Another busy period at the office has come to an end and I’m finding it hard to remember what a weekend without having to work feels like. I have a feeling I won’t have much time to celebrate, as two major projects are joining what is already a writing and design intensive time of year.

But at least I can work in my jammies, unlike when we’re in season.

Anyways.

Elena was giving me a hard time this morning because she had to find out from an alternate source that Joss Whedon and Eliza Dushku are working together for a Fox series. (Hey, Elena, Joss also directed an episode of The Office. And it had vampires in it! And you never knew!)

She was also giving me a hard time about reading after I suggested that she take the writer’s strike (somehow this is my fault too—it turns out chimps with nicotine dependencies aren’t responsible for General Hospital) as an opportunity to read a book for a change. “Why don’t you read a book?” was her snarky reply (emphasis mine; when will Messenger create a sarcasm font?)

I am reading a book. Just really, really, ridiculously slowly.

It’s not that I’m not enjoying it, because I am. It’s just that it’s broken into about 70-page mini-stories and I’m so easily distracted. I finish a section and immediately want to start listening to one of the 10,000 albums I acquired over the past six months. And Years of Rice and Salt takes a lot of concentration, so I certainly can’t listen to Beatallica while reading. (Or ever.)

Now that it’s cold and dark again and I’ve started taking more baths and having less to look at from the train, I’ve been plowing through the book one mini-story at a time. And now that the season’s over at work a lazy Sunday morning or two should get me back on track.

P.S. Psst! Elena! Wanna watch the BSG movie? It’s been leaked! Happy torrenting!

Elena says: What do you think of the VM gossip?

Jen Star says: I don't know anymore. I'm kinda ready to let it go.

Elena says: I haven't liked this season. It's a relief when it's not on. The dialogue is so good though. I have trouble letting go, I always worry it'll get good after I stop watching.

Jen Star says: I wouldn't stop watching, but it's never a good sign if the creator doesn't have it in him to have a solid five-year arc for a series. Scrambling is never a good sign, and they've been scrambling since the end of season one.

Elena says: New writers perhaps? Maybe supporters like Joss and Stephen King should try their hand! That'd be interesting.

I really don't understand the "best show on TV" tag anymore. Wishful thinking?

Jen Star says: Or not knowing when you're beaten. Arrested Development could have gone on on Showtime (and, not to spoil it or anything, but Deadwood is only three seasons, with the creator bowing out), but the creator said, "I think we're done now." And I'd much rather get two-and-a-half seasons of an amazing show, than to get five of a mediocre one.

Jen Star says: VM should have realized after two seasons that the best way to keep the story moving was to kill someone close to her, and give her some baggage to work thru. Sassy teen detective only goes so far. Joss saw it with Buffy; I really don't know why Rob Thomas couldn't see it with VM.

Elena says: Of course there's a difference between reaching a natural end and just running out of steam... VM has more in it to tell, they just can't figure out what that is and how to do it. The college years are always the death of shows. (I did know that about Deadwood.)

I feel this way about Lost. They want to stretch it for seven seasons and it doesn't have it in it. I blame pressure from the networks.

Jen Star says: It's the public, tho, to a major degree. They want new episodes, and with a story like that, you can't do 24 episodes a season and still give things away. You'd run out of things to talk about one-third of the way in! That's why I love Heroes. They just pile it on! They don't even care if it makes sense!

Elena says: You're right. The gen pop has the attention span of a moron.

Heroes is so damn great.

Jen Star says: It really is.

Jen Star says: Hey! Maybe you can start watching BSG, then start watching Deadwood, and when you're done, you'll be ready for Firefly!

Elena says: Stranger things have happened... I wouldn't hold my breath tho!

Jen Star says: I'm watching Battlestar Galactica. Fantastic show.

Elena says: I left you a comment on that one. My mom has been at me to watch Battlestar. When I read your post I laughed so much, I'd just gotten off the phone with my Mom who was going on and on about this week's Battlestar finale and how I had to get watching the show.

I want to like it, but the few episodes of this season I've seen hadn't grabbed me. I'll try season one.

Jen Star says: You've watched them out of order? Good God, why?!? It's a serial show of epic proportions! Stop! Stop watching the new season until you've seen the first two.

Elena says: My mom makes me watch when I visit in the hopes that I'll get interested. So, I'm afraid I already know some major plot twists. But I don't plan to watch the finale or anything. I hate not watching from the start. What was the miniseries you mentioned tho? Is that before season one? I checked at Rogers and they have seasons one and two for rent, but I don't remember seeing a miniseries...

Jen Star says: BSG started as a four-hour miniseries to see if there was enough interest in reworking the show (it first aired in the '70s). When there was, the miniseries became the pilot episode.

Elena says: Ah, got it. Is BSG as good as Buffy would you say?

Jen Star says: I have no idea. It's hard to compare. It's as good as Deadwood.

Elena says: Ewwgh. Is Deadwood good? A western with cowboys isn't it?

Jen Star says: Deadwood is amazing. I can't believe how much I love that show.

Elena says: Really? Huh. Can't say I ever wanted to watch it. What's so great about it?

Jen Star says: Timothy Olyphant plays the lead guy.

Jen Star says: Larry, from "Hi, I'm Larry, and this is my brother Darryl" is in it.

Jen Star says: Molly Parker is in it.

Jen Star says: It is violent and moody, and the characters are so compelling that you feel like you've known them forever.

Jen Star says:It is everything in its second season that Rome wasn't.

Jen Star says: A historical look at real people (Olyphant's character is a guy from Etobicoke; nearly everyone else is someone from the real town of Deadwood) that is well made and realistic. And immensely watchable.

Elena says: Huh. I'm intrigued. I so need another TV show to watch! Is it still on the History Channel?

Jen Star says: Nope. They ran it twice and then pulled it from the lineup. I'll try to remember to let you know when it starts up again.

Elena says: Thanks. I guess I could also rent it. Lots of swearing sounds good.

So, a few months ago, my dad picked up the first season of Battlestar Galactica on DVD. He liked it and thought I might do the same. I'd heard some things about how great a show was, so I was fine with taking a peek to see what all the fuss was about.

On Saturday, we watched the pilot/mini-series. I was intrigued, and by the second hour, was intermittently shouting out "He's a cylon!" with abandon (it rolls off the tongue, it does!). I was shocked at just who turned out to be a cylon, and at the end of the evening, was glad to take the first two seasons home.

I watched the first season in its entirety yesterday, finishing just before midnight. I am on episode three of the second season, and counting.

It's bloody good stuff. I really want Lee and Starbuck to start doing it. Or Starbuck and Helo. Or all three of them. Yummy!