My '24' Review 9:00pm to 10:00pm 3-28-05

9:00pm to 10:00pm

1. Jack’s missing and CTU’s plan is to wait for Jack to contact them? Sheesh. Jack really does everything on his own.

2. What’s Edgar getting all snippy with Chloe for? Cause his momma melted in San Gabriel?

3. Chloe all pouting like a three year old!

4. This “All-American” boy assassin is versatile. This guy improvises like Jack Bauer!

5. Why is Audrey asking about Jack every five minutes?!? Literally. Chill on that!

6. Ah. It’s 9:51 pm and the streets of L.A. are absent of traffic. Only on “24”!

7. CTU took out the sniper before he got a chance at Jack. Imagine how shook we all would have been if this dude did kill Jack and Keifer wasn’t on the show anymore? ….But that’s not going to happen. If they were going to kill off Jack, they shoulda done it earlier than the 4th season. People are too invested in the character to allow someone else come in to be the star. Unless they get a big name movie star.

8. Surprise! Surprise! Surprise! © Gomer Pyle Marwan’s men found both tracking devices. Developmentally disabled chimps must work for CTU if they thought they wouldn’t find the second tracking device. What was different about the second tracking device other than it was under Behrouz’s skin?

9. Grade: B- This ep was another let down. Nothing really happened. But if Fox promos are to be believed, next week will be explosive.

And I still haven't found what I'm looking for (c) U2

So I'm still unemployed. It's been 33 days since the bar exam completed and I'm still unemployed. It's not like I haven't been looking. I just need a law clerk position until results get back. I haven't gotten any callbacks though. Although I've applied to numerous jobs. What am I going to do? This gets more and more frustrating. I can't go on like this.

On a lighter note. I finally got my degree on Saturday. I am now officially a law graduate. But I'm still unemployed...

Cocaine is a heckuva drug (c) Rick James

So I was watching this show on A & E tonight called "Intervention". This show follows people around, documentary style, who are suffering from an addiction. One girl was a gambling addict. She sat at the slot machines at the Greektown Casino for hours at a time. Her boyfriend and family were worried and tried to have an intervention to get her to seek treatment. They threatened to cut her off if she didn't. Needless to say the girl had the nerve to be upset that her family was "making a big deal" out of her stealing money from her family to feed her habit and asking her to go to an inpatient clinic. She eventually sought treatment with a support group 3 months after the intervention.

The other story was about this guy who was drug addict. He was from Vermont and had been doing drugs since he was 12. He moved out to Arizona 4 years ago to kick the habit. He still hadn't kicked it and his family asked him to come home so they can "intervene". While he was staying with his family in Vermont he snorted coke and smoked crystal meth. ON CAMERA!!! Sheesh. Anyway, the have an intervention with him and he agreed to go to an inpatient clinic. The epilogue said he was now clean.

The moral of this story. It must suck to be an addict.

I *H8* Huckabees

Urs and I rented "I *Heart* Huckabees. I didn't care for this too much. It was too weird for me and was difficult to follow. I compare it to "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind", which was a better movie in my opinion. Anyway, this movie didn't too much for me.

My '24' Review 8:00pm to 9:00pm 3-21-05

1. Umm…having the President land at the epicenter of today’s terrorist activity does not sound like a good idea. Why can’t the Air Force One land in a remote place and fly the Secretary of Defense to that location? Oh, I know why, then there wouldn’t be a way for the writers to create a feasible assassination attempt.

2. Okay, military boy is as soft as a Twinkie filling. He couldn’t take down home girl when she was distracted?

3. Edgar to Tony: “I’m tired of people talking to me like I don’t know what I’m doing. Especially people who don’t work here.”

4. Really, who didn’t see that the suitcase was a bomb?

5. Oh yeah, you knew this plan wasn’t going to work.

6. Poor Dina. I will miss your sexy, smoky voice. You shoulda pulled the trigger.

7. Grade: C+ This episode was kinda boring. No big revelations or action sequences. Plus all the plot points this week were predictable.

My '24' Review 7:00pm to 8:00pm 3-14-05

7:00pm to 8:00pm

1. The Arab brothers who run sporting goods store. Great way for the producers to “redeem” Arab characters. Too bad the “good” Arabs were only on for 1 episodes. Maybe that’s enough to balance the portrayals. ;)

2. LOL at “Braxton” (Christopher Duncan) from the Jamie Foxx Show leading the mercenaries. While Jamie Foxx is winning Oscars, this dude is getting merked by Jack Bauer.

3. Jack straight stabbed that dude in the back of the neck!

4. Jack sure is racking up the body count!

5. Michelle knows she should have deferred to Tony’s judgment.

6. That chick (her name escapes me) pulled a “Chloe”! “I’m not going back to work until I get my record expunged and my pay grade bumped up two levels.” She ain’t worrying about terrorists, she worrying about her MONEY.

7. Poor Paul. You knew his time was up eventually.

8. Overall I thought this was a good ep. I was surprised they didn’t stretch this “blackout” storyline over 3 hours. Grade: A-

My '24' Review 6:00pm to 7:00pm 3-07-05

6:00pm to 7:00pm

1. This ep started off really slowly but picked up 45 minutes in.

2. So a brotha is passed up for a promotion again. The ways of the world.

3. Also, Curtis looked like he was gonna cry!

4. Jacks girl told Jack to protect Paul. “He’s not like you Jack.” Yeah he ain’t a cold-hearted-neck-snappin-guns-blazing-torturing-you-for-information guy like Jack Bauer!

5. “24” sure knows how to make the most mundane tasks (like looking through a computer for crucial files) suspenseful, don’t they?

6. These guys from that defense company would rather get in muuuuch more trouble (by assaulting a CTU agent and destroying evidence) over something someone else did?

7. Paul aint’ stupid. He read that guy as soon as he came in the room.

8. That fight scene with Jack takin’ out fools in the flickering lights was nice.

9. Overall, the first 45 minutes were BORING, but those last 15 minutes were crackerjack. Grade: B

Follow Up to my rant on "Hitch" and Latina Actresses

If you've been following my blog, you will know what I said about Hitch and "black" movies. Anywho, there's an article talking about this same phenomenon. Read my blog entry below and the article that follows.


http://www.zap2it.com/movies/news/story/0,1259,---24952,00.html

Mendes Calls Latina Casting Trend 'Lame'

Mon, Mar 07, 2005, 01:03 PM PT

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - Eva Mendes has one qualm about her success.

The 31-year-old "Hitch" star says that the recent trend to have Latina actress star opposite black leading men isn't right.

"I don't even know what to say about it anymore," Mendes says in the March 14 issue of Newsweek, on newsstands now. "Certainly I've benefited, because I've got to work with Ice Cube, Denzel and Will. But it's lame. I wish the mentality wasn't so closed."

"Are We There Yet?" actress Nia Long believes the trend of replacing black actresses with Latina ones is all about marketing.

"Two black characters equals a black film and not just a movie about two people," says Long.

American Black Film Festival founder Jeff Friday calls the casting trend "good business sense" since Latinos are now the largest American minority group.

Indeed, it's perhaps more accurate to observe that Latinas are being cast in leading lady roles more often now regardless of the ethnicity of the leading man. Although Mendes starred opposite three black men -- Ice Cube in "All About the Benjamins," Denzel Washington in "Out of Time" and Will Smith in "Hitch" -- she's also shared the screen with Paul Walker ("2 Fast 2 Furious"), Johnny Depp ("Once Upon a Time in Mexico") and Matt Damon and Greg Kinnear ("Stuck on You").

Two other leading Latina actresses, Salma Hayek and Penelope Cruz, have also had their share of a variety of leading men. Hayek's leading men include Matthew Perry, Smith, Pierce Brosnan and Colin Farrell, in the upcoming "Ask the Dust," while Cruz -- who was born in Spain -- has starred opposite Damon, Nicolas Cage, Depp, ex-boyfriend Tom Cruise, Walker and Matthew McConaughey for the upcoming "Sahara." Both actresses will topline "Bandidas," a western action flick to be released later this year.

Mendes is currently filming opposite Cage in the comic book-inspired "Ghost Rider."

The Shield Season 4 Premieres March 15th

Official Site
http://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/originals/the_shield_s4/main.html

The new season premieres March 15th with the addition of Glenn Close to the cast. The season 3 DVD just came out today, February 22nd, check the following review from amazon.com. My personal highlight of season 3? The knock down drag out between Tayvon and Shane. That was *THE* most brutal fight I've ever seen on television.


Editorial Reviews

Dramatically speaking, the third season of The Shield is dysfunctional in the "best" sense of the word. Relationships fester in a quagmire of personal and professional conflict, and clashing agendas inspire some of finest episodes of this volatile series. Det. Mackey (Michael Chiklis) struggles to save his crumbling family (including two autistic children) while his strike team endures internal tensions over their secret stash of stolen drug money. Shane (Walton Goggins) clashes with teammate Tavon (Brian J. White) with near-fatal consequences, and his demanding fiancée tests his loyalty to Mackey. Capt. Aceveda (Benito Martinez) suffers unspeakable humiliation en route to city council promotion, engaging Wyms (CCH Pounder) in a battle of wills over proper command of "The Barn." Dutch (Jay Karnes) pursues the "cuddler rapist" case and confronts the dark side of his soul, while Danny (Catherine Dent) revives her career and is re-partnered with Julien (Michael Jace), who suppresses his homosexuality in a desperate quest for conventional marriage and family. After Lemon (Kenneth Johnson) attempts a drastic solution to their "money train" worries, the shaken strike team faces a deeply uncertain future.

As always, The Shield juggles multiple plotlines with relentless pacing and narrative economy, packing substantial character developments into all 15 of these action-packed episodes. This season's inclusion of a competitive decoy squad offers humor and professional sacrifice, and the pivotal David Mamet-directed episode "Strays" arrives at a shocking conclusion, with Mamet regulars Clark Gregg and Rebecca Pidgeon (Mamet's wife) giving outstanding guest-star performances. Series star Chiklis (whose pugnacious mug dominates the DVD packaging) makes his directorial debut on "Slipknot," and eight episodes include informative, entertaining commentaries by the principal cast and crew. A generous archive of deleted scenes illustrate the agonizing decisions required by the time constraints of episodic TV, and the making-of documentary offers an intimate look at the series' collaborative writing process. With major developments (including a new role for Glenn Close) in store for season 4, these episodes maintain the high standard of provocative drama that loyal Shield fans have come to expect. --Jeff Shannon

DVD Features
Format: DVD
Rating (MPAA): NR
Originally Released/Aired: 0000
Run Time: 698 min
DVD Special Features:
    - DISC 1: Playing Tight, Blood and Water, Bottom Bitch - Commentary by Scott Brazil, Michael Chiklis, Adam E Fierro, and Michael Jace Streaks and Tips, Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary by Shawn Ryan: Playing Tight: 56-57, 72-73, Blood and Water: 95, 108, Botton Bitch: 33, 49, Streaks and Tips: 75-77, 140
    - DISC 2: Mum - Commentary by Walton Goggins, Michael Hicks, Benito Martinez, Shawn Ryan and Kurt Sutter Posse Up, Safe, Cracking Ice - Commentary by Charles H. Eglee, Guy Ferland, Matt Gerald, CCH Pounder, and Gareth Williams, Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary by Shawn Ryan: Mum: 40, 47, Posse Up: 27, Safe: 2, 40-41, 77, Cracking Ice: 15, 50
    - DISC 3: Slipknot - Commentary bu Michael Chicklis, Walton Goggins, Kenneth Johnson, and David Snell, What Power Is - Commentary by Benito Martinez, Michael Jace, Jay Karnes, and Dean White, Strays - Commentary by Catherine Dent, Jay Karnes, Glen Mazzara, and Shawn Ryan, Riceburner, Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary by Shawn Ryan: Slipknot: 36, 59-60, What Power Is: 4, 37, 53, Strays: 22, 51, Riceburner: 17
    - DISC 4: Fire in the Hole - Commentary by Catherine Dent, Nicki Micheaux, CCh Pounder, and Cathy Cahlin Ryan, All In - Commentary by Michael Chiklis, Kenneth Johnson, Jay Karnes, CCH Pounder, and Scott Rosenbaum, On Tilt, Special Feature: Breaking Episode 315 (79.02), Delected Scenes w/ Commentary by Shawn Ryan: Fire in the Hole: 51, All In: 1-2, 8, 18, 29-30,36, 56, 48, On Tilt: 7, 18-19, 22, 29, 43A, 48, 51, 58
Video: n/a
Color: Color

Greatest Moments in Television Interrogation

Greatest Moments in Television Interrogation
 


This is from cinescape.com. Battlestar Galactica is a great show and last week's episodes continue with the great writing. Homicide's "Three Men and Adena" is one of the best hours of drama I've seen in my life. TNG's "Chain of Command Part II" was great for Picard's "There are FOUR lights!"

http://www.cinescape.com/0/editorial.asp?aff_id=0&this_cat=Television&action=page&obj_id=43620


Grilled to Perfection

Dateline: Monday, February 28, 2005
By: DAVID MICHAEL WHARTON

Last week's BATTLESTAR GALACTICA ep, "Flesh and Bone", not only continued the show's steady trend toward becoming one of the best-written shows on television, but it upheld the long-standing dramatic tradition of "the interrogation episode." Sometimes it's the good guys under the spotlight; other times, they're the ones asking the questions. Either way, the conceit is as simple as it can be powerful: two people (give or take) in a room, one of whom knows something, the other of whom wants that knowledge. Toss in optional elements like a ticking-clock scenario or the threat of torture and let simmer for 44 minutes.


"Flesh and Bone" had all this and more, posing questions much more far ranging than the "is there or isn't there" of the supposed nuke hidden in the fleet. Starbuck's confrontation with the Cylon raised questions of theology and morality, of destiny and free will, and even of the very nature of consciousness and the soul. Not bad for a genre that the Powers That Be so seldom take seriously.


And so, in honor of such a knock-out episode, here's a look back at some of the finest small-screen examples of this tense little dramatic niche...call it "Great Moments in Televised Interrogation."


"The Box, Part 1" - ALIAS - 2002
Over the course of its three-plus seasons, damn near every member of the cast has found themselves on the business end of a tray of interrogator's tools. Spanning everything from drowning to non-elective dental surgery, the ALIAS writers could give lessons to Vlad the Impaler. But by far one of the most memorable of the lot was this fun little exchange between uber-baddie Arvin Sloane and cheesed-off former employee McKenas Cole (guest star Quentin Tarantino). It seems that ol' king Cole has neither forgiven nor forgotten an incident when Mr. Sloane's actions resulted in the death of Cole's teammates, and now the bitch known as payback has arranged a reunion between the two old friends, complete with a box full of needles. And no, Mr. Cole does not intend a course in acupuncture. This ep lacks the mind games or larger questions posed that some of the later entries on this list sport, but it gains points merely for being one of the first times we really saw the tables turned on love-to-hate-him Sloane.


"Day 2: 7:00 P.M.- 8:00 P.M." - 24 - 2003
If there's a show that gives ALIAS a run for its money in the torture-creativity department, it's 24. This is the show that had a dude meet the business end of a belt sander, after all. But 24's most arresting interrogation wasn't it's most inventively brutal; it was when Jack Bauer murdered the children of terrorist Syed Ali right before his eyes. Granted, it let us off the hook by soon revealing that their deaths had been staged, but for several intense minutes, we were left shaken and disturbed by just how far Jack--the hero we're supposed to be rooting for--would go in order to save the lives of his countrymen. It's a question that was timely then, and has only become more so since, and by simultaneously entertaining, unnerving, and forcing us to think, it was 24 at its finest.


"Intersections in Real Time" - BABYLON 5 - 1997
John Sheridan had been through it all. He'd led Babylon 5's secession from a corrupt Earth government. He'd fought a war between gods and finally kicked the lot of them out beyond the Rim. Hell, he'd even died and come back to life. But now, for all the worlds shaken and lives ceased or sustained on the weight of his decisions, he is reduced to just one man in a room, with nothing to carry him through but willpower and, in the end, his devotion to the woman he loves. In a bitter situation made all the more painful by the knowledge that the betrayal of a friend had landed him there, Sheridan nonetheless survives his long, dark night of the soul…but just barely.


"Chain of Command, Part 2" - STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - 1992
Who can forget the line, "There…are…four lights!" Largely a two-character play between captive Picard and his Cardassian interrogator, Gul Madred, this episode was by turns disturbing and exhausting, and certainly unnaturally heady material for TREK (this was slightly before the often-darker themes of DEEP SPACE 9, after all). To be fair, the tables were stacked in its favor from the get-go: with the acting talents of Patrick Stewart and David Warner facing off across a table, they could practically have been arguing "tastes great/less filling" and it still would have made for arresting television. But it stood those talents atop a stellar script and a brilliantly simple point of contention: four lights or five?


"Three Men and Adena" - HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE STREET - 1993
It's a peculiar truism for the writer that it's often difficult to properly describe an example of excellence, whereas explorations of the crappier end of the spectrum cause words to breed like rabbits in a Viagra factory. That being the case, there's not a damn thing I can say about this Emmy-winning episode that will come anywhere close to doing it justice. Detectives Pembleton and Bayliss have twelve hours to break the lead suspect in the murder of young Adena Watson. If they can't break him in that time, he goes free and Adena's murder goes unpunished. It's brutal, it's visceral, and, in the end, it's heartbreaking. But writer Tom Fontana had the wisdom to know that sometimes the most powerful stories are the ones without a happy ending, and he had the courage to force us to confront that terrible truth head on, wide-eyed and unflinching.

My '24' Review 5:00pm to 6:00pm 2-28-05

5:00pm to 6:00pm

1. Poor Paul. No one tortures suspects like Jack.

2. Oooh! Curtis twisted that dudes neck like he was wringing a wash cloth!

3. They gotta stop this crazy daughter storyline! Please!

4. Only 24 can make office cubicles so exciting!

5. Y did Edgar answer the phone, “This is Edgar Stiles!”?

6. Yeah boy…Curtis saved the Day!

7. Crazy girl killed herself. Now we don’t have to worry about Kim Part Deux for the next 12 hours.

8. Marwan (IMHOTerrorist as Televsionwithoutpity.com likes to call him) pulled a “Leon the Professional” by impersonating a CTU agent. Solaris was just a second too late in realizing that. I guess he’s not a Jean Reno fan.