feelings, not pay enough attention to that one's story, etc. I definitely think of what do to make someone feel special, then someone esle gets the credit cause I'm dealing with another friend's problem. Jealous, maybe a little, I did the leg work. 2) I don't have any close friends. That's a lie, I do, I suppose, I think I just don't let them in on all of me. Do any of us really let our friends in 100%, I hope you do, it's not much fun if you don't. I'll have to start heeding some of my own advice and work on that.
During a concert at a local venue, I noticed half the crowd was intently listening to the band, which you had to if you wanted to hear the lyrics over music. Seriously, I understand its cool to rock, and I enjoy a loud show, but really, what's the point of your four-chord song if your lyrics are a mumbled, barely audible mess? If you aren't sure of your words, rethink the song, especially if you aren't some kind of virtuoso who can pull off a fifteen-minute musical interlude. The other half of the crowed, was texting people that they were at the concert, etc. What was the world like before texting? A little more polite and lot less connected. I sent five texts while I was there, I'm a Hypocrite, I know.
Found a new website, well new to me, www.woot.com. They sell one item everyday, kinda like a daily special Overstock.com or something. They have a forum and stuff, great little site, never know what they'll have or how long quantities will last, so check in the morning if you're a deal hunter.
Weekend Television watching was reduced as my time for prime time is waning. Desperate Housewives was entertaining, still not sure if I'm really sold on this season, but it did make me LOL a few times. Following DH, I watched the new Brothers & Sisters, which stars Sally Field as the matriarch of family of dysfunctionals trying to make it through life and keep the family business afloat. The premiere was a bombardment of what's wrong with each of the kids and the family's tolerance, to some degree of each. Its a cornucopia of stereo-types and popular issues: One sister and brother help run the family produce business and find out their "Uncle Saul" and their father, played by special guest star Tom Skerritt, have done something with the pension fund money. The father dies before he can explain himself. Plot line #1. Oh, and Dad has a mistress. Plot line #2. Calista Flockhart returns to television as the conservative radio show turned talk show host who moves back to the west coast for a new job and the family tragedy. Sally Fields, the mother, has an estranged relationship with Flockhart that is thawing at best, and blames her youngest son's decision to join the army and do a tour in Afghanistan on her daughter. Plot lines #3 & #4. Let's see, there's also the requisite gay son, the responsible, can't settle down yet, son, the veteran with drug and emotional problems son, well, the list goes on and on and on.
What struck me as odd was the avalanche of information the audience was given in the first episode. There are literally so many things going on, I think I would have to take notes or watch the recap just to remember it all. The cast is top notch, I mean Sally Fields alone is reason enough to watch, but any show that can afford to use someone of Skerritts caliber for one show is pretty confident in the rest of the players. Thus, I'm confused why they would think they had to promise every character arc and dilemma they could think of would go on simultaneously and immediately. Apparently it’s the dynamic of this family and their interconnectedness we are really suppose to latch onto. I don't know that it’s a formula that's going to work, I sorta feel like they lit all their black cats at the same time. I'm intrigue to see how they balance all of it; the previews for next week looked like it should be the end of the season, yelling, crying, and a funeral...
SIDE NOTE: Sally Fields could read the phonebook and probably garner an Emmy, Oscar, Tony or the Heisman, wow; she is definitely one of America's acting treasures, I'll be watching just to see her. I hope this cast, though talented and experienced for the most part (Flockhart has a TONY, right?) realizes they are in the midst of greatness and takes notes.
I also watched Men in Trees, taped it Friday. I can't help it, I like the show, I tried not to like Anne Heche and I still think she could use a cheeseburger, but dang it, it's a good show, and I'll be recording it. I doubt it will make it to next season, its just going to burn through a lot of things this season, but its a great concept and written well. One of my favorite things, they have some issue with using live animals for some shots. If you get to see the raccoon let me know if you think its a cat or a dog, I think it's a cat in a raccoon suit. And the obvious string on the back of the skunk tai was hysterical. I think they must make it that obvious because one, the animals aren't intricate to the story and two, its hysterical to see the rigged up animal puppets instead of thousands of dollars of cgi or wrangled animals.
Well, that's pretty good for a Monday morning coffee break. Confidentially, I rather be at home, in bed, watching Sean of the Dead, but I got to get that check.
GOT SOMETHING CONFIDENTIAL? - overhear something great, need help with an issue, got the scoop on something? Let me know.
Email it to: centralarkansasconfidential@gmail.com if you need to keep it on the DL. [For all those who’ve been in a cave, that’s “down low”, it means to keep something on the “sly” or private. That’s you slang definition for the day”]
Friday, September 22, 2006 - 20:14:45
Why Arkansas Made Me Sigh Today...
STOP GAY ADOPTION!Saw this sign by a Holt campaign sign while driving on Rodney Parham today.
1. Why don't they want gay kids adopted?
2. Or do they think gay parents are going to do any worse a job raising children than straight parents?
3. I think its better to grow up in a home with love than in a series of foster homes and institutions. Parents are parents to a kid, they just want to be loved.
4. Are there not more pressing issues (like the Education system) that we could focus on?
Politicians using fear and hate to win elections, that's who I want in office, yeah, buddy!
Confidentially, I'm ashamed of the Arkansans that put that sign up.
-Mr. Ricky
My Television Knows No Bounds
Well, a ton has happened on the tube, and that's where my focus has been so let's get down to gravy. Now I have been discussing everything that's on, but looking back that was just the caffeine induced ramblings of a madman whose been waiting for the season to start. Damn you Starbucks©!
TUESDAY
When we last left off, boys and girls, I made predictions on what I was "definitely" going to watch, those were mostly "guidelines", but here's what ended up catching my attention.
7PM: House (FOX), really in that time slot, there's not much competition. The show is good, the guy playing house is great, and the diseases are always interesting, what else could you want. Oh, the supporting cast to rise up to the lead's level? Well, probably not going to happen, though they have realized they were under using Robert Sean Leonard (with too many credits to list here). Bryan Singer (Superman Returns Director) Exec. Produces this show, so there's plenty of know0how on board and the rest of the cast, save Omar Epps, is relatively new to the biz, but they work well together and its the most solid thing on in that time slot. Check your listings, House is apparently moving from this slot back to its old one, which I want to say was Thurs. at 7pm, but I'm not sure and their website is not helping.
I used to watch some Gilmore Girls (CW) but they lost me when Rory went to
PLEASE STOP DANCING WITH THE STARS
If anyone has any ideas on how to make that happen, let me know.
8 PM: The Unit (CBS) - Well, I watched it, and I liked it. I wish I knew more of the back story, but it was all the covert ops stuff you could want. The cast is lead by Dennis Haysbert (most recently seen on 24 and in those Allstate Commercials) with Scott Foley (Felicity), Robert Patrick (T-1000) and Genie Harper (I'll Fly Away, good show) as well as others including someone named, and this is what it says, Max Martini. Wow, great name. I liked the dichotomy of the the soldiers are doing and what their wives are dealing with back in the states. This show reminds me a little of "Over There" from FX(which was sadly cancelled before making most of that cast insanely famous, maybe you shouldn't let your brother write the theme song) but it lacks a little something, maybe they need a new team member or something. Foley is respectable in this role, but he doesn't have to carry the load either. I recommend checking the Unit out as an alternative to Law & Order #3, Criminal Intent and definitely instead of Dancing with the "Stars".
9PM: Smith (CBS) - Ray Liotta leads a great cast begging for a GQ cover. Following the lives of a gang of high-end specialty thieves, the first episode was a mini-movie and a great intro to the characters. Presented with "limited interruptions" and sponsored by that new Leonardo "Gotta win Scorcese and Oscar" DiCaprio flick. Limited Interruptions rocks, I wish it was like that all season, but alas without commercials we'd have no shows. Has anyone ever thought if Ray Liotta wasn't an actor, he would have to be a made man? No matter what he does, I always get this glimpse of him ordering a hit over linguini somewhere in
MY PICK FOR TUESDAY: SMITH (CBS) 9:00 PM CDT
WEDNESDAY
This isn't really getting shorter, huh? Who knew I watched this much television, I may need an intervention...
7PM: Jericho (CBS) - Another "SciFish Doomsday" show, starring Skeet Ulrich (The Craft, Chill Facto), whose a decent youngish actor whose character is returning to Sleepy Jericho, KS when there is some kind of explosion in Denver, CO illustrated by the mushroom cloud everyone in town stares at for the first fifteen minutes of the show causing no less than five vehicle accidents that pertain to the plot of the pilot. We don't know what the explosion was caused by or if there were others (actually you get a clue), but the town loses all communication save walkie talkies and HAM radios, loses power and spirals into chaos until the small town mayor, played by Gerald McRaney (Simon & Simon, Major Dad) gets control. I had children running around and screaming so I was a bit distracted, but I like the set up.
8PM - Grey's Anatomy (ABC) - it was a re-run of the two season finale from last year. Good stuff and it made it all fresh for Thursdays premiere on their new night. I love this show, I just love it, but more about that on Thursday.
9PM: - Kidnapped (NBC) - Well, well, NBC comes out with their own kidnapping show (I'm sure theirs was in the pipeline before Fox's Vanished). Stars Jeremy Sisto (Six Feet Under), Timothy Hutton (every 80's movie ever), Dana Delaney(China Beach) and others who deal with Hutton's and Delaney's son being kidnapped and Sisto, playing a rogue bounty hunter specializing in bringing kidnapped victims back without the help of the authorities. The pilot was pretty good. The kids are good, not too cute, and not too weird. Hutton and Delaney are pro's and hopefully Delaney will be used for a lot more than crying and pacing. Sisto is a good actor with a lot of chops, which I didn't see a lot of in the pilot. See for yourself as it also re-airs Saturday at 9PM on NBC. But if you are making a choice, choose Smith over on CBS.
MY PICK FOR WEDNESDAY:
THURSDAY
7PM: My Name is Earl / The Office (NBC) - Granted, I missed Earl due to a scheduling conflict, so I don't know how the season premier was, but I'm gonna say he crossed something off his list and it was funny with some white trash humor. I'll catch it next week hopefully. I did watch The Office. And it was hysterical! This is the best ensemble cast on television and this show is living up to everything its English counterpart was. Steve Carrell is brilliant, but the rest of his castmates are quickly catching up to him in the funny department. I can't pick a favorite scene, character or actor; it’s all just so perfect. I am not to be bothered during those 30 minutes, don't call, don't text, don't come over unless you are prepared to watch The Office. Do yourself a favor, watch this show. Let me know if you need an update where we are, I watched the English version and got a little confused not knowing what had happened.
8PM - Grey's Anatomy (ABC) - The season premiere was great. We picked up where we left off last season, in complete and utter chaos and ridiculousness. Everyone is back, save Denny, who had to die. This is another show that you should be watching and if you aren't you should start. Granted, Ellen Pompeo (who plays the lead), isn't Glenn Close, yet, but I think she's doing pretty well and fits the Meredith Grey character. The real attraction of this show is the rest of the supporting characters. Sandra Oh and Chandra Wilson are two of the best actresses on television right now. I think they were both up for Emmy's for this show already and it’s on its third season. T.R. Knight, in his first big career role, will be up for an Emmy soon and may be the show stealer again this season. The rest of the cast is just as good and continues the quality come-drama that made this show a break out hit. And if you haven't noticed, Patrick Dempsey has resurrected his career via age, great conditioner and a smirk. Chris O'Donnell looks to be a re-occurring character again this season, and I look forward to seeing where the aftermath of last season takes us.
I was a little put off with the fade to white flashbacks, the intros were kind of hokey, but we did get to see some pivotal moments in the characters past which was cool. You'll notice I didn't list what these people have done, they have credits, but they'll be recognized on the street for this show. Watch it people, do as I say! Do it! Now!
9PM - 60 vs ER - First of all, what is with the shortest names possible? I'm going to make a show call "?!". Well, J.J. Abrams (Lost, ALIAS, anything cool in the last three years) is at the helm of this one and apparently it’s all the buzz around
ER - [SPOILER]I taped it, I haven't watched it. ER has been on for 13 seasons and is still one of the top shows. I have been watching it from the pilot when I was in high school, wow, so I can wait to watch it, its like chicken soup, and its good reheated. When last I saw, there had been a shoot out and Jerry had been shot...that being said [SPOILER] Jerry is dead, ya'll, and I know that because I watched Men In Trees last week and he's one of the main characters on that, so he must be dying on ER, cause he ain't got time to do both of them shows, okay?
MY CHOICE FOR THURSDAY: THERE'S TOO MANY! THE OFFICE (NBC-7:30 PM)/ GREY'S ANATOMY (ABC-8 PM)/ 6O(9 PM - ABC) - [GO WITH ER IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE 6O]
Well, that's that I suppose, anymore TV blogging is going to have to be daily or weekly from now on, this was ridiculous....
But there's more! What to watch this weekend:
FRIDAY:
Grey's Anatomy - ABC - 7PM
Men in Trees - ABC - 8PM
SATURDAY:
SMITH - CBS - 8PM
KIDNAPPED - NBC 9PM
SUNDAY
THE SIMPSONS/ AMERICAN DAD - FOX - 7PM
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (SEASON PREMIER) - ABC -8PM
SONS AND DAUGHTERS (SERIES PREMIERE) - ABC - 9PM
All right, another stupidly long television blog, what is wrong with me, all right, Mr. Ricky's gonna go keep it confidential, try to do the same.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006 - 16:30:56
Monday - TV Bloggin continues
Central Arkansas Confidential: Entry 09-06-002
MONDAY
It’s a fight! Seriously, Monday nights have become a fight here folks, I’m getting pretty torn over what to watch.
ESPN: Monday Night Football – Are you ready for some football? I was until the lack luster Jaguars/ Steelers game last night. Rothlisberger is my back up FF QB, and I’m praying and hoping McNabb can stay healthy. I think the appendix and the wreck have Big Ben a little banged up, he looked awful last night. Matt Jones hauled in 73 receiving yards, but I was bored by the second quarter and never went back. Again, its football, I’m gonna at least flip back and forth to it, put in my picture in picture, but I rarely watch an entire game only.
NBC: Deal or No Deal – No Deal. I like Howie Mandel, and I don’t think a show about eliminating briefcases of money held by models is all bad, but do I need two hours of it? No Deal. Do I need them to put it on every night this week? No Deal. Did we not all get enough of the primetime game show during the Who Wants to Be A Millionaire days? I guess not. Well, its out there if you want to watch it, my time is more valuable.
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip – However, this show is going to be great. (I hope.) The cast is great, they went out and spent the money and got some talent. Matthew Perry, Amanda Peet (who I have been in love with and rooting for since the Jack & Jill days when I said 'she’s gonna be a big star'), Bradley Whitford (West Wing, ya’ll know who he is), D.L. Hughley (good to see him back on T.V.), Steven Weber (From Wings fame), Timothy Busfield (30 Something, if you don’t remember that show, its called DVD, rent it, know your history), Sarah Paulson (who has been around doing great work on stage, screen and television for ten years, and was a regular on Jack N Jill with Peet, I love her and this may be a vehicle for her to reach that next level even before Peet does).
This show also had Ed Asner! Who is just re-curring, but I know, Ed Asner! Where has he been? Thank you Aaron Sorkin for helming this project and putting some quality production out there. Oh, the show is about two guys coming in to take over a sketch comedy show, (ala SNL) they once ran and we’re fired from, yadad yadada yada. In the first episode, cameos and features from Judd Hirsch and Felicity Huffman shows NBC is banking on this to be a big draw for them and I for one think they’ve picked a good horse. We’ll have to see how the story develops, but the premier was good and they have tons of talent to work with.
ABC – Wife Swap & Supernanny – [sigh] whatever, apparently ABC has given up on the scripted television format on Mondays (they’ve decided to fight it out on every other night, taking Mondays off, like in the theater I guess) as they presented the world with two, yes two, one-hour episodes of Wife Swap. One half-hour of Wife Swap is plenty; two hours was just gratuitous and in the second episode one of the families lived as pirates in their everyday lives. I kid you not, pirates - eye patches, the mom said “treshjarrrrr” about thirty times in two minutes, yep, pirates. I watched about five minutes and decided my cerebral cortex was melting under the absurdity an entire family walking around in swash buckling attire with dull swords saying a lot of heavy “r” sounds.
And just incase you didn’t get enough “reality”, they threw in Supernanny at 9 pm. This show helps American parents, who apparently think they’re kids are going to be as easy as adopting a Cabbage Patch Kid, by sending in an English Nanny to show them how rich people pay other people to rear their young’ins. I actually watched some Supernanny over the summer doldrums and it can be entertaining and hopefully is helping those families, but in the heat of the new fall schedule, I have not time for it, off you go then, that’s good show, cheers.
CBS – The Class, How I Met Your Mother, Two & A Half Men, and The New Adventures of Old Christine – CBS has really stepped up to the plate on Mondays and gone after the traditional television fan. The new sitcom The Class is an ensemble led by John Ritter’s son, Jason Ritter, from Joan of Arcadia fame and Andrea Anders, who was most notably part of the Joey cast this spring. The show revolves around the members of a kindergarten class getting back together 20 years later. I watched it, it had its moments, but they’re going to have to step it up in the writing department if they want to be around for a Christmas episode. I expect a mid-season replacement here.
How I Met Your Mother – in its second season I think, lots has happened and they’ve broken the “when are those two going to get together” barrier. I like this show, I like the cast, but I just don’t see its wide appeal. Even being in the age bracket of the characters, there’s just not enough reality or too much reality in it. I don’t know which. They’ve built in a lot of conflict this year, we’ll see if it heightens the show or cuts it off at the knees. Watch this cast though, with Neil Patrick Harris (who may have found a sit-com that lasts more than a season for once) as the most famous of the bunch, they all have some impressive credits and should be around for a long time.
Two and a half men – Charlie Sheen, Jon Cryer, its good sitcom material, nothing fancy. They know what they’ve got and they don’t try to force it. That’s why its #1.
The New Adventures of Old Christine – Julia Louis-Dreyfus may have a hit on her hands, and the show is funny. She’s the big name and the pressure is all on her, but the writing is there and she’s a comedic heavyweight, I mean seriously, she was on Seinfeld, she can deal with pressure. This show won an Emmy this year and she has officially broken the Seinfeld curse, this should be around at least another season if not longer, pending some kind of romantic interest. Interesting fact, she’s a billionaire-ess, yeah, not only does she make millions, she has billions waiting on her incase the acting doesn’t work out, and she was on SNL and Seinfeld, she did something right in a previous life.
And I realize there is CSI: Miami at 9PM, but I’m just over the whole crime drama genre, I as I stated. I work with people who love all three of them and there’s nothing wrong with that. There are going to be some new takes on the crime drama coming out this season, we’ll see if I can settle on any and if all these CSI’s can survive. There seems to be a trend to look at things from the bad guy’s side more, I look forward to Smith, starring Ray Liotta, and I think premiering tonight, as one of those.
FOX - Prison Break & Vanished. I wonder sometimes why Fox doesn’t try to do the full three hour thing, especially with the wide variety of alternative shows they have to offer and the lack of quality in the local affiliate news casts. Here is one night when I could use Prison Break, which I got into during re-runs this summer, at a different time. The show just isn’t mean for 7PM, you don’t want to watch it when the Sun’s still out, it doesn’t feel as raw and you don’t want to watch during dinner either. I like the premise, very 24 meets OZ, but I must confess I’m probably going to wait for DVD or re-runs. Incidentally, if you haven’t seen Prison Break, it’s about breaking out of prison, I know, great work on the name.
Vanished, another great title out of the creative factory at Fox Studios, is apparently about a Senator’s wife “vanishing” and the fall out, secrets, government politics, etc. that come unraveled. This is Fox’s specialty, the story unfolds before the audience sort of thing with lots of twists and turns and cliffhangers. Most of these shows are loosely built on a 24 framework and I think that’s why Fox likes them so much. They found something that worked and now they’re going to ride it into the ground. Speaking of 24, Kiefer Sutherland is getting 40 million for 2 seasons of 24? Wow, that’s crazy large monies, good for him.
Around the Dial – Well the CW has those daily “tella-novelas” Desire and Fashion House on every week night I think. These "guilty pleasure shows" are based on their Latin American cousins and have been a staple of Spanish speaking television for decades. The format, which executives like because of the relative low overhead, is being tested out by several networks to see how a larger American audience will take to them. Fashion House features the return of Bo Derek and Morgan Fairchild as on-going feuding fashion house owners, its very The Bold and The Beautiful. And both these ladies still look very good tune in for their cat fighting if you get bored.
Desire is: “two brothers on the run from the mob, fleeing from their New Jersey home (because one of them slept with a mob boss’s daughter, same thing happened to me) to the perceived safety of Los Angeles (where they work in a restaurant full of models with accents.) Their trek is made all the more tumultuous by one very unfortunate circumstance: both brothers are passionately in love with the same woman (after being there for two days.)” – from TV.com (with additional information from yours truly.) The great thing about these shows, you can watch three nights and be totally caught up. The bad thing, the acting, the production value and the talent are just above a mediocre daytime soap. They will find a limited audience, like most CW shows.
Seventh Heaven was on for what is its ninety-seventh season or something. You all know the show and all the struggles the Camdens have been through. I briefly flipped through it on my way from CBS to Monday Night Football and Simon was getting married or something. Jessica Biehl was back for a cameo I guess. We can only hope Barry Watson and his What About Brian will make a mid-season come back and keep him from a similar fate. I don’t have anything against Seventh Heaven, but it has to come to an end sometime, or they have to stop having kids, adopting runaways and generally doing things there’s no way a pastor with 7 kids could really afford to do without embezzling from the donation box. That being said, I’m sure someone will come out in the show’s defense, someone always does, bring it.
Well, that’s my spewings on two nights of TV, wow; I need some help that was really involved. I guess this would be easier if I did it daily, I’ll try that, then maybe just bi-weekly as I settle into a routine.
TUESDAY NIGHT LINE UP - I will definitely be watching:
7PM – House (Fox) if I’m home. It’s a pretty good show. NCIS (CBS) has never been my cup of tea, but they have a talented cast and mix the whole JAG thing with CSI.
8PM – Either The Unit (CBS) or Standoff (Fox), I watched Standoff last week and liked it. The Unit is a great show that I never seemed to catch last season, I may try to this go around, and I like the covert ops stuff.
9PM – Smith (CBS) – Ray Liotta comes to television as a high stakes criminal leading a double life, I’ll bite.
10PM – Nip/Tuck (FX), that’s the great thing about FX on Tuesdays, they run the episode back to back so you don’t have to miss it. It’s a bonus hour of television.
And I didn’t mention Dancing with the Stars because it’s a waste of airtime, a reality series about celebrities dancing is almost ridiculous as Fox’s show about them singing. Don’t encourage this behavior.
Let me know if I missed anything… I don’t think I did.
PS: SciFi has brought back re-runs of Jessica Alba in Dark Angel from like 5 – 8 PM or something on Mondays. I caught a couple of episodes last week, what a great guilty pleasure show that was, apocalyptic future (just in the North West though), Jessica Alba in a lot of tight, black leather riding a motorcycle and kicking butt. Good Times. Check it, if you like sci-fi you’ll love it, but if you love sci-fi, you’ve probably already scene it.
Well that’s that, Mr. Ricky has to put fresh batteries in the remote, get the popcorn ready and set the timers, until next time, keep it confidential.
The New Fall Season - Sundays
Central Arkansas Confidential: Entry 09-06-001
And so it begins. Well, Mr. Ricky has been busy kids, busy, busy, busy. Not with anything important, just busy. Trying to find time to blog is going to be a challenge, but a challenge I’m up to!. You see, the new fall television season is upon us, and Mr. Ricky just doesn’t have enough televisions, VCR’s, DVD recorders, DVRs or time to keep up with all these shows. Sacrifices have to be made, cuts taken and old friends may have to be let go. Here’s where I am after two nights, I don’t know which of these shows will remain on my radar for the season, but here's some first impressions.
SUNDAY
Apparently on Sunday, the networks rest, probably the weakest night of television right now (Saturdays don't count, for some reason that day has been abandoned by television.) However, there are some rays of hope:
NBC: Sunday Night NFL Football - pending on the teams playing and my Fantasy Football roster, I will flip back and forth from it through out the night.
FOX: As usual, Fox has decided to go with a strong line up of animation that is weather tested and solid, then slide in a low-rent sitcom that needs a good cancellation in the tuckus, if you know what I mean. The Simpsons, enough said, one of the best things on television ever. American Dad, from the Family Guy team, its growing and getting better, the fish and the alien are by far the best things about it. The Family Guy, I love this show, I’m glad it got resurrected from Adult Swim and DVD, all the characters are great, the story lines are hysterical and they know how to make fun of themselves too.
Then Fox rounds the night off with The War At Home. I’m not saying it’s the worst sitcom I’ve ever seen, its not, but it needs help in a big way. John Rappaport is a great actor, and the only redeeming thing about the entire show. The rest of the cast, the writers, the director and craft services need a remedial course in funny. I believe Arrested Development was on this channel, yes? I believe it won some Emmys; still Fox goes with The War At Home. Ridiculous.
CBS: The Amazing Race – as reality television goes, it’s of the highest quality, but this year’s assortment of teams leaves something to be desired. They have a stereotypical country couple from Kentucky, two Muslim guys, two ex-heroin addict models (who are guys, I know, they are ridiculous) and an assortment of other reality television staples: gay couple, another minority religion couple (Hindu), estranged father and lesbian daughter, single moms, couples deciding if they want to get married and triathletes (one with a prosthetic leg and the other the guy who makes them and they’re dating, you can’t make that up.) I will check in with this show from time to time, but I don’t have the patience to watch it unfold.
The rest of the CBS Sunday night line-up is for not. Without a Trace, which is supposed to be really good if you like those crime/ mystery/ drama things. I think Law and Order has ruined the genre for me, I’ve seen so many episodes of the 17 incarnations of Law and Order I don’t think there are any crime stories left I haven’t heard. Without a Trace is marginally different and I don’t have time. Anthony LaPaglia stars and he is good so it can’t be that bad.
ABC: Desperate Housewives – does anyone remember when this show was good? Last season was a mess, like they took all the scripts for the year and threw them up in the air and added Alfre Woodard and her maniac sons as the breadcrumb topping. The over all story lines are pretty much still intact and the season premiere seemed to be getting back on track, all the housewives getting into trouble and helping each other through it, I just wish they’d go back to focusing each week more on one or two characters’ lives and the rest of the cast interacting with them. There’s too much jumping around sometimes and you lose the edge it had the first season. Plus, there’s no longer any urgency over the Mary Alice mystery that bore the entire show in the first place. I’m giving it a second chance though; we’ll see if they can hold on, I mean I do have a Netflix subscription people.
ABC has that extreme makeover stuff and I’m sure they have another show waiting in the wings to put in one of those slots, probably something Bachelorettey or something. What’s missing is Grey’s Anatomy. They moved it to Thursdays, I know, don’t get me started, but they have some new shows they are trying to take over that night with, so I’m going to support it, but next time, someone better check with me. ABC’s grasp on Sunday Nights will slip and DH will likely have only two more seasons unless they shape up the plot, so ABC better have another break out hit to shore up the Grey’s gap. Isn’t that Heroes show on ABC, is that what’s going in there later?
Around the Dial - Let’s see, pretty much locked down to the big 4 here, but Smallville returns on the CW, WB, UPZ, whatever they’re calling it these days. I’ve watched this Superman formative years show, and I like it sometimes, but I never got “into it” into it.
NIP/TUCK – FX reruns whatever fantastic show they play in the Tuesday 9PM slot on Sundays, incase you missed it. NIP/TUCK is no exception and promises to be even crazier, racier (that may not be a word by the by) and more controversial than ever as we follow two Miami plastic surgeons and their ultra-lives. I originally watched this show because I was hooked on Rescue Me and then Rescue was over and I was like, what do I do at 9PM on Tuesday now? Then Nip/Tuck came on and filled the gap. When I saw the envelopes they were shredding on this thing I got really intrigued, and I’ve learned a lot too about plastic surgery, alternative lifestyles, adult entertainment industry, wheat grass and everything not to do if you raise a family. If you have a strong stomach, and open mind, and your kids are in bed, give it a look; you definitely will not be bored. Email me if you need a short summary of where the characters are right now, its one of those shows where the back-story is extremely important to what’s currently happening. Oh and most of the people on there are beautiful, being made beautiful or big name actors from the past getting resurrected in a good vehicle, you’d be surprised who shows up for an episode or two.
Well, I didn’t plan for CAC to become a TV blog today, but it is, I haven’t even gotten to Monday. I think we’ll press on, I’m pretty fired up on this topic...
Friday, September 15, 2006 - 13:05:24
Your Mission, Should You Choose to Accept It...
CENTRAL ARKANSAS CONFIDENTIAL IS NOW ONLINE....
What might you ask is Central Arkansas Confidential?
Wouldn't you like to know.... yes, you would. Hopefully the random, interesting and seemingly strange events I run into around Central Arkansas, on the net, etc. in my everyday life will translate to masses and shed some perspective on how we all live here in our little slice of the South.
I don't know where this thing will take us, but I can promise movies, sports, theater, web knowledge, television, office politics, relationship disputes, nightlife, music, French fries, Razorbacks (Let's Go Hogs) and pets will probably make some appearances. I can also guarantee a bit of sarcasm will creep in there somewhere.
Code name: "Mr. Ricky"
As you may have guessed, my name is not Mr. Ricky. My parents weren't that cruel. Mr. Ricky is what we like to call a "pen name" in the biz. It's done to protect the innocent bystanders more than myself as, more than likely, I will be relating stories dealing with my friends and my not-so-much-friends and I wouldn't want anyone to get their feelings hurt, it's all about the stories, not the characters.
Undoubtedly, those who already know me will pick up on who I am in about two sentences; I ask you to keep your knowledge of Mr. Ricky in confidence and don't be surprised to find yourselves as fodder. If you have questions for Mr. Ricky, advice needed, general knowledge, crafting, potpourri, etc. - Buzz those over to my "people" via the email to: centralarkansasconfidentail@gmail.com and I'll include them in a future blog entry or blentry or whatever you call it.
So sit back, relax, grab some coffee, and let's see how I do. They are grading on a curve right? Good. - yours, MR
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