A Case of the.... Heroes - Episode 4-3

I forgot to mention this last week, but somebody should really inform Peter that there are plenty of Legal Seafood chains in New Jersey. So instead of needlessly running over two hundred miles, he really could have just taken a scenic twenty minute drive. But hey, who am I to judge?

I seem to remember saying this last season, but by the end of the year the method was a distant memory, but I do appreciate the fact that the writers are not forcing every single character to be in every single episode. For example, this week we didn’t see Hiro, Ando, Nathan, or Tracy, who all played a pretty significant role in the premiere. Likewise, we’re yet to see Mohinder (and thank goodness for that!) This episode was about three things: Claire’s growth and HRG’s acceptance of that independence, Parkman’s descent, and the manipulation of Peter. The characters that didn’t fit into that story simply didn’t appear. And that’s how it should be.

http://tv.insidepulse.com/2009/09/30/heroes-episode-4-2-review/

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TV shows and some other stuff

My Heroes review will likely be posted sometime tomorrow, but I thought I'd take this opportunity to discuss some of the other shows I watch. But before I get to that, I'd like to thank my good friend Neal over at Oblivious to Melody (and he actually deserves the shout out this time -- he updated his blog!) for taking advantage of the Proposition 9/28...er...proposition. Indeed, the big guy purchased me a Simpsons Kidrobot figure and I ended up getting somebody I don't already have -- Marge!! Very appreciated, my friend.

Now, to some of the shows I don't formally review. Unfortunately, I haven't gotten around to watching last week's Vampire Diaries yet, but only because last I checked it hasn't been added to the CW website yet. I also intend to watch Flash Forward, but I haven't gotten around to that either. Actually, I was out Thursday for a work event, and it struck me at that point that I have A LOT of shows to watch that night. The Office, Vampire Diaries, Flash Forward, and Survivor. That's pretty intense. But now onto the shows I have had the chance to watch.

Melrose Place - I've really enjoyed the season thus far, and I think the use of flashbacks have been very clever. It's like a combination between Lost and early Desperate Housewives. Don't get me wrong, it's still a soap opera, and the writing is no where near the level of Lost, but it's been an enjoyable show thus far. Nonetheless, I was HIGHLY disappointed by the explanation provided for Sydney's faked death. When it was announced that her death had been faked, and that Michael had somehow assisted her, I was deeply intrigued. But the story they told was completely thrown together and utterly lazy. Like, I almost found it offensive.

Anybody who was a fan of the early season likely recalls that (a) Michael's cartoonish hair looked nothing like that at any point in the season of the original series. Actually, it was pretty similar to the 'do he sports now, (b) Michael wasn't even in the hospital the night Sydney died -- if I remember right, he was getting thrown through a window by Peter, (c) at the time of Sydney's "death," she and Michael barely interacted any more. At that point, they were no where near close enough that Michael would risk his livelihood for her. Hell, even when they were close he barely liked her, (d) Sydney's death had nothing to do with any hit whatsoever. And it certainly had nothing to do with her husband.

Additionally, for the life of me, I didn't understand the whole deal with her going to jail. Was she caught and sent to jail? Or did she go to jail in place of her dying? I don't know. It was just really disappointing, as THIS backstory was the one I was looking most forward to. It just seems wrong that it was revealed in the third episode in such a lackluster manner.

Oh, and the actor who portrays Jonah really fell ass backwards into a sweet deal, having the two hottest girls on the show fighting over him.

The Cleveland Show - I'm still willing to give this show a chance, but man, that was a pretty rough pilot in my opinion. I'm a MASSIVE fan of Family Guy, and American Dad has grown on me more than I ever imagined it would, so I obviously appreciate of this brand of humor. But the show seemed like it was trying entirely too hard -- and it wasn't very funny. And it was one of those odd situations where the writers say, "Hey, this character is strong enough to carry his own series. Let's change everything about him." The reason I'm willing to give it a shot, though, is because it doesn't compete with any other show I watch. And Family Guy and American Dad have both improved by leaps and bounds since their debut.

Family Guy - Like I said, huge fan of the show, and I found the premiere absolutely brilliant. I sometimes feel like the writers resort to the old "Stewie and Brian hijinx" routine a bit too often, but this was spot on. I positively LOVED the Disney universe (awesome animation, by the way). And the tongue-in-cheek shots at Robot Chicken are always fun.

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A Case of the.... Smallville - Episode 9-1

So Smallville has returned for its ninth season (hard to believe, isn’t it?) In a lot of ways, this series is barely recognizable when compared to when it first premiered, with Lex, Lana, Lionel, Jonathan, Martha, and Pete having all been written off. Even classic characters like Kara and Jimmy, who dropped by for a cup of coffee, are no longer on the show.

Not that this is a criticism. Actually, I think trimming down the cast and limiting it, to the most part, with characters that are essential to the Superman mythology is what the series needs at this point. I do wish Lex were still on, but if this season is destined to focus on Clark’s love for Lois and his ability to fly, there will be no complaints from me.

http://tv.insidepulse.com/2009/09/28/smallville-episode-9-1-review/

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

Better late than never, right?

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Proposition 9/28

I know Wednesdays are typically the "Video of the Week" day, but the season finale I have filmed is over the allotted 10 minute mark, so I'm going to need a bit more time to trim it down. But expect it before the end of the week.

Anyway, in case people here haven't been watching my videos, let me reiterate a birthday idea I have. As many of you know, I collect the Kidrobot Futurama and Simpsons figurines. The ones I already own are shown above. Anyway, these figures come in "blind boxes," which means that you don't know which character you're getting when you make the purchase (each character has different odds).

My proposition is simple: If you'd like to get me a gift for my birthday (the 28th of this month), why not spend $8 or $9 on one of these items? The Futurama ones are $9, and the Simpsons ones are $8. And here's the kicker -- if I already own the character you bought me, I'll give you the option of keeping it! And if you don't want it, I'll find somebody else who does! So, potentially, you're really just buying yourself a gift.

For what it's worth, I'd really like to get the Robot Devil, Zoidberg, Mr. Burns, and Duff Man.

These items can be found at Urban Outfitters, MetroPark, or just order them from the Kidrobot website:

http://www.kidrobot.com/category.cfm/kidrobot/toys-minifigures

E-mail me if you need mailing address information. Just consider it -- it's a relatively small investment.

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A Case of the.... Heroes - Episodes 4-1 & 4-2

Long-time readers will know that I’ve been a very loyal Heroes apologist. While everybody else has gone on and on about how the show is in critical condition and on the verge of cancelation, I’ve rightly noted that it’s still one of the highest rated shows on NBC (the network in, what, fourth place?) and brings in the most alluring demographics (which means money). Yet I have to admit that I’ve been majorly frustrated with the previews I’ve read for the fourth season. Nearly every single one has a cast member acknowledging that season three was a bit shaky, but that things are really going to pick up this season, with the heroes attempting to live normal lives. I feel like I read the EXACT same thing last season. And if last season failed to reach expectations – as the actors seem to acknowledge – then what assurances should I have for this upcoming season?

And truth be told, I didn’t even mind last season. I thought it was a HUGE improvement over season two, particularly the “Fugitives” arc. Part of me wishes the actors and producers would take the Matthew Fox/Lost approach, and basically just say, “No, the critics are wrong. The show is still great. You’ll see.” And he was right. A lot of fans argued that the third season of Lost was weak – I don’t agree – but ultimately, I believe, those same fans would agree that it paid off in the grand scheme of things.

There’s owning up to things and there’s taking ownership. Last year those involved with Heroes rightly owned up to the previous season’s weaknesses. This year I would have preferred they taken ownership of what was an adequate and acceptable season. Did they capture that same magic we saw in season one? No – but they never will. So they shouldn’t even try. Using Lost as an example again, the writers aren’t trying to recreate the first season (time travel comments aside), they’re instead progressing the story. And that’s why I was partially disappointed to read that these characters are “going back” to living normal lives. I don’t want them to “go back” to anything. I want them to move forward – the one thing the show has constantly struggled to do.

Nonetheless, I have come into this premiere with a positive attitude. Admittedly, I am more skeptical than I once was. My greatest hope is that the writers will show some restraint, and the real, for me, will be whether Sylar appears. And if he does, in what capacity. Last season, I made the bold suggestion that they wait until the finale before we see him emerge from Nathan’s persona. I doubt that’ll happen, but I’m curious to see what sort of self-control they show.

Click the link below for the full column:

http://tv.insidepulse.com/2009/09/22/heroes-episode-4-1-4-2-review/


**Please note that "PrimeTimePulse" is now "Inside Pulse TV." For simplicity sake, I will continue to refer to the site as PrimeTimePulse in the "labels" section.**

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[a case of the summer] - The Final Pet Peeves

This being the final edition of Pet Peeves, I figured I'd just list the rest of the annoyances I had saved. But don't worry, I'm sure this doesn't even crack the surface of what gets under my skin. Also, check back later tonight/sometime tomorrow for my Heroes premiere recap!

1. Reading other people's handwriting.

2. When people say "no pun intended" when it was clearly intended.

3. The fact that CBS.com puts the link for the Survivor "Final Words" video -- effectively revealing who was voted off -- before the link the episode itself.

4. When you order a fruit smoothie believing that it will be blended with fresh fruit, only to see them whip out a pre-mixed formula.

5. People who get personally offended when you change lanes to pass them. I just consider you a slow driver, I'm not banging your wife or anything.

6. When television shows awkwardly integrate Facebook and Twitter into dialogue in a blatant attempt to sound hip and trendy.

We also have two from our friend Neal. For what it's worth, I'm pretty sure I'm guilty of the second offense:

7. Anything that has to do with Harry Potter.

8. When people pronounce the word template like tem-PLATE instead of tem-PLIT.

And our final one is from Frank:

9. People who don't use turn signals and then get mad that you didn't let them in.

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[a case of the summer] - The Final Brief Case - Less brief than ever!

As this is the final edition of the Brief Case, I'm not going to give the back story on one briefcase photo. Oh no, what would be so special about that? You'll be getting FIVE backstories!

Photo location: Super Shop

How's this for a fun fact? The establishment in which I took this photograph is no longer in business. I used to go to this mart for coffee, and last winter while there I noticed this giant Slush Puppy inflatable advertisement. It was just sitting there. Not quite in the trash, but clearly intended to be trash. So what did I do? I snapped this photograph. And I may have taken the Slush Puppy home. But I'm not quite ready to admit that yet.

But I do love the contrast with the white snow, with the bright blue and red Slush Puppy.

Photo location: The Palisades

In northern Bergen County, where I live and grew up, there's a great view of New York City from the Palisades. I decided to take advantage of this great scenery, and snapped a shot of the Case of the Blog briefcase with the epic George Washington Bridge in the background. In addition to being a legitimately nice photo, I also like this one because of it's connection to my personal life. And plus NYC is quite the hotspot of the entertainment industry.

Photo location: Chatham, NJ

On my way back to work from grabbing lunch in Chatham one day, I noticed this really cool looking mailbox. It's real neat -- it's built to resemble a tractor. So obviously, I ran back to my car and grabbed the briefcase for this unique photo opportunity. I did have the good sense of removing the family name before sending it to print. Perhaps the owner is reading this right now.

Photo location: Palisades Center Mall

At the Palisades Center Mall in Nyack, NY, they have a crapload of coin operated rides. One of which is a Spider-Man car. One night I was meeting a bunch of friends at one of the Buffalo Wild Wings, and I realized that all of the clothing stores were closed, leaving the mall virtually empty. I decided to take advantage of this rare opportunity where I could roam the mall without any people being around. So I brought my briefcase and looked for fun photo ops. This was one of the ones I went with (why Spider Man has to drive, I haven't the faintest idea). I just wish the briefcase fit the seat a little better.

Photo location: Hackensack, NJ

Every morning when I head to work, I pass by a liquor store in Hackensack. One day I noticed that they have this copper statue sitting on a bench right by the entrance. I haven't a clue who it's of or how long he's been there -- but one day I just noticed it. I became determined to photograph the briefcase with him, and figured that the morning was the best time to do it (again, because there wouldn't be anybody around). I do remember it being absolutely freezing that day. I think it was in the midst of a snow storm.

For what it's worth, I attempted to do some research online to find out the significance of the statue, but came up with nothing. Of course, I did take a photo with him months later, though (as he prepared for St. Patrick's Day):

View all of the Briefcase Photos

View Briefcase Photo Outtakes

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Did I really just see that?

So I'm driving around my neighborhood -- which is extremely residential -- and what do I see as I am heading down a typically busy street? A mailman essentially trapped in his truck as a giant turkey (!!!!!) roams around trying to get in. What? I had to pull over just to make sure I was actually witnessing this.

Figures, the one time I don't have my camera on me.

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

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From nobility to disaster

The following hilarious graphic was sent to me by our friend Neal over at Oblivious to Updating His Blog. I just love how it all starts off with such a virtuous action, but quickly -- and needlessly -- turns very dramatic and violent. Enjoy.

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[a case of the summer] - Pet Peeves

Just as an FYI - I will be concluding the [a case of the summer] feature the week of September 20th, as the 22nd marks the official end of summer. Hope you all enjoyed it. Until then, though, here's your latest edition of Pet Peeves:

1. The expression "full circle." By definition, a circle is full. If it's not full, it's not a circle.

2. When the tags on the back of people's shirts/clothing are showing.

3. DJs that ask a trivia question regarding a particular song, but then don't play that song after the answer is revealed.

4. ATM machines that display your balance on the screen after you make a withdrawal. Yeah, like I want everybody standing in my vicinity to know how much money I have in my account.

And the fifth comes from Neal over at Oblivious to Melody:

5. This unabashed praise for Mariano Rivera, or any closer for that matter.

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As if we needed another reason to dislike Kanye West

In my opinion, Kanye West is one of the most obnoxious, detestable human beings I've ever seen on television. He's incredibly self centered, self absorbed, and is completely devoid of any class whatsoever.

Whether you like her music or not, Taylor Swift was so genuinely happy and honored to win this award -- not to mention gracious, as well. The fact that this complete d-bag would jump on stage, grab the microphone from her, and steal that moment is just so beyond anything that could possibly be considered acceptable. He completely destroyed what should have been a very special moment for her. She didn't even get to finish her speech. After an awkward silence, the producer started playing another video and she was ushered off stage. Just terrible.

Watch that video again, and check out the legitimately thrilled expression on Taylor Swift's face when her name is announced as the winner. Then look at how completely deflated she becomes after Kanye leaves the stage. Yeah, that's a REALLY nice thing to do to a 19 year old girl. You're such a big man.

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TV Thoughts: 90210, Melrose Place, Vampire Diaries -- and brief Breaking Point thoughts

So the CW had some premieres this past week, including a returning guilty pleasure -- 90210 -- the return of an old guilty pleasure -- a revamped Melrose Place -- and the debut of a potentially exciting new series -- Vampire Diaries. I watched all three, and for the most part, I was pleasantly surprised. I wasn't COMPLETELY sold on this "new" new 90210, as I felt the routine with Silver, Naomi, and Adrianna being super duper close best friends seemed entirely too forced. Silver and Naomi are the two personalities they've done the best job of establishing -- and I think it's a stretch that they'd be so chummy. Speaking of Silver, she looks absolutely SMOKING. Love the new, shorter hair. The dark turn with Annie has the potential to be fun, although it's a bit reminiscent of her Degrassi days. Oh, and that new character, Teddy, looks like he's about 45 years old.

I thought Melrose Place gave an impressive showing. They did a far better job than 90210 of integrating the classic characters with the new ones, and I feel like the murder mystery is a fun, suspenseful, and focused way of driving the season. They've done a nice job of placing suspicions on numerous characters, whether it's through motive, opportunity, or suspicious behavior. And honestly, how freakin' awesome is it having Michael Mancini back on our televisions? The show's only real downfall is that it's named "Melrose Place" and it's on the CW. If everything was the same, but under a different name and on ABC, people would be lauding it as the second coming of Desperate Housewives.

Vampire Diaries was a lot of fun, and most certainly worth a second viewing. If you remember from my Top Ten Cases: Hottest women on television list, I'm a big fan of Nina Dobrev. And I've always been a vampire enthusiast -- even before it was fashionable. So I had to give this show a shot. Some of the similarities to True Blood were a bit striking -- the protagonist is an orphan with a deadbeat brother, there's a girl with seemingly supernatural abilities (who has a "gram," no less), the warring vampires over the affections of one human female, and so on. But that's nit picking, and ultimately irrelevant. In the end, I really just enjoyed the characters as well as the overall conflict of the series -- especially between the two brothers. This season of True Blood really gained momentum when it focused on the Bill/Sookie/Eric triangle, and this show is doing that right off the bat. I most certainly recommend this series to anybody who's a fan of the HBO hit show.

Anyway, WWE's new Pay-Per-View, Breaking Point, is on tonight. And while I admire the company for these theme-related PPV's -- as it at least sets them apart from the loads of other shows being offered -- I have to admit that I'm not a fan of this one. First and foremost, I think making three or four matches submission-related really takes the spectacle out of seeing somebody tap out. Triple H tapping out to some guy at WrestleMania XX was so special because, up until that point (if I'm not mistaken), it had never happened. That was far more special than if it had been a typical pin. I mean, what's so great about being somebody submit after you've already seen it twice in the past hour and a half? For that matter, I think this show kinda steps on the toes of Extreme Rules. When you have an I Quit Match, a Submission Match, a Falls Count Anywhere Match, and a Singapore Cane Match, it sounds an awful lot like Extreme Rules.

I'm also not so much a fan of the upcoming Hell in a Cell or the rumored (confirmed?) TLC: Tables, Ladders, and Chairs PPVs. Again, both of these stipulations have been established as a special attraction. Seeing them multiple times on one card takes away that specialness, especially with Hell in a Cell. And with TLC, it creates a dangerous precedent where talent is expected to one-up each other. I would much prefer they just rename No Way Out "Elimination Chamber," since that show has already established itself as having multiple Elimination Chamber matches to set up for WrestleMania.

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Remembering

It's often said that the attacks on September 11, 2001 is our generation's JFK assassination. As in, you'll never forget where you were that day when you received the news. And in my case, that's true.

I was a sophomore at Rutgers and I went to class that morning just like any other day. As I was walking through the halls, I faintly overheard two teachers discussing the World Trade Center, and an attack. I didn't think much of it. I obliviously assumed that it was the anniversary of the 1993 bombing.

Class progressed as usual, until one student came in late -- probably more than halfway into the period. He reported the news that the South Tower had collapsed. Everybody was naturally shocked. After all, the Twin Towers is an American landmark -- just about as recognizable to New York City as the Empire State Building.

At the time I didn't have a computer in my dorm room, so I immediately rushed to the computer lab to find out what in the world was going on. It was still early in the morning -- before the North Tower collapsed -- so phones and Internet access hadn't yet flooded. As I sat there constantly refreshing the news page, I would quickly discover that the second tower had fallen. I was inundated with IM's (remember those?) as I read people's worried and depressing away messages.

Shortly thereafter classes were canceled and I returned to my room, where everybody continued to be in a state of shock. We would spend the next couple of days glued to the TV watching the news. Believe it or not, my freshman year roommate -- who lived on the fourth floor of our dorm building -- could see the billows of smoke coming from the city.

It's been eight years, and while I remember that day so vividly, it also feels like a lifetime ago.

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

UNMASKING A LIAR: An Expose:

Please refer to this video for historic reference

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[a case of the summer] - Top Ten Cases: Superstars to keep your eyes on

I apologize for the delay in having this posted (Fridays are the usual designated Top Ten Cases day) but my Internet connection has been absolute crap for the past two days. Booo (or boo-urns)!

Anyway, my favorite wrestler is Edge. And sure, that's easy to say now that he's been the top heel in the company for the past several years and has acquired an astonishing nine World Championships. But I'm no bandwagon jumper. I've been a HUGE fan of the guy since -- get this -- BEFORE his Brood days. Yes, that's right, when he was silently walking through the audience and having minute-long matches, I knew he was going to be something big.

With this in mind, I thought I'd take a look at the current WWE roster and pick out ten individuals that I think will make it big. This list is a combination of the Superstar's talent, the way the audience reacts to them, and the reality of whether the company would truly get behind the Superstar to ensure their status. For what it's worth, I've limited this list to those solidly in the mid-card that haven't main evented a Pay-Per-View.

Click the "Read More" link for the full list.

10. Zack Ryder - This one is probably a huge stretch, but it seems like the powers that be have legitimately been behind this guy since his move to ECW. While his former partner languishes on SmackDown, Ryder has been featured prominently each and every week. He has a unique look, a catch phrase, and a few solid victories (and his big losses are to Christian and Shelton Benjamin, hardly pushovers). And much like the Miz, WWE was wise enough to steer him away from cartoonishness upon his re-introduction. By week two, he was ensuring everybody that he wasn't a joke.

That being said, I can only rank him at 10 because I honestly can't ever see him carrying the World Championship.

9. Kofi Kingston - I actually didn't originally want him on the list, as I felt his colorful look, flashy style, and accent would work AGAINST him as he climbs up the ladder, but I couldn't in good conscience put Zack Ryder on the list and not Kofi Kingston. That being said, despite being supremely talented and over -- not to mention a fresh face on an otherwise very bland and familiar program -- there's just something about Kofi that makes me skeptical about WWE getting firmly behind him. Will his future be reminiscent of Kane -- a solid performer and always at the cusp of main event status with a great reaction from the fans -- or Jeff Hardy -- same as Kane, but finally able to overcome the critics by becoming "The" man? Time will tell.

8. Ted DiBiase - It may surprsie many, but I actually don't see either Legacy member being the "future" of the business. Honestly, though, if I wanted to make this list an even 10, I had to make some concessions and include Superstars I don't have complete faith in. It's not that I don't like Ted DiBiase or that I don't think he's talented (I do on both counts), I just don't see that ever important "It" factor. Additionally, when a new Superstar debuts -- especially one who comes from a wrestling family -- you can usually see right away that WWE is going to push him -- come hell or hot water. That was certainly the case with Rocky Maivia, as it was with DiBiase's mentor Randy Orton. Despite winning the tag title in his first match, he just didn't seem to make that immediate impact. Then again, out of all the members of Legacy, he seems to have the greatest upside. He's got a good look, he's comfortable on the mic, and his ring performance is sound. I keep reading reports that the long term plan is to turn him face, so it sounds like WWE has some plans for him. And this may seem like a contradiction based on what I said most of this passage, but I actually CAN imagine DiBiase headlining WrestleMania.

7. Shelton Benjamin - This may seem optimistic, considering the roller coaster career he's had. But it seems like every couple years, WWE decides they want to push Shelton Benjamin to the moon. He's always been stellar in the ring, but it's his character and personality that's needed the work. In that regard, he's only getting better (although he still seems uncomfortable). And I think it’s certainly worth mentioning that WWE must see SOMETHING special in him if they continue to push him, after abandoning his previous push. Now wrestling as a face on ECW, I could easily see him capturing that brand’s World Championship over the next year. And, from there, moving back over to SmackDown where his style is more appreciated. Will he ever main event WrestleMania? It seems questionable – perhaps even unlikely. But certainly not outside the realm of possibility.

6. David Hart Smith – Despite originally debuting under less than stellar conditions (winning his first match, getting completely squashed in every match following, and then being suspended for thirty days), it seems surprising that I consider him the brightest star out of all the “legacy” Superstars currently on the WWE payroll. Since becoming a part of the Hart Dynasty, Smith has displayed a level of intensity that was absent from his former cheeky character. Personally, I would have kept the threesome on ECW where they could dominate that brand. But nonetheless, a tag team title reign seems likely. And, once that happens, he and his comrades can compete on all three brands and REALLY make an impact on WWE. At this rate, I could easily see him achieving the level of his late father. Actually, a feud with Shawn Michaels – who, as far as fans are concerned, is a mortal enemy of any member of the Hart family – could really elevate him to the big time.

5. Dolph Ziggler – When Dolph Ziggler was introduced under such a ridiculous name, I figured we were seeing the next version of Kerwin White. And after a less than impressive tenure on Raw, I had pretty much written this guy off. But then he moved to SmackDown, and out of nowhere he was cleanly beating United States Champion MVP and was besting the over 7 foot tall Great Khali on Pay-Per-View. He established a loose alliance with top SmackDown heels Edge and Chris Jericho, and was moved into a high-profile feud with Intercontinental Champion Rey Mysterio. This guy is being groomed for the Intercontinental Championship – and you know what? The fans are reacting to him, he’s got a good look, and he’s good enough in the ring. He’s a fresh face that is legitimately being pushed, and if things continue to progress at this rate, I could easily see him one day capturing the World Championship. The smart thing to do would be to keep him on SmackDown. But hopefully he remains injury-free, or else he could end up the second coming of Mr. Kennedy.

4. Jack Swagger – Perhaps nobody on this list received such an immediate push than Jack Swagger. Within a couple of months of his debut he had captured the ECW Championship from Matt Hardy, and proceeded to have an impressive enough title reign. Of course, despite being a “World” champion, he was left off of the WrestleMania card. He’s now wrestling no Raw, and although he’s arguably lost in the shuffle, I do expect him to capture the United States Championship within the next few months. He reminds a lot of people of Brock Lesnar, and for good reason. He’s big, he’s blond, and he’s a former amateur wrestler. Although I might go as far as to argue that Swagger’s got more personality than Lesnar. The only thing that may hold him back is his very apparent lisp. I think a move to SmackDown would benefit him, as he’s far more likely to rise up the card on the blue show. Nonetheless, I see this man holding one of the more legitimate World Championships within the next few years.

3. The Miz – The Miz learned this lesson years before Chris Jericho: Despite getting a great reaction from the crowd and achieving upper midcard status, the legitimate main eventers are not to be laughed at. The Miz has wisely abandoned many of the cartoonish aspects of his character, while remaining true to what made him a Superstar. Most people argue that his recent program with John Cena killed his credibility. I couldn’t disagree more. I think it showed that the powers that be have enough faith in him that they would give him a multi-week arc with their top star, and actually blow it off (unlike the Chris Jericho/Goldberg saga). I absolutely see this guy as a legitimate contender for the World Championship within the next few years. Not too shabby for a guy who came from The Real World.

2. MVP – What an interesting career MVP has had since his debut not too long ago. His bombastic introduction lasted several months, only for him to disappoint most when he actually debuted. He managed to find his character, and after a highly successful feud with Lord Voldemort, which brought him the United States Championship, he had arrived. His reign was the longest in WWE history, in fact. And he’s probably the only person in wrestling history in which a losing streak angle actually worked! Indeed, it turned him face and solidly got the fans behind him. Oh, and he eventually won back that United States Championship. In my opinion, WWE has foolishly missed out on a number of perfect opportunities to place him in the WWE Championship picture since his move to Raw, but instead they opted to continue to go with John Cena and Triple H. While I don’t see him winning the title before the end of the year, I do see him main eventing a Pay-Per-View for the title.

1. John Morrison – I had pretty high hopes when John Morrison was “promoted” to SmackDown, immediately turned face, and was seemingly placed in a program with Chris Jericho. But then he sorta floundered a bit. Sure, he had a number of clean pinfalls over World Champion CM Punk, but he was still being left off of Pay-Per-Views. However, it seems like things are back on track for the former Johnny Nitro. He’s established an alliance with the Hardy Boyz, putting him in the mix of the main story arc on the blue brand. Rey Mysterio’s poor fortune will also be Morrison’s gain, as he’s captured the Intercontinental Championship due to Mysterio’s suspension. I’d like to see him retain against Ziggler at the upcoming PPV, and then continue with a lengthy reign before moving on to a feud with Punk for the World Championship. Yeah, that may sound a bit optimistic, but this guy is MONEY. Barring some career ending injury or really stupid personal decision, I see this guy main eventing WrestleMania within the next five years.

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Technical difficulties

I just wanted to alert everybody that my Internet connection at home has absolutely sucked. I haven't been able to get online in days. That being said, I do have a new edition of Top Ten Cases ready to be posted -- so once these issues are resolved (hopefuly soon, I'm going through withdrawal here!) that will be posted. So please be patient -- and please continue to visit!

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Random thoughts from people our age...

Earlier today a friend of mine sent me this e-mail, and unlike most chain letters, this legitimately had me laughing out loud the entire time. It's amazing how many of the observations on this list rung true for me -- and I had always assumed I was the only one who had done such a thing. Like the routine where you can't simply turn around when you realize you're walking in the wrong direction. Instead, you have to perform some unnecessary action (like checking your phone), as if to justify your behavior. Anyway, enjoy the list. I sure did:

“Random thoughts from people our age...”


-I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.

-More often than not, when someone is telling me a story all I can think about is that I can't wait for them to finish so that I can tell my own story that's not only better, but also more directly involves me.

-Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

-I don't understand the purpose of the line, "I don't need to drink to have fun." Great, no one does. But why start a fire with flint and sticks when they've invented the lighter?

-Have you ever been walking down the street and realized that you're going in the complete opposite direction of where you are supposed to be going? But instead of just turning a 180 and walking back in the direction from which you came, you have to first do something like check your watch or phone or make a grand arm gesture and mutter to yourself to ensure that no one in the surrounding area thinks you're crazy by randomly switching directions on the sidewalk.

-That's enough, Nickelback.

-I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

-Is it just me, or are 80% of the people in the "people you may know" feature on Facebook people that I do know, but I deliberately choose not to be friends with?

-Do you remember when you were a kid, playing Nintendo and it wouldn't work? You take the cartridge out, blow in it and that would magically fix the problem. Every kid in America did that, but how did we all know how to fix the problem? There was no internet or message boards or FAQ's. We just figured it out. Today's kids are soft.

-There is a great need for sarcasm font.

-Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the f was going on when I first saw it.

-I think everyone has a movie that they love so much, it actually becomes stressful to watch it with other people. I'll end up wasting 90 minutes shiftily glancing around to confirm that everyone's laughing at the right parts, then making sure I laugh just a little bit harder (and a millisecond earlier) to prove that I'm still the only one who really, really gets it.

-How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

-I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.

- I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

-The only time I look forward to a red light is when I’m trying to finish a text.

- A recent study has shown that playing beer pong contributes to the spread of mono and the flu. Yeah, if you suck at it.

- Was learning cursive really necessary?

- Lol has gone from meaning, "laugh out loud" to "I have nothing else to say".

- I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

- Answering the same letter three times or more in a row on a Scantron test is absolutely petrifying.

- My brother's Municipal League baseball team is named the Stepdads. Seeing as none of the guys on the team are actual stepdads, I inquired about the name. He explained, "Cuz we beat you, and you hate us." Classy, bro.

- Whenever someone says "I'm not book smart, but I'm street smart", all I hear is "I'm not real smart, but I'm imaginary smart".

- How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear what they said?

- I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars teams up to prevent a dick from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers!

- Every time I have to spell a word over the phone using 'as in' examples, I will undoubtedly draw a blank and sound like a complete idiot. Today I had to spell my boss's last name to an attorney and said "Yes that's G as in...(10 second lapse)..ummm...Goonies"

-What would happen if I hired two private investigators to follow each other?

- While driving yesterday I saw a banana peel in the road and instinctively swerved to avoid it...thanks Mario Kart.

- MapQuest really needs to start their directions on #5. Pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

- Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

- I find it hard to believe there are actually people who get in the shower first and THEN turn on the water.

-Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

-I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

- Bad decisions make good stories

-Whenever I'm Facebook stalking someone and I find out that their profile is public I feel like a kid on Christmas morning who just got the Red Ryder BB gun that I always wanted. 546 pictures? Don't mind if I do!

- Is it just me or do high school girls get sluttier & sluttier every year?

-If Carmen San Diego and Waldo ever got together, their offspring would probably just be completely invisible.

-Why is it that during an ice-breaker, when the whole room has to go around and say their name and where they are from, I get so incredibly nervous? Like I know my name, I know where I'm from, this shouldn't be a problem....

-You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you've made up your mind that you just aren't doing anything productive for the rest of the day.

-Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after DVDs? I don't want to have to restart my collection.

-There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.

-I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.

- "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this ever.

-I hate being the one with the remote in a room full of people watching TV. There's so much pressure. 'I love this show, but will they judge me if I keep it on? I bet everyone is wishing we weren't watching this. It's only a matter of time before they all get up and leave the room. Will we still be friends after this?'

- I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Dammit!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What'd you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?

- I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.

-When I meet a new girl, I'm terrified of mentioning something she hasn't already told me but that I have learned from some light internet stalking.

-I like all of the music in my iTunes, except when it's on shuffle, then I like about one in every fifteen songs in my iTunes.

-Why is a school zone 20 mph? That seems like the optimal cruising speed for pedophiles...

- As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate cyclists.

-Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

-It should probably be called Unplanned Parenthood.

-I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

-Even if I knew your social security number, I wouldn't know what do to with it.

-Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, hitting the G-spot, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I’d bet my ass everyone can find and push the Snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time every time...

-My 4-year old son asked me in the car the other day "Dad what would happen if you ran over a ninja?" How the hell do I respond to that?

-It really pisses me off when I want to read a story on http://www.facebook.com/l/;CNN.com and the link takes me to a video instead of text.

-I wonder if cops ever get pissed off at the fact that everyone they drive behind obeys the speed limit.

-I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

-I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lites than Kay.

-The other night I ordered takeout, and when I looked in the bag, saw they had included four sets of plastic silverware. In other words, someone at the restaurant packed my order, took a second to think about it, and then estimated that there must be at least four people eating to require such a large amount of food. Too bad I was eating by myself. There's nothing like being made to feel like fat before dinner.

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

Sorry, but I've always found this video to be incredibly hilarious. Enjoy:

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