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!

So I know that I've been a bad blogger, but life seems to have taken hold of me once again and left me no time for this blog. I blame it on the fact that it's Oct. 21 today and 24 freaking degrees outside! Who can blog when it's been Indian Summer for two whole months? (The answer to that is "not me, apparently.")

I watched the entire first season of Friday Night Lights in time to watch the premiere of season two, and god was it worth it. It's my new BSG and Deadwood, in that it's a genre that I'm not normally attracted to but the writing and acting manages to gut-punch me each and every week. So, in keeping with the topic name, here's my one-sentence review of FNL, followed by a short review of the other new shows I'm watching this season:

Friday Night Lights: I know I'm probably alone in this, but I don't hate the new season or the Big Bad Twist.

Reaper: It took me three separate watchings to get through the first ep so I gave up.

The Tudors: Surprisingly accurate, at least as far as Henry's love life goes.

Journeyman: I've been meaning to get to this!

Bionic Woman: First ep dropped off the Replay so I deleted the rest.

Pushing Daisies: So freaking fab, fantastic and pretty that I want to laugh and cry and eat pie all day.

Samantha Who?: I will watch anything featuring Christina Applegate, but even without her I might have watched this supercute show.

Did I miss anything?

Oh my God, I am so in love with Chuck that I don't know that I can talk about it coherently.

I haven't watched a lot of the new shows (only Reaper, Gossip Girl and, well, that's it really), but this one is rocking my world. So what if the bomb in the first episode would never have been connected to the Internet in a million, billion years? And what are the odds that anyone could fly a chopper by imaging it's a computer game?

But who cares about that when the show is so damned funny? From the Geek Squad to Captain Awesome ("Indeed!") to the ridiculously accessorized fight scenes, the series is hitting my comedy sweet spot.

Also, why did nobody tell me Adam Baldwin was on this show? I love Adam Baldwin! Like, love-love him! A Firefly-loving colleague once told me that he's a rampant gun-loving Republican and even that isn't enough to make me stop loving him! I would watch him react to paint drying, I would. Love, love, love, love, love. (Jana, that started out as just gushing and after the third "love" I just decided to go for it!)

I love this show, I really, really do.

Love.

I’m watching my first soccer game. It’s Music Club tonight and Tim and Alan are heading out to Lal’s after the game, so I figure I may as well see what all the fuss is about. I turn on the TV and the first thing I see is Tim and Alan in a zoom-in on the crowd. (As I keep watching and realize that the swaths of red in the audience are empty seats, I can understand why they panned in on the crazy fanatic section.)

Here are my thoughts, uncensored:

• I must say that it’s pretty funny to hear the English commentator say “soccer.” He kinda chokes on it a bit.
  
  
• The refs look like they must get quite a workout. Unlike the umps in baseball (the only sport I watch), they’re actually fit! I like the ref’s short-shorts. Very cute! They make his knees look extra nobby.
  
  
• I wonder, did soccer players not get the memo that long hair went out in 1997, or are they cutting-edge on the new long-hair trend?
  
  
• It looks like it will rain. Do they play in the rain or are their cleats lightning magnets?
  
  
• How do the Real Salt Lake players celebrate when they’re playing at home if it’s a dry state?
  
  
• Soccer players are kinda pusses, aren’t they? Just lay on the grass, writhing and whining until the ref gives out a yellow card? How unmanly!
  
  
• Oh, it turns out Utah is not a dry state. Scratch that comment.
  
  
• I wonder if TFC’s choice to wear red shirts was a bad idea. (“He’s dead, Jim.”)
  
  
• The Canadian broadcaster just called it “football.” That must irk the English guy to no end.
  
  
• Do they take commercials?
  
  
• The commentators are now determining that Toronto FC is about three games away from matching a U.K. record for number of hours played without a goal. Alan must be so proud.
  
  
• Ooh! Tussle!
  
  
• Red card for RSL. That’s a pisser. Now let’s see if TFC can score with a one-man advantage.
  
  
• If you’re up a man, shouldn’t you be able to keep the ball on the opponent’s half of the field for more than 40 seconds at a time? One would think, right?
  
  
• The goal is on the ground, TFC; not 45 feet in the air.
  
  
• Hey! They don’t stop the clock when they’re setting stuff up? Or is that what this two minutes added time is?
  
  
• Half time! Nil-nil! (See, I’m getting the lingo down already!)

So far I have to say this is not as boring as I thought. It’s been an hour but it really doesn’t feel like it. I like that they have a 20-minute break at half time as it gave me time to have a shower and order some food. Probably like at the stadium! Minus the shower!

• Someone on RSL was hurt and needed medical attention and then was fine! What’s up with that? Either you’re hurt or you’re not; stop wasting everyone’s time.
  
  
• Was that a goal?!? Oh, no. Never mind.
  
  
• No, no, fellas. The goal is the thing that guy is protecting, not the wide open space surrounding it.
  
  
• The commentator has to stop saying things like: “This surely is the goal!” It’s just embarrassing after a while.
  
  
• Update: 800 minutes without a goal.
  
  
• Is the TFC coach a ginger? Hee!
  
  
• What the fuck? The guy has a cramp and we all stand around? Putz.
  
  
• Toronto 22 shots at goal, Salt Lake 5. Man, RSL can’t give this game away.
  
  
• Now they’re comparing MLS to the CFL, suggesting that there will at least be a goal in the Argos/Lions game. Hah!
  
  
• Oh YEAH! YEAH! OH YEAH! My pizza’s here!
  
  
• Four minutes left. Let’s see if they can do it! (They can’t.)

And there’s the game. Wow. It must be depressing being a Toronto FC fan.

So, TV Guide has released its list of the Top 30 Cult Shows of all time. Since I pride myself on being a) unique, and b) desperate to show others how unique I am by watching shows that other unique people watch, I thought I'd copy the list below and let you know how cool I am. Grey is watched for at least a season, while blue is watched for most or all of the entire run.

30) Strangers with Candy (1999-2000)
29) Absolutely Fabulous (1994-2003)
28) Stargate SG-1 (1997-2007)
27) H.R. Pufnstuf (1969-1971)
26) Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (1975-1978)
25) Firefly (2002-2003)
24) Twin Peaks (1990-1991)
23) Dark Shadows (1966-1971)
22) Doctor Who (1963-present)
21) Freaks and Geeks (1999-2000)

20) The Avengers (1966-1969)
19) Quantum Leap (1989-1993)
18) Veronica Mars (2004-2007)
17) Beauty and the Beast (1987-1990)
16) Babylon 5 (1994-1998)
15) Family Guy (1999-present)
14) Battlestar Galactica (2003-present)
13) Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1989-1999)
12) Pee-Wee's Playhouse (1986-1991)
11) Jericho (2006-present)

10) Xena: Warrior Princess (1995-2001)
9) Twilight Zone (1959-1964)
8 ) The Simpsons (1989-present)
7) The Prisoner (1967-1968)
6) Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969-1974)
5) Lost (2004-present)
4) Farscape (1999-2003)
3) Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)
2) The X-Files (1993-2002)
1) Star Trek (1966-1969)

Not too shabby, though the people that created this list should be ashamed of themselves for not finding a place for Futurama and Arrested Development. Come to think of it, Action and Grosse Pointe would have also made my list. But they're straight-up comedies, so maybe they're too chic to count.

So I’m back from Scotland and trying to get back into the swing of things at work after three weeks away. My trip was a tonne of fun, as the 1,652 photos I took can attest. I’m still trying to sort through to find my favourites, or at least the best that represent my trip, since as my mother so nicely pointed out, most are “arty shots.” Once I have, however, they will be up on my photo blog, Playing With My Rebel.

Here are five things I learned about British TV while I was away:

1. There are some sick, sick shows on Channel 4. Embarrassing Illnesses alone is enough to make any North American faint and gag at the same time.

2. BBC Two Scotland is one boring channel. Unless you’re into watching birds mate and nest. Then it’s fascinating.

3. Big Brother U.K. is as addictive as crack. I can’t get enough and check Channel 4’s website several times a day to see if the housemates have quit on their latest challenge (they have), and to see if Chanelle and Ziggy are still together (they are).

4. I have no idea who Angus Deayton, Lee Mack or David Mitchell are, but Would I Lie To You? made me laugh so hard I nearly woke up the people in the next room. (Here’s the episode I watched: Part One / Part Two / Part Three)

5. I really want someone on this side of the pond to pick up Time of Your Life (shame on ITV1 that there was no information on their website. Christ, what a disaster site that was to wade through). I saw the pilot and I love it.

How magically delicious is it that Heroes is back tonight? I am super-delighted to see it again.

It's funny, because unlike most people out there, I like the six, seven, eight-week long hiatuses for this type of show. Of course, I have a PVR, so I don't have to worry about remembering when a show is returning and making sure my tape has room. One week it's not on the Replay, the next it is.

I missed an episode of Ugly Betty a few weeks ago when my Replay recorded the wrong channel. It was the only new episode in a sea of repeats, and I have yet to worry overmuch about what I missed. (Actually, let me put out a Poopli request for that right now. . . . Done!) I thought UB was going to be my favourite new show this season, but it turns out I barely miss it when it's not on. I haven't watched last week's ep yet.

But if I ever missed Heroes, I think I'd flip. Every time I saw the countdown on my TV screen, I did a little cheer. I called Primatech and signed up for the weekly e-mails. I've watched the final scene of the cliffhanger about eight times, and I plan to watch at least part of the episode again before the new episode. This morning, I headed over to nbc.com to check out the comics so I'd be up on what dirty Hana was doing. I am ready.

I really hope the Sylar/Peter showdown is worth the wait. I want it to be spectacular, and when it's over, I want to wonder aloud how the hell they both walked away from such carnage.

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!

Really? Rob and Amber and Eirene? Both in one night? This is why I got up one hour earlier this morning?

So, I caught a couple recent episodes of The Simpsons. It's really become unwatchable, hasn't it?

For some reason, this conversation struck me as funny. There is a bit of background, of course. See, Alan thinks that it's a bad reflection of my moral and intellectual character that I watch Survivor. He also thinks that it's bizarre that I enjoy listening to a movie when I'm working. So, when I mentioned that I was listening to Back to the Future this morning, it apparently made an impression:

Alan says: I didn't want to interrupt Back to the Future today.
Jen says: It's only an hour and a half. I was done in plenty of time to watch the Amazing Race webcast at 1.
Alan says: I don't even know if you are being funny.
Jen says: Not intentionally.

(I just turned on Zoolander. Damn, I could listen to that movie all day.)

So, it appears that the third (fourth) time's a charm for me. I totally made the TA for the dean's murder, and even figured out the motive (if not quite how we arrived there). I knew Tim was a ponce, but even I was unprepared for how dumb he was to go to Veronica for "help" proving Landry's innocence.

Plus, as my neighbour C pointed out, if he was listening in on Landry's cell conversations, wouldn't he already know that the professor was finished? Why kill the dean if the dean was already going to destroy Landry's career and future?

All in all, a great story arc. The secondary characters (Mindy, Landry, and even Bad-Wig Tim himself) were interesting and fun to follow around for six episodes. Veronica wasn't even harmed once in the execution of this mystery, which is also a pleasant change. Parker is lovely and sweet, and I think Logan likes her. (I couldn't tell—his marble-mouthiness made him nearly undecipherable this week.)

How many more weeks until the stand-alone mystery episodes begin?

Anna Paquin is playing Sookie in the HBO version of the Southern Vampire novels!

. . . holy crap, holy crap, holy crap. . . .

Elena, stop reading now if you're not caught up.

Holy crap, they killed Lamb. I can't even believe it. My neighbour C and I gasped, and she said "No, not him!" (she claims she likes the witty banter, but I know it's his abs she's most attached to) and then we got all sad and quiet. I'll really miss the big dumb lug!

Tonight's Veronica Mars is perhaps my favourite of the season. It had everything; Veronica and Keith working together against the world; Lamb and Sachs; Logan and Parker hitting it off rather sexily; Mac and her animal-rights boytoy hittin' it; Weevil and Wallace somewhat nominally; and murder, murder, murder. It felt very first season, but in a shiny new way.

Also, I'm totally right about Tim the TA. He so did it.

I'm going out on a limb and calling it: Tim the TA killed Dean O'Dell. He was pissed that Veronica was a better scholar than him, and that she was taking all his glory. So, to get back at both the teacher and the dean (who wrote such a glowing letter of recommendation for Veronica), he killed the dean and framed his prof.

And he would have gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for that meddling kid!

I've been waiting half a season for Rome to get going, and it finally did last night with the partnership between Octavian and Antony. I have no idea why they've chosen to spend half of their 10-episode final season on hissyfits and Servillia and Timon rediscovering his faith, but at least now things should speed along.

Historically, Antony and Octavian join up to fight Brutus and Cicero. They win, and Antony marries Octavia. Then he leaves her, gets way too big for his britches, falls for Cleopatra, fights Octavian, and commits suicide in the arms of his lover. Which, when you think about it, is quite the story to tell, and combined with Vorenus and Pullo, it would have made for a very compelling season.

And really, would anyone have missed Servillia if she'd been killed first thing this season? It's not like she's historically significant, or did anything other than sleep with Caesar for several years. We could have done without the Joan Collins/Linda Evans of her relationship with Atia.

And while I'm bitching (which I wasn't planning to do when I started this post), can I just say how sad a sack Vorenus is this season? He even seemed lost banging the bejeesus out of Gaia, and she's smoking hot, so that's really saying something.

To sum up, I'm liking the season, but last night was the first episode that I want to watch again. Hopefully it keeps up for the duration of the run.

Now this is just tragic. First he's on Homicide, and now he's charged with committing a homicide.

I have been such a terrible correspondent lately. It’s not that I love my entertainment any less, it’s just been a busy time for me, both personally and creatively. Family sorrow marked the holidays (read my Robert Altman tribute and you’ll probably get the gist of it). That was followed by my annual Major Work Project during the day, and my Brand New Love of Acrylic Paint/Awesome Rebel SLR Digital Experimentation at night. I’ve been so busy that I haven’t even had a chance to play with my new pen-as-mouse pad I got so I can start animating things in Flash.

I’m feeling very artistic right now, which I haven’t in years. I can directly correlate my downturn in creative art to my increased involvement in writing, so it makes sense that my writing is suffering as I rediscover how to hold a paint brush. I will endeavour to keep up a bit more, though, as I have seen and heard a great many things in the last couple months that are worth writing about.

Let’s start with Babel. My neighbour C and I went to see it New Year's Eve, and by the end of the movie I wanted to kill myself. What a downer! I thought the editing and acting were fantastic, but the story was just one giant buzzkill. I am willing to accept that (spoilers ahoy!) a couple could lose a child to SIDS, then decide to go to Morocco to get over that loss (even though the wife hates germs and filth of any kind. Maybe all the flights to Paris were booked?), then get shot by some kids playing a prank. It doesn’t happen all the time, but at least it’s not inconceivable. But that that same couple’s young children would be taken to Mexico, then driven home by a drunk who hates authority, and abandoned in the desert to fend for themselves? Come on. That’s a lot to swallow—too much to make the story believable.

Of course, I saw The Holiday a couple of weeks ago and really liked it. So perhaps my opinions shouldn’t weigh all that strongly.

I’m watching: Deadwood. Hoo, doggy, am I in love with this show! History Television has been running this series uncut since the fall, and I PVR’d it this last go-round. Why did nobody tell me that Timothy Olypant was in this series? I love Timothy Olypant! Also, Trixie and Sol rock my world.

I’m listening to: Good lordy, what aren’t I listening to? I’ve been on a bit of a folk run lately, as I gear up for my trip to Scotland in the spring. So, a little kilt-and-bonnet action (I finally know the tune to Johnny Cope), mixed in with some bluegrassy-folk like Gillian Welch and Abigail Washburn, and some UK folk like Cara Dillon. I also picked up the new Arcade Fire album this morning (shhh! . . .) Maybe with this album, I’ll finally understand what all the hype is about.