Tuesday, June 30, 2009

"Revenge" receives vengeance!

With little else to do this weekend, I decided to bite the bullet and attempt to see the new Transformers movie. Sure, this film has been pushed as an epic event, but I was left really underwhelmed by the first installment. Like I've said countless times before, most people went to that movie to see kick ass giant robots, not the annoying kid from Even Stevens. In other words, I felt the first movie focused entirely too much on the human aspect.


In my opinion, Revenge delivered BIG TIME. Sure, the human characters still play a central role -- and really, that was unavoidable -- but I found their presence FAR less offensive (and let's be honest....you can do a lot worse than staring at Megan Fox). The Transformers were handled far better as well, as there were several scenes in which the robots interacted with each other one-on-one, without featuring any humans in the scene at all. Plus, there were some absolutely friggin' kick ass Optimus Prime fighting scenes. Honestly, the scene about halfway through the movie had me on the edge of my seat. Awesome stuff.

My main criticism of the movie, though, is that it's LONG. REALLY long. And unlike The Dark Knight, which began to wrap things up once it started feeling long.....Revenge just keeps going and going for about a half hour.

Nevertheless, I recommend this movie, even to people who were disappointed with the first film.


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Monday, June 29, 2009

[a case of the summer] - Pet Peeves


So my friend Frank thought that I screwed the pooch last week by giving away so many pet peeves in my inaugural post. Little does he know that the vast majority of what people do and say annoys the hell out of me, so I'm not too worried about running out of material.

That being said, I would like for you guys to e-mail me with pet peeves of your own. That way there will be four of mine, and one guest annoyance. Be sure to e-mail me, though, don't leave a comment. Anyway, here are the five pet peeves for this week:

1. When people leave a voicemail saying "call me back," only to say something that could have easily been left on the original message.

2. The fact that Kane has been wearing the same pair of tights since November 2003. He didn't even wear the damn mask for that long!

3. When people don't straighten the steering wheel after parking their car (and no, this doesn't include when parking on a hill).

4. DJ's in inappropriate places. I'm looking at you, clothing stores and salons!

5. The word "cuss."



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Sunday, June 28, 2009

[a case of the summer] - The Brief Case



Photo location: Morristown, NJ

This right here is actually one of my favorite briefcase photo. Right at the center of town in Morristown, there is a statue of Morris Frank, a blind man from Nashville who helped start the first school that trained seeing eye dogs, and his guide dog Buddy, who is considered to be the first seeing eye dog in America. Since I started working in Mo-town over a year ago, I was well aware of this statue. I passed it often. When I began this briefcase marketing campaign, I just knew this had to be one of the photos.

Humorously, when the opportunity finally came, I actually had to wait in line to snap the shot. As it turned out, there was a group of tourists standing near the statue, and each of them were posing with the famous statue. When they finally left, I discretely took the shot above.

Oh, and fun fact: Months later, during the Morristown St. Patrick's Day celebration, I would take a photo with the celebrated duo myself!

And that's the inside scoop on that photo!


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Saturday, June 27, 2009

Contributions vs. Controversy: Legacy of the departed


Anybody who reads this blog probably knows that I consider Chris Benoit one of the most reprehensible monsters I have ever seen in my lifetime. I don't care if the actions of the last couple of days of his life can be attributed to drug use or brain damage, the fact remains that he knowingly and willingly put himself in that position. As such, I have no sympathy for him, and in my opinion, nobody else can be blamed for the decisions that he made. Because of these feelings, I can't help but shake my head in disbelief when I hear people make comments like, "you have to separate the man from the wrestler.....he was a wonderful ring technician." I'm sorry, what? Are you honestly saying that the fact that he could excellently execute a German Suplex balances out the fact that he brutally murdered his innocent wife and 7 year old son. And he did so with forethought -- by tying up the former and drugging the latter before committing the deed.

Yet here we are, two years later (almost to the day) celebrating the life of Michael Jackson. A man who has undeniably contributed to his field, yet was also marred with a controversial personal life. And yet unlike Benoit, I don't feel that same distaste. Why is this? By no stretch of the imagination do I believe that child molestation is the least bit excusable or forgivable. I should hope that goes without saying. Nor would I make the argument, "he was found not guilty in a court of law." Because, let's face it, the same can be said for O.J. Simpson.

What I think it comes down to, honestly, is that I deep down don't believe that Michael Jackson was guilty of the crimes he was accused of. And much like the McDonalds/hot coffee lawsuit, I think most of what people know about the case (and most of the moral judgments they make) are based on the very skewed and biased reports released through the media. For example, I don't believe that most people are aware of the fact that the father of the first accuser (the 1993 case) was incredibly jealous of his son's closeness to Jackson, and in recorded telephone conversations went on and on about how he wanted to destroy Jackson's career. Further, I'm sure most people don't know that the mother of the second accuser (the 2005 case) reportedly researched the 1993 case, and utilized the same exact individuals who triggered that case to build a case against Michael. And she would allegedly have her children rehearse her side of the story in other lawsuits she was involved in. Basically, her history is as sordid and twisted as Michael's.

And please, don't get me wrong. In my view, if Michael Jackson is guilty of the crimes he was accused of, the evils of those actions far outweigh his tremendous talents. But I really just think that this tragic guy was simply developmentally and emotionally stunted. He didn't have a true childhood and his family situation wasn't ideal. As a result, I think he perhaps related to children and felt an overwhelming desire to surround them with love and support. These relationships were probably inappropriate by societal standards, but I don't think they were sexual. Obviously, I don't know that for sure. But I don't think he's the same as Chris Benoit.


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Wednesday, June 24, 2009

[a case of the summer] - Video of the Week


Alright, alright, I am going to have my Man Card temporarily revoked again, but this week's video feature is an extended preview for the new Melrose Place, which is set to debut this fall on CW. The original series was a bit of a guilty pleasure for me. And c'mon, how could you not love the return of MICHAEL MAN-F'N-CINI??? Watch, and enjoy (and you know you will):



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Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Another problem with Raw

While I can't say that I'm disappointed that the Donald Trump angle was ended so quickly, I will admit that I'm surprised. It seems strange to me that they'd exert so much effort publicity wise -- as well as financially, evident by offering a refund to everybody in attendance -- in order to bring in an audience, only to cut short the reason why they had originally tuned in. On top of that, Donald Trump had JUST raddled off a laundry list of ideas that could sound alluring to new and casual fans. And, at the very least, something different for long-time viewers. But by the end of the segment (and the show as a whole), there was that tired and familiar feeling of "same old, same old."

And along those lines, something struck me as John Cena made his entrance, now wearing bright green wrist bands instead of the blue he had been sporting for the past few months. It helped me come to realize why Raw seems so much blander than Smackdown. If you take look at the guys at the top of Raw's roster, you have John Cena, Triple H, Randy Orton, The Big Show, and Batista. Aside from Cena, each and every one of them wears black trunks. And while Orton and Batista may occasionally switch up the color of their trim, the physical appearance of these five Superstars very rarely changes. From their uniform to their "street clothes" to their facial hair to their haircut, they look practically exactly the same week in and week out (as always, Shawn Michaels is the exception to the snore fest). I know that everybody wants to be the bad ass tough guy in black, but it really sets a dreary tone for the show.

Actually, it reminds me of an interview in a recent edition of WWE Magazine, where one of the production guys noted that all of the ringside furniture (chairs, tables, mats, barriers, etc) were changed to black when they went to HD, to really accentuate the bright colors of the ring ropes. That same logic SHOULD apply to the Superstars as well. Our eyes should instinctively jump to them, not the ring ropes.

Conversely, over on Smackdown, you've got guys like Edge and Chris Jericho, who throw in a pair of red tights/trunks every now and again. Then you've got supremely colorful Superstars like Rey Mysterio and Jeff Hardy, along with CM Punk who has a nice variety of tights. I know it's a minor thing that few other people would notice, but it really helps avoid that feeling of "same old, same old." I cannot tell you how bored I've become with Kane just because of the fact that he hasn't done a single thing to change his appearance since November 2003.

It's a pretty simple way to give the show a desperately needed fresh feeling.

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Monday, June 22, 2009

[a case of the summer] - Pet Peeves


I decided to go the Conan O'Brien route, where he would give his segments the most straight forward, obvious name available. Why force the wit and creativity? Anyway, here is a list of five pet peeves of mine.

1. Waitresses that don't offer their opinion when you're trying to decide between two meals.

2. When people complain about those who won't let them out of a conversation, only to continue the conversation (unprovoked) after an obvious exit is provided.

3. When people who use "there," "their," and "they're," "your" and "you're," and "to," "too," and "two" incorrectly.

4. For that matter, people who call you pretentious for correcting their grammar. As if you wouldn't correct me if I said 2+2=7.

5. Grown men who use the phrase "LOL."



Have your own pet peeve that you'd like to share? Send me an e-mail! The more unusual, the better.

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Sunday, June 21, 2009

[a case of the summer] - The Brief Case


I hope all the fathers out there had a wonderful Father's Day.

Anyway, to kick off the first edition of"The Brief Case," I thought I'd post this new video (by the way, my YouTube channel has been redesigned -- check it out) explaining the concept behind this (attempted) viral campaign. This video also features the vast majority of the briefcase photos I took, many of which you will get the inside scoop on in the weeks to come. Enjoy!




Click here to view my YouTube Favorites

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"You have given me too much money"

So last night I was in New York City celebrating my brother-in-law's cousin's 21st birthday (you follow that?) I'm taking a cab back to my brother's apartment, and the driver starts making conversation with me. He turns out to be a pretty cool guy, and he even took a route that saved me a buck or so. And despite growing up in the city area, my sense of direction sucks, so he easily could have screwed me over in that regard. So when it came time to pay up, I left him a pretty nice tip. I should also acknowledge that I NEVER know what to tip taxi driver's, so I wasn't even aware if it was exorbitant or not.

Well, apparently it was, because he tells me, "You have given me too much money." What do you do in this situation? I ended up telling him it was just fine, because honestly I didn't spend quite as much as I expected that night, and I took the subway to the bar (which is about 5 times less expensive). I also figured that the extra money helped him more than it hurt me.

But my question is this: When somebody offers the information that you've given too much money, is there ever a circumstance where it's acceptable to take some back?

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Thursday, June 18, 2009

[a case of the summer] - Special Summer Features


I have to admit that when the television season ended, I felt more than a little bit liberated. In an effort to make PrimeTimePulse THE site for television recaps and reviews, a concerted effort was made to have our columns posted the night of its original airing. I totally understood this mentality -- I actually found it quite frustrating when I would wrap up a column, only for it to not get posted until days later -- but despite living in the age of TiVo's and DVR's, I was feeling a lot of pressure to watch my shows "live," and as such I felt pretty burnt as May was coming to a close.

That's also why I made the decision that I'm taking the summer off, even though there are shows like True Blood and Monk that I plan to watch weekly. However, I do also recognize that my television reviews were likely the life blood of my blog. So in place of those reviews, I've come up with some special features that will kick off this Sunday (the official start of summer). Here's what to expect:

Sundays - "The Brief Case" - Many of you have likely noticed the image of a briefcase in many of the logos and graphics on this site. This was part of an attempted viral campaign to get people to visit the blog. For this weekly feature, I'll give the inside scoop on a different "briefcase" photo.

Mondays - "Pet Peeves (a more clever title is on its way!)" - Everybody has pet peeves, and each week I'll be posting five of mine. Of course, mundane annoyances like "traffic" or "rain during a picnic" are no fun, so I'm going for the more unusual pet peeves here. My hope is that some of you will e-mail me yours so that I can include them as one of the five on my list.

Wednesdays - "Video of the Week" - This feature speaks for itself -- anything from a memorable television scene to a fun wrestling promo to a classic cartoon to an anticipated movie trailer. The sky (aka Youtube) is the limit.

Fridays - "Top Ten Cases" - You already know what this blog exclusive is all about!

Now, granted, something may come up on a particular day and, as a result, I'll discuss that in place of one of the above items. So, basically, this is not etched in stone. But keep visiting and, as always, your comments are welcome!

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Monday, June 15, 2009

Quick fantasy warfare


So with the big 3-For-All edition of Raw coming up in less than 20 minutes, I thought I'd provide my thoughts on two of the show's bigger spectacles. The first is the four way match for the vacated WWE Championship. Before I reveal what I would do, can I just quickly talk about how much Batista's stock has plummeted since his injury back in 2006? He went from the company's centerpiece to a downright choke artist. He's the perpetual #1 contender, constantly coming up short in the big match, no matter how many opportunities he gets. And hell, his last two World title reigns have collectively lasted a week. Honestly, dude, retirement might not be a bad idea.

Anyway, the match features John Cena, Randy Orton, Triple H, and the Big Show. It might shock people, but I'm actually going to suggest that they give Big Show the nod here. The fact of the matter is, he's the most refreshing candidate. I'm actually a fan of Cena, but for the past few years he's almost constantly held a World Championship. Triple H's recent WWE Championship reign will probably be remembered as one of the least remarkable of this modern era. And I'm sorry, but I find Randy Orton absolutely beyond bland. In the ring, behind the mic, I just find him immensely boring. They've done a nice job of re-establishing Big Show as a legitimate threat over the past year or so. And against all odds, he was a stellar ECW Champion. And with the right opponents, he can have adequate matches (and it's not as if Orton or Batista were setting the world on fire).

I also don't detest the "Spinner" belt as much as most people, but I think it would be supremely beneficial to debut a brand new belt (or the Undisputed design) tonight. In my opinion, pretty much everything associated with the WWE Championship needs to be freshened up.

The next matter is the new General Manager of Raw. Scott Keith's blog has suggested Randy Savage, but I'm going to keep things a little more realistic. Here are some possible options:

Ric Flair - He's been itching to return to the big show, and he's been a recent fixture on Raw. That being said, he apparently turned down a similar role on Smackdown, so it seems like a long shot.

William Regal - If they want to keep things "in house," he's a logical option. He did well in his dual role of GM and wrestler a couple of years back.
Matt Striker - I can see him doing an exceptional job fulfilling this role, but it also means they'll have to reshuffle the announce teams once again.

Shawn Michaels - This seems like an adequate way for him to make his return without getting back in the ring. He served a similar role a few years back. That being said, I think it's a long shot.

Hulk Hogan - I'm sure he wouldn't mind bringing in the extra income, and it seems as if he's made peace with McMahon. Plus he's a big name.

Stephanie McMahon - Ugh, this is always a possibility.

Anyway, enjoy the show!

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Friday, June 12, 2009

An observation on CM Punk

I didn't catch all of SmackDown, so this may very well have been mentioned, but it occurred to me tonight that with his latest World Title win, CM Punk is now the only WWE Superstar in history to hold the World Championship on all three brands.


The Chicago made Superstar captured his first World title when he nabbed the ECW Championship in September 2007. On Raw, he then served as World Heavyweight Champion in June 2008. A little less than a year later, he'd win the World Heavyweight Championship again -- and under similar circumstances -- but this time as SmackDown's champion.

Oh, and he also held the World Tag Team and Intercontinental Championships. Not too shabby for a guy who's only been on the main roster for less than three years.

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Thursday, June 11, 2009

Heroes, Smallville, Prison Break, Lost - One last visit

Like I said at the beginning of the week, I have some fun blog features planned to keep things interesting over the summer (which I will explain in detail next week). But before we get to that, let's finally put to sleep any lagging matters from this past television season.

But speaking of summer, long-time reader Dan asks:

What looks good this summer? Royal Pains is good so far, but outside of that, I haven't found any shows I like.


I have to agree with Dan here. Even more than in the past, this summer seems pretty dead TV-wise. That being said, if there's one show I would suggest, it's True Blood on HBO. I don't plan on formally reviewing that show, but I will frequently discuss it on the blog. Also, this will be the final season of USA Network's Monk. I plan on watching that, as well (by the way, Emmy Clarke has grown up into quite the beautiful -- not to mention tall -- young lady).

And I don't know when Curb Your Enthusiasm returns, but I've been anxiously awaiting that show's return for, like, ever. Anyway, onto last season!

Heroes:

Another one of my readers, Larry, took the time to write me a lengthy and well thought-out e-mail regarding the Heroes finale. Unfortunately I can't copy it in its entirety, but here are some of the more noteworthy passages:

I think that this chapter was especially good. Was it better than Genesis? That's a tough call, I think that it'll hold up better in the long run, as it is a very tight and dramatic story.


This is an important and often overlooked point. Despite its almost universal acclaim, Genesis was rather flawed. It's greatest fault was probably the inconsistent behavior exhibited by certain characters -- most notably Mohinder -- and the sometimes slow pace and stalling. That wasn't nearly as apparent this past chapter. Should the series last a few more seasons, I think Fugitives might stand the test of time a bit better.

I know that they don't have the budget to do big effects all the time, but at the same time, I do think it'd be nice if they did splurge at least once in a while, but I recognize business realities.


This is one factor that I will openly criticize Heroes for. They either need to splurge or they need to discontinue the build towards an epic battle, because they're just going to disappoint the audience.

One thing I really like, is when in season 1 they travel into the future, Nathan is revealed to be Sylar in disguise, obviously they averted the explosion and some other things, but it is interesting the way that has turned out to have developed. Sylar did get the Cheerleader's power. He has taken Nathan's form, and he could be on track to be president.


I enjoyed this as well. It's almost as if certain things are inevitable. Actually, it's similar to the Lost "course correction" time-travel mentality. Another example: No matter what happens, Claire is destined to dye her hair brown.

So that idea about giving characters the season off, I think if they kept it down to chapters that would be more practical. Like this chapter didn't include the Haitian. The previous chapter didn't really include Micah. I think that would be a useful tool for them.


Absolutely. Certain characters are crucial to the series -- like the Petrellis and Bennets -- but others can easily take the chapter off. I honestly think it would benefit the characters and the show as a whole.

I agree, If they just drop a few hints that Sylar is still in there, but otherwise play it straight as Nathan, that would be best. Suddenly a meeting between Nathan and HRG becomes a lot more tension filled, especially if there is a clock/watch on screen someplace. Sylar's trademark ticking now changes from a signal that he's working something out, to a reminder that is likely just a matter of time before things go horribly wrong.


I feel very strongly about keeping "Sylar" dormant for at least a season. Even though Zachary Quinto is now one of the show's biggest stars -- and the Sylar character has become such a central part of the series -- they really only have one chance to make this Nathan/Sylar thing work. If the dual personality collapses too quickly, they missed out on a real dramatic opportunity.

That being said, I do like the potential of "hinting" towards the Sylar side of Nathan (like with the clock ticking, as Larry noted). If they insist on having Sylar return sooner rather than later, I also wouldn't mind characters discovering Sylar-esque murder scenes, and Nathan realizing that something just isn't right.

I am curious What happens Nathan/Sylar tries to fly? Wouldn't some powers be passive? Like what if he gets wounded, wouldn't he just heal, or can Parkman block powers? Or what if he waves his hand around in a speech and accidently slices off somebody's head? That would be kind of funny.


If you recall from the finale, moments before Sylar slit Nathan's throat, you heard the ticking sound, indicating that he was acquiring Nathan's ability to fly. So, at the very least, Nathan/Sylar CAN fly. Also, if you remember, both Sylar and Peter had to train pretty extensively to control their new powers (at first Sylar couldn't control the super hearing, and Peter needed to be trained by Claude). I think it's fair to assume that without his Sylar memories, Nathan simply wouldn't realize he has certain abilities to use.

But like I noted above, with Nathan realizing something's not right, I could imagine Nathan being shot and healing, and wondering how it happened.

Oh and here's a question, was Sylar using telekinetics, or Puppetmaster powers when controling Claire? As he now had the ability to learn powers without killing people did he pick it up from the Puppetmaster before turning him over to Danko?


I would assume that's the case.

I do like the establishment of a new sort of Company, particularly with HRG at the top. It lets it be a pretty clear cut force for good, while still giving a lot of opportunity for interesting stories.


I like this too, but I must admit that I find it somewhat irksome how HRG went from being so venomously against the Company in season two, to becoming its biggest fan for the latter half of season three.

Smallville:

I was pretty disappointed that Jimmy was killed off, but much like with Tony's ressurection 24, I was more bothered by the reasoning behind it. According to a recent edition of Entertainment Weekly, the character was retired because DC Comics is very protective of their intellectual property, and they didn't like that Smallville's version of the character didn't quite fit with that from the legendary comic. I no longer have the magazine, but here's what Aaron Ashmore said in the website interview:

I know when [the idea of] Jimmy coming to Smallville first came up, DC Comics had a bit of a problem because of the age difference thing. But the producers really wanted to bring the character in because they thought they could do some interesting stuff with him. I believe [producers] had reassured DC that by the end of the series -- or at some point -- they would rectify that [by making it clear that he's] not the real Jimmy Olsen.


This strengthens my initial reaction, which is that this feels like a cheat. Why introduce this classic and significant character if you're only going to say, "nah, we're just joshin' ya'"? I mean, how do we know THIS is the real Lois Lane? Or that this is even the actual Clark Kent? Seems to me like the REAL Superman would've learned to fly by now.

The reveal that Jimmy's brother is ACTUALLY the real Jimmy also seemed like an 11th hour save. If this was always the plan, why not plant some seeds earlier on? Particularly when Jimmy started talking about his family earlier this season.

Prison Break:

Dan also asks:

Have you seen anyone translate what the general said before he was being executed?


He's asked if he's ready, to which he answers, "Semper Paratus," which translates to "Always Ready."

Also on the blog, my episode number correcting friend writes:

There have been two further episodes of Prison Break which aired in the UK titled "The Final Break."I haven't watched them yet, but did they air in US? No-one seems to have reviewed them..


These episodes are direct-to-DVD, as I understand it, but I haven't seen them. I'm actually not entirely interested in seeing them, only because I find them a bit unnecessary. I feel like the finale was a suitable way to end things. In my mind, certain gaps don't need to be filled. I know C-Note works for UPS. That doesn't mean I need to watch his job interview.

Lost:

On the blog, Kyle writes:

I was under the assumption that the mystery man was the Smoke Monster as well, although I'm starting to rethink that a little bit. I can get behind the ash keeping him in the cabin (although the "Help Me"
came long after Smokey was wandering around) because there's presumably some "mysticism" or "ancient power" or something along those lines behind it, but what about the fence the Others can activate? Or the fact that Ben can apparently summon it?


First things first: Is it that Ben CAN summon it, or that he simply knows how to? As in, if Sun knew that there's a latrine buried beneath Ben's house that beckons Smokey D., could she do it as well?

Also, while I firmly believe that the Man in Black and the Smoke Monster are one in the same, there are some logistical gaps that still don't make sense at this point. Obviously, we're going to have to wait until next season to see if this theory holds water.

Okay. Now we can move onto the summer.

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Tuesday, June 9, 2009

And the good news keeps coming....


http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2009/06/its-official-futurama-returns.html?cnn=yes


Of course, the real lesson here may be that FOX -- a network notoriously tough on new shows -- shouldn't be so hasty when it comes to canceling its programs.

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The return of Zack Morris

Brilliant and nostalgic stuff. Ruined only by Jimmy Fallon.

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Monday, June 8, 2009

Blue reign -- the rise of SmackDown


So last night CM Punk surprisingly cashed in on his Money in the Bank title shot by taking advantage of a very opportunistic scenario, and walked away with the World Heavyweight Championship. Just two minutes after Jeff Hardy won the gold from Edge in a hellacious Ladder Match. Watch the scene unfold:




This situation brings to light the fact that, for the second time since the initial WWE Brand Extension, SmackDown has emerged as the highly superior brand -- even as Raw is treated like the company's favorite child.

Truth be told, I've always been partial to SmackDown. I like blue more than red, I thought their initial roster was better (Angle, Edge, Hogan, The Rock, Jericho, some Canadian dude), and I can't help but root for the underdog. However, the Blue Show really came into prominence with the original "SmackDown Six" - Angle, Lord Voldemort, Eddie Guerrero, Chavo Guerrero, Rey Mysterio, and Edge. Even WWE couldn't ignore the fact that SmackDown was the premiere brand. More times than not, they got the main event slot (due in large part to Brock Lesnar's super push), and they constantly stole the show.

We're now seeing that again, with the Superstars shown above: Edge, Jericho, CM Punk, John Morrison, Rey Mysterio, and Jeff Hardy. These guys, in addition to solid competitors like the Undertaker and Shelton Benjamin, have carried the torch quite well. Honestly, I couldn't find Orton, Batista, and Triple more excruciatingly boring in the ring and on the mic. On the other hand, we've been seeing some really innovative, interesting stuff with the intertwining feuds between Edge, Hardy, Jericho, and Mysterio -- which should now involve Punk as well. I'm legitimately eager to find out how Punk's actions will play out. Will fans and Hardy understand his actions? Will he turn heel? I really want to see what happens next.

Hell, as many others have noted, ECW is arguably more consistently enjoyable and exciting than Raw.

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Sunday, June 7, 2009

The Hangover


So last night I was spontaneously given the opportunity to see The Hangover, and since it didn't look like much else was going on, I decided to go. As some of you may have gathered, I don't go to the movies as much as I'd sometimes like. And even though I'm a huge fan of comedies, I typically don't see them in theaters. So going to see this was a bit out of the ordinary. But being a big fan of The Office, and with Ed Helms (Andy Bernard) in it, it just seemed right.

My review? Basically, just to GO SEE IT. This was an absolutely hilarious film. I went with five other people, and our brand of humor ranges across the spectrum. Yet every single one of us were in stitches. In fact, one of the six us of had just seen it the night before, and was simply going again because he thought it was so funny. And I might have a second opportunity to see it tonight, and I'm tempted to take it.

My suggestion is to not blow this movie off as just stupid sophomoric humor. Much like its predecessor Old School, there's some heart and emotion behind the characters. All of the characters are flawed, but I wouldn't distinguish one as "the asshole" and other as "the nice guy." And hey, there's a fun little mystery going along with it (not to mention great cameos). This is definitely worth seeing.

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Thursday, June 4, 2009

Fret not, loyal blog visitors

I know that this blog has always primarily focused on popular television shows. And with summer upon us, and those programs on hiatus, I'm sure a number of frequent visitors are visiting less frequently.

But worry not!

I'll get into the details this weekend or early next week, but I have some fun ideas planned for the summer, including the return of Top Ten Cases. So if you promise to keep coming, I'll be sure to keep the material fresh and entertaining. Deal? Good.

Check back later for more information.

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Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Just my luck

So this weekend was an odd combination of "good" luck, bad luck, good luck in a bad situation, and then downright bad luck again.


Friday was one of my co-workers' birthdays, so I decided to take my camera with me to work. While not completely unusual, it was out of the ordinary. Before leaving for my morning commute, I also made the last minute decision to grab a can of soda, as I was a bit drowsy. So as I passed through the kitchen to go to the basement, I look out the back door and see four deer walking through my yard. In addition to being a lovely sight, it was also completely unexpected. My house is no where near any words whatsoever. In fact, it's surrounded by three heavily trafficked and residential streets. So where the hell did these things come from?

Anyway, I hopped in the car and realized I needed to get some gas. So I drive to the local gas station. But as I pull into the lot, my car hits something, making a really loud sound. I check to make sure there's no damage. Thankfully, there's not. Except for the punctured wheel and completely flat tire. That was pretty crappy. But I suppose if you have to get a flat tire, a gas station isn't a bad place for it to happen. So they fixed it right there and then for me, and it only cost me 20 bucks. While they were doing this, I investigated what I hit. Turns out the entrance to the lot isn't a "real" entrance, where the curb neatly declines to a flat level. Instead, they just discontinued the curb at the sewer grate. And the edge of the grate is sticking out, which you can't see when heading in from the left side (which is what I did).

Fast forward to Saturday night. I'm supposed to head into Hoboken. Normally I would crash at my brother's place in the city, and just head into Hoboken from there. I wasn't really feeling that, though. Fortunately a friend of mine is living in Jersey again, so we were just going to take the train there. Except my friend fell off the face of the Earth, and may or may not be in Ireland right now (jury's still out on that one). Finally I decided I would just take the train myself. So I buy my ticket from the machine, but I only had 20's on me. So the damn thing gives me $14 in dollar coins as change. What in the blue hell am I supposed to do with that? Other than lose it?

Making matters worse, the damn train never showed up! Turns out the rail road is being repaired, so you have to take a bus to another train station, which will then take you to Hoboken. Well the event I was going only has a three hour open bar -- and I'd be missing the first two hours. In the end it just wasn't worth it. So I wasted six bucks on a ticket and was stuck with $14 in dollar coins.

How's that for luck?

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