Bacon Tastes Good

BTG has moved

2007-10-01T18:19:00.000-04:00

Hey - I'm HERE now. Too much freaking spam to keep up with Blogger, so I moved to WordPress. All the content all the way back to 2003 has been moved to the new site at www.bacontastesgood.net. Make sure to update your links...

TV Time - Weee!

2007-03-06T13:57:00.000-05:00

24 5:00 to 6:00 (6x12)
Gredenko has U.S. Military drones and will use them to deliver the suitcase nukes once they arrive from Abu Fayed in Los Angeles. He's in the Mojave, so it will take a while, even in 24-land where time is somewhat more fluid than in the real world. Jack, working with Logan, goes to the Russian Consulate but the Russian Counsel doesn't tell Logan anything, even after the duplicitous ex-President threatens him. In the underground bunker, the bomb goes off, killing Assad and wounding the President, who is rushed to surgery, incapacitated, so the VP steps in to take charge. Lennox agrees to go along with the assassination plot (his other choice is a faked suicide) then promptly turns in the others as soon as the Secret Service show up. Jack goes back into the Consulate and tortures the Russian Counsel until he gives up the particulars on Gredenko, but before he can call CTU, the Consulate security forces catches him.

Ending in Inviso-text: The VP makes a statement to the American Public, blaming Assad for the bomb that injured Palmer and announcing new, sweeping measures to fight terrorism. Jack convinces one of his captors to call CTU with the information but the man is killed while calling Bill Buchanan.

Heroes -
Lots of stuff is happening on the Fastest Show on TV - it puts Lost to shame with how much they get accomplished in one episode. I was scribbling furiously and pissing off my wife, who just wanted to see what would happen next and didn't care that I needed to write everything down. By the way, the show goes on hiatus until April 23rd, so watch this one over and over.

HRG's got a blank mind, and tells his boss so, but before he had his own mind wiped by the Haitian, he told his wife everything. She gives him a note he wrote himself not to go after Claire as he sent her away for her own safety. Isaac killed Simone and tries to shoot Peter again, who flees. The Haitian and Claire are told to leave the country. The FBI, investigating Linderman, have recruited Nathan as their undercover agent and want him to meet Linderman and get incriminating evidence. Sylar has the list but Mohinder is onto him and poisons his tea, knocking him out. Mohinder (painfully) extracts Sylar's DNA to test it but then does the one thing you're not supposed to do - he lets the bad guy live just a little longer. Mohinder also makes some kind of breakthrough by studying Sylar's DNA. Claire wants to find Peter, the only person she trusts, but the Haitian says no, so Claire gives him the slip at airport security.

Peter tells Nathan about Simone and Nathan calls the cops, who show up at Isaac's place. Dead Simone is laying on his bed when the cops are talking to him and then Alive Simone walks in the door! The cops leave, but HRG walks in and Simone turns into the smoking hot new chick Candace, who can look and sound like anyone. HRG says that they'll clean up the mess and that Isaac needs to get back to painting. In Las Vegas, Hiro works with Nathan to get the sword, turning in the torn dinosaur painting. By the way, we saw two other paintings in Linderman's gallery - a photo of the floor nuke painting and a new one of Claire on the autopsy table. Hiro grabs the sword but security is called - Ando shows up, knocking out the museum curator! Niki/Jessica shows up and kills the FBI guys who are staked out in Linderman's hotel - just stupid. Didn't they see Oceans 12?

Isaac paints. Niki warns Nathan that the FBI guys are dead and that Linderman knows he's double-crossed him, giving Nathan her gun. Hiro gets the sword and grabs Ando and the both escape to the near future, where NY is in ruins. Interestingly, they show buildings under construction in the post-nuclear New York, which means the city is rebuilding and efforts are being made to recover from the blast. Also, Hiro has his powers back and can now TRANSPORT OTHER PEOPLE WITH HIM. Does this mean we'll see Charlie again? Nathan goes to meet Linderman - Malcolm McDowell doing his creepiest, who explains that he knows everything about Nathan's powers, as well as the other Heroes, including Nathan's daughter Claire. In two years, "though a series of events," Nathan will be the Vice President of the U.S. Obviously the bomb doesn't get him - I'm assuming that the junior congressman from NY-to-VP promotion must have something to do with his home town going kabloohey. May they give him the VP spot to make him feel better.

Ending in Inviso-text: Nathan wants to but decides not to kill Linderman. Peter comes to talk to Mohinder but finds Sylar has escaped. Sylar pins Peter to the wall and proceeds to begin extracting his brain as Mohinder, pinned to the ceiling by Sylar's telekenetic powers, watches helplessly. PREVIEW: Back on 4/23, the previews show a future with Nathan in the White House and Claire with long brown hair. And someone rescues Peter from Sylar. Come back soon, Heroes! We'll miss you!

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip is on hiatus. NBC is showing new episodes of The Black Donnellys in its place. A full season of Studio 60 was ordered by NBC, but the Cincinnati Post is reporting that the show has been canceled. Alan Sorkin defends his show in another recent article about work behind the scenes on Studio 60.

Prison Break review is coming.

American Idol review is coming.

Lost review is coming.

TV Recaps

2007-02-26T23:29:00.001-05:00

24 3:00 to 4:00 (6x10)
Gredenko is at a location with abandoned aircraft - it looks like the famous Boneyard in the Mojave desert where many airlines "mothball" their old planes and strip them for parts. He's annoyed with Fayed and can't wait to be rid of them. The President pressures a middle eastern countries' ambassador to get his Prime Minister to support Assad's upcoming call for peace. Jack tells CTU he's going to talk to Logan. Milo's having trouble working. Logan, under house arrest, offers to help track down another Russian who can help find Gredenko. The assassins tie up Tom Lennox and assemble a bomb disguised to look like a tape recorder, which the slimeball assistant chief of staff plants on the podium where Assad and the President are about to give their speech.

Ending in Inviso-text: Assad notices the bomb and dives for cover as it explodes, demolishing the briefing room. The President is down.

Heroes - Company Man (1x17)
This show gets better and better. Matt and Radioactive Man are trying to download HRG's home computer when the family comes home and it's Radioactive Man's idea to grill him in front of his family. RM starts grilling HRG about what he does, where he works, and what he's done to them, demanding to know how he can make them forget. Claire knows. Matt's not sure, but hears Claire think that the Haitian wiped all their memories. Matt asks the question HRG is thinking - why didn't the Haitian wipe Claire's mind? In a flashback to 15 years ago, HRG's first partner in his new job to find and contain the "Freaks?" None other than Claude Raines, Peter's new invisible friend. They have the baby Claire - they took her from a fire starter (who they think died) and HRG's boss and HIRO'S FATHER SULU are on the rooftop of the building in New York when Sulu tells HRG (who speaks flawless Japanese) to raise Claire as his own. Whew! Oh, and a young Hiro is in the background, playing his Gameboy. In the present, Claire and Matt get up to speed - she tells him she can heal and he tells her that Peter Patrelli told him to save the cheerleader. They both agree her father is up to something bad. RM wants some answers and is going to shoot the forgetful wife before Matt hears HRG in his head telling him to shoot Claire SO HE DOES. They take her upstairs, where she heals and spits out the bullet. Matt and HRG leave to check out Primatech and RM stays behind to keep the family hostage. In another flashback (14 years ago), HRG's boss (Eric Roberts) arranges for "a new kid we just found in Haiti" to come to HRG's house and make his wife forget she was snooping around his stuff and found a gun and sedation kit. In the present, RM figures out Claire's not dead when she tries to rescue them, then goes nuclear when HRG, Matt, the Hatian and Eric Roberts all show up. Everyone else flees but Claire runs in, saves her surrogate father, stabs RM with a sedative, then walks outside ALL SERIOUSLY CRISPY AND BURNED before healing as she walks across the lawn in front of everyone in her entire neighborhood.

Ending in Inviso-text: HRG and Eric Roberts discuss what to do with Claire as HRG turns her over to the Company. They have RM and Matt captured and sedated at Primatech. HRG drives Claire out to the desert, then the Haitian shoots him in the stomach and erases his memory so the Company can't find her. Claire and the Haitian go on the run. In the preview, we get a glimpse of Linderman, Hiro gets his sword, and oh, yeah, almost forgot. Simone's not dead.

Prison Break
Burrows, Scofield and Sara listen to the stolen tape (no, not the stolen DATA tapes, that's something different) and evidently it's good. We don't hear it so I can't speak to it. They decide to broker the information to one Cooper Green, an ex-associate of their late father. Mike meets with him and figures out he's a fake just before Sara brings the real Cooper Green to their hotel room. He listens to the tape - it can't be authenticated, but he suggests they use it to blackmail the Pres. The sneaky dude buys a big gun and finds a nice cozy spot to shoot the Pres.

Ending in Inviso-text:And the Agent from Invasion tracks the brothers to their hotel and races up the stairs to corner them.

American Idol
Don't care about any of these folks yet, so can't say who I'm pulling for other than to say that after last week's show, ALL the boys can go home except for Hurley from Lost and the Beat Box guy. The rest were horrible, especially compared to the girls.

TV Roundup - Yee Haw!

2007-02-19T22:28:00.000-05:00

Heroes - Unexpected (1x16)
Best episode in a long time and a fitting title for a show that just keeps giving us answers, as opposed to Lost, which just keeps giving us more questions. Claire's mom continues to slide in and out of remembering things and ends up in the hospital, setting Claire off. Matt tells his wife about the diamonds and she tells him that some scientist named Mohinder has been calling. Sylar, pretending to be toaster-melter Zane, and Mohinder arrive in Montana to find a woman who can hear everything. And HRG convinces Isaac to help him track down Peter, catching him and Claude Raines on a rooftop (using infrared scanners) and tries to shoot them when Peter STOPS THE TASER BULLETS in midair and then FLIES AWAY. He's really getting a good handle on those powers. Sylar/Zane sneaks away and kills the sound lady, and when Mohinder finds her body the next morning, Sylar convinces him to flee. A new wireless lady (she can tap the internet with her mind) hooks up with nuclear dude and they convince Matt that they need to find HRG and get him to talk. Fast paced with lots of twists, this was the best Heroes episode in a while.

Ending in Inviso-text: Matt and Radioactive Man are waiting for Claire and HRG when they bring Mommy home from the hospital. And Peter confronts Isaac for turning him in. They fight, Peter goes INVISIBLE and uses his TELEKENETIC powers but Isaac grabs the gun and tries to shoot Peter. Instead, he shoots Simone, killing her. Like I said, great episode.

Battlestar Galactica - A Day in the Life (3x15)
Sunday night's Galactica was interesting, an introspective espisode about Adama remembering his ex-wife and father of his two sons on their anniversary. We spend most of the episode getting to know Adama in a completely different light and learn more about his wife - he left her and his two sons at some point and Lee has never really forgiven him. At the same time, the Chief and Cally are trapped in a leaking airlock and Lee and Adama have to throw together a desperate rescue plan which involves having a shuttle waiting outside IN SPACE while they blow the hatch doors off the airlock and the Chief and Cally float to the shuttle.

Ending in Inviso-text: Cally and the Chief are rescued, and Adama, realizing how much he misses his wife, finally and gently tries to put the moves on President Roslin.

Other Stuff I'm Watching Now:

TV Recaps for the Week

2007-02-16T13:37:00.000-05:00

Sorry about the delay - lots on this week to get caught up on. Here's the recaps. Don't read these if you're spoiler-averse, but I've put the real spoilers in Inviso-text...

Prison Break
Not on this week.

24 - 1:00 to 2:00 (6x08) and 2:00 to 3:00 (6x09)
Two hours on tonight. Hour One: Morris, the only person in Los Angeles who can evidently build a bomb trigger, is whisked away by McCarthy and his hottie girlfriend to be delivered to Abu Fayed. Jack is in a chopper and hot on their heels but loses them - he doesn't seem too broken up over hearing his brother died in custody. The hottie kills McCarthy and takes Morris to Fayed, hoping to get the $7 million and keep it for herself. Like I always say, don't deliver a hostage to a terrorist organization who just set off a NUKE and expect them to keep their end of your monetary bargain. Needless to say, Fayed kills her and tortures Morris until he agrees to build the device. Meanwhile, President Palmer/Principal Wood (comment if you can name that reference) convinces Assad (who looks just like Baltar, I think) to make a public call for help in catching the terrorists. Jack finds Morris and A SUITCASE NUKE and is too busy disarming the weapon to catch Fayed, who escapes with the other nukes and "a fully armed and operational battle station"...uh, I mean nuclear trigger. Good one, Morris - couldn't fake that, could we?

Hour Two: Morris and Jack return to CTU, where Buchanan questions Bauer on what led up to his brother's death. Nathan Patrelli's wife who is named Marilyn on this show tells Jack that she'd been trying to leave Graem for a while but was too scared. Oh, and she followed him to a house once where she heard him talking to some Russians. Talk about a convenient lead! Since CTU is looking for Gredenko now, Jack offers to take Marilyn out (no, not like that) and see if she can remember the house. Ha Ha! Good one! She tells Zephram Cochrane, who immediately gets his goons to plan an ambush. Why doesn't he just go back to teaching pigs to herd sheep? Meanwhile, various folks are planning a coup in DC, sensing the President is weak. Jack and Marilyn arrive at the house and Jack and his team head inside and it blows up GOOD. Marilyn and Milo, the techie dude flee, chased by Jack's father's goons. Follow all that?

Ending in Inviso-text: Jack escapes. Didn't see that coming, did you? Oh, and we find out that Gredenko set up this whole thing and that the Muslims are the fallguys for his plan to strike with nukes in America. Guess he's still sore about the whole Cold War thing.

Heroes - Run (1x15)
Not the best episode ever, with most of the show given over to Claire's annoying Mom and the pointless pursuit of a pink bag. Nathan arrives in Texas, meets with Claire's Mom, who blackmails him for money and decides to only share a small portion with her daughter. Sylar kills a dude that can melt things and pretends to be him with Mohinder shows up to interview the dead guy. Claire's mom is having mental problems, probably from having her head melted one too many times from the Haitian. Matt, the mind-reading cop, gets a gig as a personal bodyguard to the weasley dude that let Niki out of jail last week. Funny look on his face when she (now she is a killer for hire) shows up to kill him at a botched diamond purchase. Ow, and Niki throws Matt out of the window of a ten-story building.

Ending in Inviso-text: Matt wakes up on the catwalk of a sign outside the building - talk about luck - then goes back inside and retrieves the diamonds. Ha ha, now he's rich and psychic! And Niki gets her next assignment: Nathan Patrelli.

Studio 60 - The Friday Night Slaughter (1x15)
I love this show, but too many things happen to recount. I counted seven active storylines going on this week, but I'll hit the highlights. It's mostly a flashback episode to 1999 showing how Matt and Harry met and started working together at Studio 60 - Matt spends most of the episode remembering how he was a low-on-the-totem-pole writer and she was the new "talent." I did enjoy Matt and Luke (yes, that's the same guy directing the Anita Pallenberg film in the present) bickering over who has "dibs" and each trying to out-write and out-pitch each other with competing sketch ideas for Harry. Matt feels sorry for a fellow writer, Tim Batale, who is fired for taking drugs. In the present, Matt's losing it and high and everyone can tell because he's babbling and not making sense and talking about the things he's remembering.

Good Catch of the Week: HA HA I'm a freaking genius! The guy Matt is imagining? Tim Batale? HIS NAME IS AN ANAGRAM OF MATT ALBIE! ANYONE ELSE GET THAT?

Ending in Inviso-text: Luke's sketch gets on the air and Matt's doesn't and he realizes he's been imagining this Tim Batale all along. And Matt's high and taking even more drugs now.

Lost - Flashes in My Mind (3x7)
Desmond saves Clair from drowning and Charlie and Hurley confront him about his newly-emerged precognition. He tells them that after he turned the key in the hatch, he blacked out and woke up in what appeared to be his old apartment in London with Penelope there. In what turns out to be a dream, he keeps getting reminders about things that happened on the island. He meets with Penny's father (Widmore) who is also the head of the Meade family on Ugly Betty, who tells him he's not good enough. He tries to change his life but an old lady from the Matrix explains to him that it is his fate to go to the Island and push the button and nothing he does can change that. Long story short, Desmond's reliving his past and it's a dream and he wakes up in the woods and now he gets occasional flashes of the future.

This week's hidden clues: 1-NAMASTE in the painting in Widmore's office - according to wikipedia, "Namaste" is sometimes used in the context of practicing Yoga as a greeting or goodbye, generally taken as an expression of good will. 2-Even though it was part of the flashback, we can assume that Desmond really DID see Charlie playing music on the street outside the Widmore building.

Ending in Inviso-text: Desmond has been running around saving folks because he's trying to save Charlie, who he's convinced will die. And he tells Charlie. Not the news Charlie was hoping for, I bet.

1634: The Baltic War out on May 1st

2007-02-15T15:23:00.000-05:00

I've been waiting for the next book in the 1632 series to come out for a long time. This alternate history series set in Europe during the 100-years war is one of the best examples of a fully-realized alternate version of history.

Here is Amazon's description: "The Baltic War which began in the novel 1633 is still raging, and the time-lost Americans of Grantville-the West Virginia town hurled back into the seventeenth century by a mysterious cosmic accident-are caught in the middle of it. Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden and Emperor of the United States of Europe, prepares a counter-attack on the combined forces of France, Spain, England, and Denmark-former enemies which have allied in the League of Ostend to destroy the threat to their power that the Americans represent-which are besieging the German city of Luebeck.

Elsewhere in war-torn Europe, several American plans are approaching fruition. Admiral Simpson of Grantville frantically races against time to finish the USE Navy's ironclad ships-desperately needed to break the Ostender blockade of the Baltic ports. A commando unit sent by Mike Stearns to England prepares the rescue the Americans being held in the Tower of London. In Amsterdam, Rebecca Stearns continues three-way negotiations with the Prince of Orange and the Spanish Cardinal-Infante who has conquered most of the Netherlands. And, in Copenhagen, the captured young USE naval officer Eddie Cantrell tries to persuade the King of Denmark to break with the Ostender alliance, all while pursuing a romantic involvement with one of the Danish princesses.

About the Author
David Weber is author of the New York Times best-selling Honor Harrington series as well as In Fury Br\orn and other popular novels. With Steve White, he is the author of Insurrection, Crusade, In Death Ground, and the New York Times best seller The Shiva Option, all novels based on his Starfire SF strategy game.

Eric Flint's impressive first novel, Mother of Demons (Baen), was selected by SF Chronicle as one of the best novels of 1997. With David Drake he has written six popular novels in the Belisarius series, including the new novel The Dance of Time, and with David Weber collaborated on 1633, a novel in the Ring of Fire series, and on Crown of Slaves, a best of the year pick by Publishers Weekly. Flint received his masters degree in history from UCLA and was for many years a labor union activist. He lives in East Chicago, IL, with his wife and is working on more books in the best-selling Ring ofFire series."

Get those arms warmed up - it's 448 pages long. Not Robert Jordan long, but still hefty enough to hold open your door. Or if you're reading it in bed and you fall asleep and drop the book on your face, you might get a bruise.

Other Books I Like:

Bionic Woman

2007-02-13T23:19:00.000-05:00

We've known for a while that NBC was working on a Bionic Woman remake - and now the Daily Mail is reporting that they've signed British actress Michelle Ryan to the part.

"Former EastEnder Michelle Ryan is to star in a U.S. remake of Seventies TV show The Bionic Woman, it was announced today.

Ryan, who played Zoe Slater in the BBC soap, beat a host of Hollywood names to the role and was chosen after an exhaustive search. She will play Jamie Sommers, a tennis pro who suffers a near-fatal skydiving accident before her body is transformed with $50m-worth of bionic wizardry."

Producers say the pilot show for US network NBC will be a "re-imagination" of the original, a spin-off from cult hit The Six Million Dollar Man, which ran from 1976 to 1978 and starred Lindsay Wagner."

Variety is reporting that "After an exhaustive search, NBC has chosen British actress Michelle Ryan for the lead role of Jamie Sommers in its upcoming Bionic Woman pilot. The network reported considered better-known stars, but ultimately went with someone who'll be a newcomer to most American viewers. Ryan is known in the United Kingdom for having spent five years on the long-running BBC serial EastEnders."

Widgets from WidgetBox

2007-02-13T12:24:00.000-05:00

I recently discovered a great website called WidgetBox that hosts 1,000s's of widgets that you can add to your blog. You can also take your own blog feed and turn it into a widget! While I'm spending all this time working on widgets, here's what I'm listening to:

Music I'm Digging:

High five! Borat 2 is Coming

2007-02-08T19:15:00.000-05:00

Hide your bears and don't plan inviting any strange guests to your fancy southern dinner parties - plans are in the works for Borat 2, a sequel to follow up the 2006 howler. No word yet on naked wrestling in hotel lobbies or if they are looking for another ice cream truck to drive across the country.

"Sacha Baron Cohen has signed up to do a sequel to his popular Borat movie based on the controversial Kazach journalist, according to Rupert Murdoch, chairman and chief executive of News Corp, whose film division last year released the first Borat film.

Mr Baron Cohen is currently working on a film to follow Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, but it will be based on another one of his characters, Bruno, a gay Austrian fashion show presenter. Universal Studios won the rights to the new film last year. However, once that is completed, Mr Baron Cohen will “come back and do Borat Two,” Mr Murdoch said during an interview at a conference in New York."

Just for fun: a video of Borat giving a press conference in front of the White House last year.

Monday TV Recaps

2007-02-06T17:39:00.000-05:00

Monday nights has gotten rough for the old TV watcher as there are 5 things on I normally watch. Here's what I do:

Watch Prison Break live in HD,
Watch 24 live in low-def while I tape Heroes in HD,
Watch recorded Heroes in HD while I tape Studio 60 in HD and CSI-Miami in low-def,
Watch recorded Studio 60 in HD.
Watch CSI-Miami sometime later.

Whew! Why do I watch all these shows? Because they're great? Here's the recaps. Don't read these if you're spoiler-averse, but I've put the real spoilers in Inviso-text...

Prison Break: "Prisoners on a Train" is what this should have been called as our main characters spend almost the entire episode on a train. The fugitives reunite with the tasty Sara Tancreti and she's less-than-excited that they are now running buddies with the Agent who tried to drown her four episodes ago. Needless to say, the first chance she gets she tries to kill him. After, she and Wentworth Miller almost get it on in the ladies bathroom before the cops try to stop the train with a roadblock. IT'S A TRAIN! For the future, in case you need to know, you can't stop a train with two Ford Tauruses. I fast forwarded through the other storylines as I could care less. Turns out the President didn't call the Agent to try and bring him in - his Asian boss was using a voice-modulator to fake her voice. Coolage! Ending in Inviso-text: I can't remember the ending. Pretty boring.

24 Season 6: Ha Ha This was a better episode than last week, where no much of nothing happened that I didn't even recap it. Jack and Zephram Cochrane escape they're execution with relative ease (more on that later) and Cochrane turns to his sons and slowly nods his head. "That'll do, Jack. That'll do." Okay, that didn't really happen, but I couldn't help myself. They catch Jack's brother Graem back at his house and torture him and he ADMITS TO KILLING DAVID PALMER or at least setting it all up. He tells Jack he had Tony and Michelle killed and tried to pin it all on Jack. Great look on Jack's face when he realizes his own family would stoop that low. Ending in Inviso-text: Shocker-turns out Jack's daddy is bad. He doesn't believe Graem will be able to resist CTU questioning and kills him. Yuck.

Heroes: Claire lies to her mom and brings Zack with her to meet her mom, who turns out to be a firestarter but isn't named Charlie and doesn't work for the company. She can light her cigarettes with her fingers, though - think of all the money she saves on matches! CLICK ON CLAIRE'S PICTURE TO SEE HER FICTIONAL MYSPACE PAGE. Doctor Who helps Peter try to learn how to control his powers and convinces him that no one in the world cares for him, including talking him into spying on his girlfriend who is hanging around the painter, hoping he can help her find Peter after he disappeared from his hotel room. Endings in Inviso-text: Doctor Who pushes Peter off a building, hoping to make him fly. Instead, he falls to his death but REGENERATES even though Claire is 2,000 miles away. Doctor Who tells him that his body can remember how to do all these special things, he just has to learn how to control it. And I saw this coming two weeks ago, but Claire's mom the firestarter calls Claire's dad to let him know that Clair tracked her down. It's Nathan Patrelli. I guess he has a thing for blonds. And that makes Peter Claire's uncle. Yuck. Oh, and did anyone else notice the licence plate on Hiro's father's (played by George Takei, Sulu on the original Star Trek) car? That's right - NCC-1701, the Starfleet number for the USS Enterprise from Star Trek. Nice one, guys!

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip: Trapped on the Roof part 2 as Jordan and Danny verbally spar. Matt and Harry continue to argue at the dinner and Jack and the mouse help the viola prodigy up off the floor and back to Studio 60 to sober up. Ending in Inviso-text: Jordan confesses to Danny her feelings for him and they kiss. Harry and Matt end things for good (supposedly) and Jack gets the Asian Businessman's backing to stall the Macua deal. If any of that doesn't make sense to you, just watch. It's the most densely-plotted show on TV and I'm skipping three other storylines.

If you want real episode recaps instead of my quickies, go where I go: Television without Pity. They are the best.

No More Wonder Woman for Whedon

2007-02-05T21:31:00.000-05:00

Joss Whedon dropped out of the Wonder Woman movie today. Sounds like he got fed up with the "movie by committee" style that is so pervasive in Hollywood these days, accounting for more and more train wrecks showing up in our local theaters.

"You (hopefully) heard it here first: I'm no longer slated to make Wonder Woman. What? But how? My chest... so tight! Okay, stay calm and I'll explain as best I can. It's pretty complicated, so bear with me. I had a take on the film that, well, nobody liked. Hey, not that complicated.

Let me stress first that everybody at the studio and Silver Pictures were cool and professional. We just saw different movies, and at the price range this kind of movie hangs in, that's never gonna work. Non-sympatico. It happens all the time. I don't think any of us expected it to this time, but it did. Everybody knows how long I was taking, what a struggle that script was, and though I felt good about what I was coming up with, it was never gonna be a simple slam-dunk. I like to think it rolled around the rim a little bit, but others may have differing views.

The worst thing that can happen in this scenario is that the studio just keeps hammering out changes and the writer falls into a horrible limbo of development. These guys had the clarity and grace to skip that part. So I'm a free man."

Rocket Racing League

2007-02-03T14:14:00.000-05:00

Heard about the Rocket Racing League? It's an effort to bring NASCAR-style racing excitement to rocket-powered aircraft in organized races in three dimensions. They are still getting organized for their inaugural 2008 racing season, but they are doing some promotional events this year to get people excited. Here's what the site says: "The 21st century's newest and greatest sport - racing rocket- powered aircraft! The Rocket Racing League™ is an aerospace sports and entertainment organization that combines the competition of racing with the excitement of rocketry. The RRL was established by X-Prize founder Peter Diamandis and two-time Indianapolis 500 champion team partner Granger Whitelaw to advance the technology and increase public awareness of space travel. The NASCAR-style racing league features rocket-powered aircraft that will be flown by top pilots through a 'three-dimensional track way' at venues throughout the world. With millions of fans who enjoy racing and air shows, and an even wider audience enthralled with humanity's next step into space, rocket racing is destined to become the future of racing!"

July 21, 2007 - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows To Be Released

2007-02-01T15:19:00.001-05:00

Just heard this morning that a final release date has been set for the last Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Amazon is taking preorders right now for a JULY 21, 2007 release date. Get your copy RIGHT NOW by clicking on the link or the book cover! I already ordered min. Now, I wonder if they'll ship it so I get it on that day or if they'll ship it that day...hmm, have to look into that one.

No word yet on any plot details, but rumors are swirling. Wikipedia includes a lot of good, basic information: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be the seventh book in the Harry Potter series of novels by J. K. Rowling. It will feature the final adventures of Harry Potter as he attempts to bring an end to his nemesis, Lord Voldemort. The title for the seventh book was announced on 21 December 2006[1] via the publisher and a special Christmas-themed "hangman" puzzle on J.K. Rowling's website. Here is a SUPER SECRET summary of what folks assume will be in the book. To read, highlight the Patent Pending INvisoText: Rowling has stated that the final volume relates so closely to the sixth book of the series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, that "I feel almost as though they are two halves of the same novel."[2] She has also stated that she has no intention of writing any further stories about the Harry Potter characters, meaning that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be the last book in the Harry Potter series. However, she has said that an encyclopedia of the Wizarding world based on her copious notes may be published in the future, possibly for charity similar to her two other Harry Potter charity books. As of 2007, she has been working on the Harry Potter stories for over 17 years.And don't forget to buy your copy! It was officially announced today that the novel will be released in two hardback editions: one a children's version and one for adults.

Unbelievably crappy trailer for “Star Wars” and a tasty Holiday Project

2007-01-31T13:52:00.000-05:00

Want a good laugh? Check out the original, unbelievably crappy trailer for “Star Wars” - without all the FX and the music, it really looks bad. Amazing how much John Williams added to it with his amazing score. And something else - this appears to be the actual sounds from the filming set and not the more polished dialogue that was looped in later. You can hear things falling over in the background!

And just to add to the wacky fun, I've included a link to one person's Christmas Vacation project: rebuilding Lord of the Rings' Helm's Deep entirely out of candy. "We used over 500 Gummy Bears as orcs and Uruk-Hai. The Elves, Dwarves and Men were represented by sour patch kids. Most of these were of course corpses..."

No, You Can't Go To Space

2007-01-30T14:48:00.000-05:00

Nothing like having the U.S. Government swoop in and destroy your life-long dream of space flight. Nothing like spending your entire childhood looking out the window at the distant stars, dreaming of one day breaking free of Earth's gravity (well, not technically) and seeing space. This story from Space.com just illustrates the awkward infancy the commercial spaceflight industry finds itself in, where space buffs win suborbital prizes to become astronauts but can't afford to pay the taxes on the prize.

"Brian Emmett's childhood fantasy came true when he won a free trip to outer space. He was crushed when he had to cancel his reservation because of Uncle Sam..."

24 hour 5 - Fallout

2007-01-28T15:25:00.000-05:00

24 just keeps getting better. Hour five, broadcast on 1/22, deals with the fallout -- literally -- from the nuclear device that was detonated in Valencia last week just before the end of the episode. Panic grips Los Angeles as images of the ominous mushroom cloud appear on everyone's televisions. Residents are throwing everything they own into Volvo's and Honda's and trying to navigate the southland's notorious roads before the wind changes and sends the lethal fallout their way - Valencia is about twenty miles north of downtown Los Angeles.

The secret service, concerned about his safety, moves the President and his advisors into the underground bunker beneath the White House. Did anyone else think the bunker looked like something out of a 70's Bond film? It looked like the 'secret underground lair' of some evil mastermind - are the folks at 24 trying to imagine that the bunker was built in the 70's and therefore reflects the rounded 'tomorrow-land' architectural style of the time? Anyway, I digress.

Jack Bauer, who quit only moments ago - "Tell the President I'm sorry; I can't do this anymore..." - promptly un-quits when he sees the mushroom cloud. That's what it takes to make Jack angry now. He's seen too many things, he's anesthetized to everything. But this gets him up off the ground again, and he's wandering around, looking for a way to help. He helps a man rescue a person from a downed helicopter perched precariously on top of a house - it was knocked out of the sky by the electromagnetic pulse, Jack helpfully explains. Thanks for the science lesson while at the same time saving people's lives! What a guy!

In DC, the President's sister and her newly-undercover boyfriend are at the Anacostia detention facility and the Feds rough him up for show (over her protestations) so that he can gain the confidence of the other Arabs in the facility. They give him the name of the terrorist leader, Abu Fayed, to drop into conversation to gain their trust. Why these DC folks are involved with Fayed is anyone's guess, considering they've shown Fayed is in possession of the other four suitcase nukes. This feels like an extraneous plot now but it might pay off.

Now Fayed has trouble - his bomb didn't go off where he wanted (he was aiming for a more populated area) and he's lost his primary scientist and the only person who can detonate his bombs. He's forced to try and recruit a new trigger-man as he and his cohorts escape the mushroom cloud through the crowded streets . If he'd been smart, wouldn't there be five bombs in five different cities? And wouldn't he have figured out how to arm and detonate them ahead of time? I don't believe that the only person in the world who could trigger these weapons happened to have been arrested by the U.S. Government and being held in their fictional version of Guantanamo.

Jack and CTU are investigating how Fayed got his suitcase nukes and Jack's father's name comes up on a watch list prepared by CTU. Even though he hasn't spoken to his father in nine years, he calls to talk to him. "Hi, Dad? How's it been? You working with terrorists?" Ha ha - nice reunion. Anyway, Jack can't contact his father, so he calls his brother. Jack has a brother. Who knew. Oh, and by the way, HE'S THE MAIN BADGUY FROM LAST SEASON! HOLY CRAP! It's that creepy ear-phone wearing Graem (pronounced 'Graham' but Jack calls him 'Gray') that was working behind the scenes with President Logan last season. Oh my. And Jack shows up to chat with him about getting in touch with dear old Dad and Graem doesn't know where he is and Jack doesn't believe him so Jack ties him up and starts suffocating him with a plastic bag. Again, holy crap.

By the way, 24 was features on Best Week Ever for having a Holy Crap week, recounting some of the more exciting moments in this week's show. Nice to see one of my shows talking about another one. Makes me feel like we're all one big happy family. Except for Graem, of course.

Here's the official website's minute-by-minute breakdown of the episode. And, as usual, the excellent 24 wiki has everything the consummate 24 fan could ever need in terms of backgrounds, explanations, and information on the show and its characters. And the great Blogs4Bauer is the best blog ring for 24-related websites - this is my favorite 24 gossip site, and they have some great (and twisted) 24-related humor. Good job guys.

Random News

2007-01-25T11:54:00.000-05:00

Hey, I read a lot. What can I say.

Army Active Denial System is a new weapon with a 500-yard range that makes you feel like you're on fire. (CNN)
WOW: Burning Crusade is selling like gangbusters and is the fastest selling game ever (SciFi.com)
You're not allowed to talk at lunch any more (Brietbart.com)
Amazing Race 11 is coming - the All Star edition. Watch out for those coal miners! (CBS)
Sailing on the QE2? Don't forget your barf bags (SciTech News)
Get ready to pay through the nose for all those corn tortillas - not to mention popcorn! (MSNBC)
There's the Space Shuttle and the crew of the Starship Enterprise except for Kirk, who must be taking the picture. But why would anyone buy those green shoes? (Geek Crack)
This crazy Spider Ship makes knots and looks like a big praying mantis skimming along the surface. Extremely coll (Tomorrow's Tech)
Fox doesn't like clips of 24 getting posted to YouTube (Hollywood Reporter)
Watch out - crazy lights in the sky (Charlotte Observer)
Huh? Eric Roberts to join the cast of Heroes (SciFi Wire)
These crazy lights are explained - unmanned Russian cargo ship lifts off for Space Station (SciTech News)

Dungeons and Dragons Online Launches Update Today - Litany of the Dead Part 2

2007-01-23T22:26:00.000-05:00

"Several months ago the gates to the Blood Crypt opened and daring adventurers recovered The Heretical Path from the grasp of the vampire Brother Salasso. As a new moon rises over the hills of the Necropolis, Brother Nerezza, the second of the prophets, pens the final verses of The Twisted Apocrypha. The gates to the Shadow Crypt are preparing to open..."

Read the rest, including details about five new dungeons and several dozen changes to the game HERE. They're improving the Auction House (and telling you what you bought and sold) and allowing Death Debt to be recovered while a player is logged off. Sweet.

Mutageneration Ceremony for Gessel, the Tri-felg of Put-ah-nach

2007-01-23T16:42:00.000-05:00

"Now begins the sixth of the twenty-eight stages of the Mutageneration for Gessel, the Tri-felg of Put-ah-nach and Ruler of KuJ'ach and the Outerlands, Destroyer of the Naan-Sphere, and the Archtect of the Treaty of Hau Ta-ac a Nu Se.

Emissaries for the Quad Kingdoms have travelled many Klaggs to witness the ceremony: the BeJaah, Woo-Botox of Gerand Seven, and the still-living brain of the Mighty Kepel, today being carried by the simbiote Vuunt in his jewel-encrusted ceremonial Stasis Orb."

This is the funniest YouTube video I have ever seen.

Forget Second Life - Get a First Life!

2007-01-21T23:55:00.000-05:00

This is one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time - a long-overdue parody of the suddenly-famous of-the-moment immersive reality site called Second Life, where folks pay real human money to buy pretend...uh, I mean virtual property and clothes for their electronic avatar. This new site called First Life hypes a new "3D analog world where server lag does not exist" - of course, they're talking about the 'real' world. Very funny, especially the running counter of Total Residents. "Access your closet to build your First Life look..." They're logo is Your World. Sorry About That, and the page includes "ads from a First Life 'Search Engine'"

UPDATE: This is from the same guys who brought you iCryptex, a hilarious Apple-OS-as-Religion site. Example: a picture of the glass cube Apple store recently opened in NYC with a caption that reads "New Temple Open." Funny.

UPDATE AGAIN: Thought it would be down by now but the First Life site is still up and running and even got what can only be called a letter of encouragement from Linden Labs, those folks behind Second Life. "We know a parody when we see one." Classy.

Pan's Labyrinth Review

2007-01-21T02:18:00.000-05:00

Short Review: Didn't like it as much as I had hoped. It's from the director of Hellboy, another film I desperately wanted to like but was left wanting more. Again, he sets up an interesting premise and then fails to deliver. In Spanish with English subtitles, it's the story of a young girl trying to lose herself in a fantasy world as she tries in vain to escape the pain of her new home. Caught up in WWII-era Spain, violent separatists are trying to break the government's hold on their country. There was violence with need, something that always bothers me. I don't mind violence for a reason (see Gladiator) but when it's just there to shock or for atmosphere, it's unnecessary. And the ending left me very unsatisfied.

Rated R. Score is 4 of 10, with +2 for nice effects (they are not as amazing as you've heard) and -3 for pointless violence. Won the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film.

Doctor Who Joins "Heroes"

2007-01-20T13:45:00.000-05:00

Fans of Doctor Who are excited to see that the last Doctor, previous to the current one (we are not fans of that scrawny old thing), will be joining the cast of NBC's hit Heroes as a character knowingly named Claude Rains with the power to become invisible. It is unknown who long we'll be around, but he's a welcome addition to an already stellar show. Will he retain his almost impenetrable accent? Get those captions on if you want to understand what he's saying...By the way, the 1933 film version of the H.G. Wells classic The Invisible Man was played by 30's actor Claude Rains. For more info, see Christopher Eccleston joins "Heroes."

UPDATE: In other good for Heroes fans, the show has been renewed by NBC for a second season, so all of our friends will be around next year, fighting the good fight. No word yet on what the plot will involve - I think we can safely speculate that this season will end with the nuclear bomb NOT going off in New York City, some new plot will be revealed to explore next year, and at least one more major character will be killed off before the end of the season...

Galactica to Lose Major Character?

2007-01-20T13:33:00.000-05:00

Sounds like BG is looking to shake things up with the "devastating loss of a much-loved character who is central to Galactica," according to an interview with producer David Weddle. "I imagine many fans will be outraged and screaming for our heads," he said. This show has never been about sitting on its laurels, as evidenced by last years' season finale, which surprised many by suddenly leaping forward with an ominous fade to black and a "One Year Later" title. The show keeps us guessing and is consistently one of the best on TV, but they might be gambling with their future if they kill off Adama, Starbuck or Apollo, the three main characters...

I Need My Shows!!

2007-01-03T19:34:00.000-05:00

We loved our Christmas presents and our New Years Day feasting, but now it's time to get back to the interrupted TV season. Confused about when your favorite TV shows start up again?

Here's a quick list:

January 4: The Office (NBC), Ugly Betty (ABC)
January 5: Nanny 911 (Fox)

January 11: Smallville (CW)
January 13: SNL (NBC)

January 14: Rome (HBO), 24 (Fox)
January 16: American Idol (Fox)
January 19: Monk (USA)

January 21: Battlestar Galactica (SciFi), Jericho (CBS)
January 22: Heroes (NBC), Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (NBC)
January 23: Veronica Mars (CW)

January 29: Prison Break (Fox)
February 7: Lost (ABC)

Last Potter Book Gets Title

2006-12-24T14:42:00.000-05:00

Title of J.K. Rowling's final Harry Potter book released

NEW YORK (AP) -- We now have a title for Book VII: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."But if you want to find out for yourself, visit J.K. Rowling's Web site, jkrowling.com, and play a little game of hangman. Rowling's U.S. publisher, Scholastic Inc., released a brief statement Thursday announcing the name of the world's most anticipated children's book, the finale to her phenomenally popular fantasy series.

No publication date or other details were offered. Rowling is still working on the book, she explained on her Web site in an entry posted early Thursday. "I'm now writing scenes that have been planned, in some cases, for a dozen years or even more," she wrote. "I don't think anyone who has not been in a similar situation can possibly know how this feels: I am alternately elated and overwrought. I both want, and don't want, to finish this book (don't worry, I will.)"

We here at BTG love all the Harry Potter books, and we were excited to hear the seventh and final book will be coming out sometime in 2007! In the meantime, catch up on the other books! Click on any of the covers to purchase books and other Harry Potter merchandise at Amazon.com.

Bacon Tastes Good is Back

2006-12-21T13:31:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the New Bacon Tastes Good...it's been a while, but we're back with a new redesign, easier page navigation, less clutter, and more regular news. Google's Blogspot software if finally out of beta and now has stabilized to the point where we could take advantage of it and migrate. Thanks for reading, and tell your friends!

Angie's List: Local Home Improvement Contractors

2006-06-28T16:31:00.000-04:00

Angie's List looks like a cool way to find a home improvement contractor - just wish they were here in Dayton already!

Spider-Man 3

2006-06-23T18:24:00.000-04:00

I haven't heard what the plot is going to be yet, but over at Dark Horizons they have a pretty good short synopsis, based on leaked information and picures. The film will be released May 4, 2007.

50 Coolest Websites 2005 - TIME.com

2006-06-23T18:20:00.000-04:00

Here's Time Magazine's 50 Coolest Websites of 2005. A little out of date, but still cool.

No Thanks.

2006-02-28T19:02:00.000-05:00

Vacant house for sale near Miami. You can get it cheap, if you don't mind the 2 Million Bees that already live there...

Aquaman Casting Change

2006-02-26T13:24:00.000-05:00

The CW (formerly the WB) has kicked actor Will Toale to the curb and signed Justin Hartley in the Aquaman Pilot.

Britney Spears Lives In Fear

2006-02-26T13:19:00.000-05:00

Pictures of Britney Spears at the Beach. Used to be, back in happier times, that typing those magical words would bring forth beautiful images of a scantilly-clad Britney that would take your breath away. Believe me, these pictures of Spears at the beach will only disappoint you. And make you wish it was still 2002 and no one had ever heard of up-and-coming white rapper K-Fed...

Knots Landing Episode Guide

2006-02-16T20:14:00.000-05:00

Knots Landing Episode Guide: "WHERE IS THE CUL-DE-SAC ANYWAY & HOW WAS IT DISCOVERED:
The cul-de-sac made so popular in Knots Landing is situated in Granada Hills, California which it appears is nowhere near the ocean. From Los Angeles one would take the 5N to 118W and exit at Balboa. Right on Balboa one would pass The Knollwood Country Club Estates on the way to Crystalaire Place aka Seaview Circle."

By the way, after much searching on the old Google Maps, I found the streets that correspond with the opening aerial shots of Knots Landing. It's the subdivision around the corner of Paseo del Mar and Via Aromitas on the Palos Verdes Peninsula...

Killer Bees Attack Florida

2006-01-30T17:27:00.000-05:00

Watch out behind you! If you're in Florida, you might be attacked by killer bees!

Jack Tracker!

2006-01-29T19:59:00.001-05:00

Okay, this Google Maps Mashup over at Wayfaring is just the coolest - track Jack Bauer as he runs around Los Angeles, saving the world - again! With great photos from the show, notes on interesting shooting locations, and other trivia. Way sweet!

Lost gets Darker

2006-01-26T14:15:00.000-05:00

Lost is getting better and better, but I have to say that last night's episode was a serious downer, with Charlie effectively cementing his position as the most hated member of the camp. I half expected Bearded Other to show up and recruit him to the dark side!

Arrested Development Begs for Viewers - Literally!

2006-01-03T12:50:00.000-05:00

They were literally begging for more viewers last night on Arrested Development - Ron Howard mentioned twice in the voice-overs to 'go tell your friends' about the funniest show on TV. And there were digs-a-plenty at FOX for leaving the show with only half a season ordered and in limbo, including mentions of "The OC" and lots of Andy Richter sightings (his show was cancelled by FOX in 2002 after only 6 episodes). There were two different 3-D moments and the last five seconds of the show was live - they're pulling out all the stops! No cliches left unturned!

The Beauty Myth

2005-12-20T16:36:00.000-05:00

I found this great Flash piece as link from Marginal Revolution - it's a great example on what newpaper and magazine editors can do with PhotoShop to 'improve' a photo. It takes a second to load, but this flash piece walks you through a list of different things they can do to make people look 'more perfect,' and it's more than a little scary.

Political Correctness is for...those who are not good...

2005-11-17T23:49:00.000-05:00

This will just make you angry.

I Always Suspected the French were Superior!

2005-11-06T10:45:00.000-05:00

Nice to see the French have finally proven their superiority over our inferior American ways. It turns out they really have got everything all figured out! They don't hate us. We should take our cues from them from now on on all things, including foreign policy and the integration of our melting pot. I think we could learn a thing or two from them!

Star Wars and Empire - minisized

2005-11-02T09:55:00.000-05:00

Found a couple GREAT Star Wars animated gifs - they are better than the last three movies! The first is a version of Star Wars and the second is Empire - they are here and here. They're hosted at a great place called Putfile. Check it out if you need a free place to post big files.

Oh, and here's a fun battle on your desktop.

Creepy....

2005-11-01T00:36:00.000-05:00

I'm not making this up. A GIANT numeral 2 appeared in the center of the eye of Hurricane Wilma just as she was making landfall near Naples, Florida. I kid you not. Follow the link to read more about it. The TV station that broadcast the radar went back and checked their recordings and yup, there it was in all its glory. Whoa.

From the TV station's website: "LEE COUNTY— While watching NBC2 coverage of Hurricane Wilma about two dozen residents called the station reporting an unusual sighting. While watching a Doppler loop of Hurricane Wilma coming ashore, a number two appeared in the eye of the storm. In going back through the recorded Doppler loop, we found exactly what viewers were talking about. The image below was not altered in any way - it's a screen capture from the Doppler system."

We Don't Need No Stinkin' Login

2005-10-31T23:52:00.000-05:00

Tired of those newspaper websites that make you sign up and login? Try these guys...Wired News: We Don't Need No Stinkin' Login: "BugMeNot.com is a site that generates login names and passwords for registration sites. The site is a boon to those who want to keep online anonymity or stamp out spam. According to the site's homepage, 14,000 websites have been 'liberated' from registration bondage, and it's clear many people are doing whatever they can to avoid really logging in."

Bacon Tastes Good is On the Move!

2005-07-05T13:32:00.000-04:00

Humble readers, Bacon Tastes Good is moving! I need someplace to easily and quickly share photos as well as my movie reviews and other ramblings, and unfortunately, Google/Blogger hasn't come up with an easy way to post pix (though I have lots of Google stock, so I hope they keep innovating)! Anyway, the evildoers in Seattle have just the tool I need, so please link over to Bacon Tastes Good version 2, currently being hosted by the Evil Microsoft. They have a great, built-in photo uploader and organizer that can't be beat. See you there!

People are Dying to Ride Mission Space

2005-06-14T15:14:00.000-04:00

Actually, I have to say this doesn't surprise me - the ride is incredibly intense and unpleasant. I'm surprised someone hasn't died before now. Boy dies after riding Disney World's 'Mission: Space'

Book with Oceanic Airlines Today!

2005-06-03T12:04:00.000-04:00

Just in case you want to book your next flight on Oceanic Airlines. (Okay, so it's a fake ABC site, but still pretty cool.) Just avoid any flight with those funny numbers in it...

T'bone's Star Wars Episode 3 Review

2005-05-25T17:16:00.000-04:00

T'bone's Star Wars Universe has a long and thoughtful exploration of many aspects of the film, including dialogue and editing. Check it out, but be warned - there are serious spoilers all the way through it...

Easter Eggs for SW3?

2005-05-25T16:58:00.000-04:00

Still waiting to see the definitive Easter Egg list from SW3, but can't find anything online. Anybody seen one? I need something that lists all the hidden, hard-to-find background items. One I did catch - the Falcon (or at least another ship of the same make) landing at the starport on Coruscant! Sweet!

TIVO Alert - Lost Season Finale tonight

2005-05-25T16:56:00.000-04:00

Tonight's Season Finale is shaping up to be a doozy, according to advance reports over at AICN. Now, what to watch? Two hours of excitement on Lost or two hours of filler and one moment of excitement on American Idol?

Last Episode of Enterprise

2005-04-27T17:02:00.000-04:00

More rumblings out of the Enterprise camp as Producers Berman and Braga defends the final episode and two controversial guest appearances (first mentioned here at BTG in January)....

Live Action and Animated Star Wars TV Series Coming

2005-04-27T16:59:00.000-04:00

So Lucas came out of his shell and made an appearance at the Star Wars conclave in Indianapolis and revealed that a Live Action and Animated Series for TV are in the works. The Animated Series will be an expansion of the Clone Wars series on Toon Network.

Serenity Trailer Now Available!

2005-04-27T16:54:00.000-04:00

Even though Joss Whedon's Serenity film, based on the short-lived Fox series Firefly, isn't out until September 30, the Serenity Trailer is now up at the Apple site. Click and enjoy!

Is the New Bond the Same as the Old Bond?

2005-04-27T16:52:00.000-04:00

Dame Judi Dench seems to think so according to this interview over at Sky Showbiz where she reveals that the New Bond is the Same as the Old Bond - Pierce Brosnan is now rumored to star in the next 007 installment, Casino Royale.

Sweet Star Wars Toys

2005-03-31T16:53:00.000-05:00

Lots of new Star Wars Merchandise hitting the shelves on Saturday, April 2nd - click here to get the low down. Some places are opening early Saturday morning and there are a few places staying open until Friday night at midnight to celebrate the "48 hours of Star Wars." For example, at WalMarts: "At 12:01 am on April 2, over 1300 Wal-Mart stores will be open with all-new STAR WARS EPISODE III REVENGE OF THE SITH merchandise. Be the first to get the new Star Wars movie toys in celebration of the release of the final star wars movie. Click here for the Mid-night store opening list. But that's just the beginning of the excitement at Wal-Mart."

Sneak Preview of Battlestar Galactica - Episode 11 "Colonial Day"

2005-03-18T10:56:00.000-05:00

Here's a link to a great review of the upcoming, politically-weighted episode of BG. I've seen the rest of the episodes and this one is where it really starts to take off. Congratulations Baltar!

It's Official!

2005-03-18T10:00:00.000-05:00

Joss Whedon has officially signed on to write and direct the new Wonder Woman movie, according to an announcement from Warner Brothers studios. No release date was announced. Whedon is currentlly finishing Serenity, the theatrical version of Fox's ill-timed Firefly, due in theatres September 30.

Someone will die...

2005-03-16T13:40:00.000-05:00

on the Lost Season Finale to air in May.

Galactica Podcasts Begin

2005-03-12T16:04:00.000-05:00

For those crazy can't-wait-to-hear-more Galactica fans out there, SciFi Network is posting downloadable Podcasts and MP3s of commentary related to each episode. Download to your Ipod or play it while watching the episodes for sychronized, DVD-like cast and crew commentaries. Sweet!

NBC's Treasure

2005-03-09T15:54:00.000-05:00

NBC is reportedly working on a reality TV knockoff of National Treasure, with teams finding clues to discover a hidden treasure.

Say it isn't so!

2005-03-09T09:23:00.000-05:00

Let's hope this rumor isn't true - word is leaking out of the Da Vinci Code production that Jim Carrey may be in talks to play the albino assassin Silas. If so, I officially will not be seeing the film.

Another Enterprise Rumor

2005-03-09T09:18:00.000-05:00

Sounds like Jolene Blaylock is angry about the way Enterprise is ending, lending credence to the rumor running around the Internet. SPOILERS ahead, so don't click. Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if the series ended this way.

Holy Crap!

2005-03-03T13:13:00.000-05:00

Just saw the final two episodes of this season of "Battlestar Galactica" and all I have to say is HOLY CRAP! This is what great science fiction TV is about - interesting characters, deep mythologies, and plot twists that you DON'T see coming. GET IN ON THIS SERIES NOW! It airs Friday nights at 10pm leading up to the amazing season finale on April 1st. Easily the best sci-fi on TV. How have I seen the episodes 12 and 13, the two-part season finale, when the Sci-Fi channel has only broadcast up through episode 8? Ahh, that is a bit of a secret, grasshopper. Hopefully I don't get a Torrent of emails about this post...

And more GREAT NEWS for BSG fans out there - SciFi has confirmed a SECOND SEASON to start filming in March and to be broadcast this summer! SWEET!

News on Final Enterprise Episode?

2005-03-03T13:02:00.000-05:00

I doubt if it is true, but it was a crappy series from start to finish, so it would only be fitting that the show have a seriously crappy ending according to a supposed spy over at AICN. Who knows if it's true? More importantly, who cares? But some people must like the show - these people have raised over $3 million to finance a fifth season. Can I make a suggestion? Give it to the Tsunami effort-it would be better spent then wasting it on a substandard TV show.

Review of "The Village"

2005-03-03T12:38:00.000-05:00

People didn't like "The Village," and I can see where they're coming from - it's slow and, being based in the 1800's, difficult to watch at times. But I went into the film with open eyes and came away enjoying it. The film's pacing is measured and hands out bits and pieces of the plot like tiny treasures, forcing the viewer to SLOW DOWN and watch what is happening on the screen to figure out what's to come. And that's the whole point of the film - in our everyday lives, it would serve us well to slow down and pay attention to what is around us. M. Night is known for his twists and while this film also has one that I saw coming, it serves as a poignant and insightful commentary on today's American society. I also think he's intentionally moving away from the "Big Twist" ending to lower expectations and take the pressure off. Instead of forcing him to come up with one giant gimmick for each film, this film and his last, "Signs," contained smaller twists, allowing M. Night to concentrate more on his direction and storytelling. I, for one, think it bodes well for his future films.

Bacon Tastes Good has been Away

2005-03-03T12:24:00.000-05:00

Sorry about not blogging for almost a month. I'm getting ready to move halfway across the country, so it's been all about selling our house and buying a new house and vacuuming and packing and mortgages and putting things in storage and the like. Whew! I'm caught up now and hopefully will be getting more blogging done soon!

Finally, a job for the UN

2005-02-09T16:57:00.000-05:00

Now here's something perfect for the UN to take care of. They are very good at humanitarian efforts, just not the Oil-for-Food program, evidently.

"Well, it's a good thing..."

2005-02-09T16:19:00.000-05:00

Sometimes getting hit in the head with a beer bottle can save your life.

As Predicted Here...Star Trek Enterprise Cancelled

2005-02-08T12:48:00.000-05:00

I'm sure everyone has heard by now, but Star Trek Enterprise has been cancelled due to pour ratings. Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and Voyager all lasted seven years, so it can be seen as a major failure that the show is being cancelled after only four seasons. But the premise was never exploited and the writing, acting, and character development were never on par with even the most barely watchable television. If not for the series name, the show would've been cancelled after one season - they barely missed getting cancelled last year and the show had to take a large paycut and was moved to Friday night.

Here's where I make my forceful and obligatory pitch for people to watch BATTLESTAR GALACTICA if you are interested in good Sci-Fi TV. Airing Friday nights at 10pm on the Sci Fi Channel, the show rivals the high points of Farscape and Babylon Five and is far superior than the now-defunct Enterprise.

BG Episode 5 review

2005-02-07T19:20:00.000-05:00

Good concise review of Battlestar Galactica episode 5 over at AICN. "You Can't Go Home Again" was quite good, and these guys are a little harder on the episode than I would have been.

Bleep bleep you bleeping bleep!

2005-02-02T13:34:00.000-05:00

Will the world's most potty-mouthed mobsters be coming to regular TV? I bet those FCC guys are salivating...

In Good Company

2005-01-31T11:51:00.000-05:00

Here is a short review from guest reviewer Pam, my sister. Thanks, Pam! "A young executive who is headed to the top discovers he can learn something about happiness from an old-timer. In Good Company keeps you guessing until the end, then surprises you with a chance to look at yourself. Must see. 4 stars"

Disney Annual Report Review

2005-01-29T16:25:00.000-05:00

As a Disney Shareholder, I get the Annual Report every year and I'm always intrigued by the tidbits of information I find buried in the document. Here are the interesting things I found in the 2004 Annual Report:

Parks. Disney operates 5 of the Top 10 most popular family attractions in the U.S. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Disneyland in California, they are rolling out a very aggressive set of new rides and a new park in 2005, including:

Disney Hong Kong, the massive new park built on reclaimed land and first park in China (opens September 12), including a planned Art Deco-style Hollywood Hotel
Raging Spirits, a new ride at Disney Tokyo
Sourin', a new ride at Epcot (copied from California Adventure)
Extreme Stunt Show, a new attraction at Disney-MGM Studios (copies from Disney Paris)
Astro-Blasters, a new ride at Disneyland (copied from Disney Tokyo)
Wishes, a new fireworks show at Disney Paris
Expedition Everest, a massive thrill ride under construction at Animal Kingdom (no firm open date yet)
Updates and implementation of new technologies at Space Mountain and Haunted Mansion at Disneyland
An on-line "virtual Magic Kingdom" where guests can experience Disney theme parks from home by visiting attractions as an avatar

Movies. Lots of films from Disney, Dimension, Miramax, Touchstone and Hollywood Films:

Chicken Little, the first digital release as they move to fill the digital cartoon hole in their slate with the ending of the Disney-Pixar agreement
Cars, the final Pixar film
The Pacifier (Vin Diesel, spring)
Sin City (Bruce Willis)
Cursed (Christina Ricci)
Casanova (Heath Ledger, Christmas)
Sky High (Kurt Russell, Kelly Preston, summer)
Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy (May)
Flight Plan (Jodie Foster)
Ice Princess (Michelle Trachtenberg, March)
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (all seven Chronicles of Narnia books in one film, Christmas)
Herbie Fully Loaded (Lindsay Lohan, summer)

TV, Video, and Games. Trying to follow up on the popularity of Lost and Desperate Housewives:

Muppets' Wonderful Wizard of Oz TV movie (spring)
Bambi, The Incredibles, National Treasure, King Arthur, The Village and Mulan 2 to be released on DVD
Video game titles based on the films The Nightmare Before Christmas, Chicken Little, Tron 2.0, and Chronicles of Narnia.
22nd Disney Channel premiered in Japan and Disney Channel India on the way
ESPN and ESPN2 will be broadcasting at least 6,000 hours of programming in HD
JETIX, a new boys-oriented TV channel

Other. Disney bought Baby Einstein (toys, clothing) and the entire Muppets empire in 2004 and will roll out related movies and merchandise; the Disney Cruise Ship Magic will be moving to the West Coast for 12 weeks of cruises before returning to the East Coast; Peter and the Starcatchers, Disney Fairies, and more Disney Princess merchandise will be released; and a stage version of Mary Poppins premiered in London.

"Can You Dig It?"

2005-01-28T14:53:00.000-05:00

You know, I'm an amazing judge of people. I could TELL there was something wrong with this guy...

Tonight's Battlestar Galactica Episode (oh, and some stuff about Enterprise, too.)

2005-01-28T11:27:00.000-05:00

Here are some...yawn...Enterprise spoilers from the resident spy over at Ain't It Cool News, but I have to say I have no interest in whatever they are doing on Enterprise anymore. The show is lurching along on its last legs and will be cancelled after this season, I predict.

Shun it! Help put Enterprise out of its misery by tuning in to Battlestar Galactica, a far superior show. Here are some spoilers about tonight's show - Starbuck is put in charge of training a group of pilot recruits and can't get over the death of Apollo's younger brother Zak. Why? She and Zak were evidently an item but she was also responsible for his death. Wait 'til Adama finds out!

Well, at least it has Scully...

2005-01-26T15:47:00.000-05:00

David Duchovny says there won't be any aliens in the second X-Files movie to start filming late 2005 or early 2006. Aren't aliens the point?

Can Guest Star Stunts Revive Enterprise?

2005-01-26T14:51:00.000-05:00

Are Riker and Troi making a Guest Appearance on the 'Enterprise' Season Finale? If the Enterprise folks want to learn how to make great Sci-Fi, they don't need stunt guest stars--they need only watch an episode of the new Battlestar Galactica. The episodes are fast-paced, densely written, and star Cyclons-that-look-like-super-hotties. Almost makes you want to surrender to the Cyclon invasion, huh? Seriously, this show will hook you.

24 Review - Noon to 1pm

2005-01-26T10:54:00.000-05:00

Have I mentioned that Jack Bauer is an ass-kicker? Well, by the end of this episode, I'm not the only one holding that opinion. Ye-haw!

1. Jack Rides into Town, stomping and a-whomping every living thing within an inch of its life. Except for the women-folk, of course. Jack DEFIES the President and does this sweet slide down the hill into the terrorist compound. (How come I've never slid down a hill into a terrorist compound?) He shoots one guy, then another, then another - oh my God! He races inside and just as the terrorists are about to execute Secretary of Defense Heller live on the Internet(s), Jack shoots them. Sweet! He frees the Secretary and he and Heller race through the compound, shooting. Let me tell you, they make a great team! Audrey is held at gunpoint but she stabs him in the leg just as the Army Commandos arrive to kill the main badguy. Heller and Jack and Audrey are fine and return to CTU for debrief. Heller allows CTU to continue torturing his son to find out what he knows.

2. The Briefcase - Oh my God, we find out that the briefcase contains a piece of electronics known as The Override, which lets the owner take control of any or all NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS in the US. Ouch! As soon as they find this out, CTU kicks into high gear and tries to figure out what to do next.

3. Listen to Your Mother - the sleeper cell kid is waiting to dispose of the girlfriend's body when a VERY MEAN looking dude shows up to 'clean up the mess.' The kid rightly thinks he will be executed and buried alongside the girl when he's is asked to come along and help dig. The kid is a MEAN shot with a shovel and knocks the dude out and escapes.

4. Omarosa turns out to be working for the badguys. I know her name isn't Omarosa but it just fits so well.

5. Previews showed the sleeper cell kid getting picked up by his Mommy! Will he not learn?

Now you can finally make really cool French Fries

2005-01-26T10:32:00.000-05:00

In another exciting Star Wars announcement leading to release of Star Wars Episode 3, now you can buy a Darth Tater.

President Palmer returns for more '24'

2005-01-20T17:14:00.000-05:00

The Hollywood Reporter is saying that Dennis Haysbert will return as President Palmer for the last four episodes of "24" this season. I've also heard that Tony Almeida and his cutey wife will be back sooner than that. Stay tuned

Alyson Hannigan Guest Stars on Veronica Mars

2005-01-20T17:11:00.000-05:00

I don't watch Veronica Mars but I've heard it's a good show. Alyson Hannigan of Buffy fame will be guest starring on Veronica Mars on the March 22nd episode.

Naked and In Trouble

2005-01-18T16:45:00.000-05:00

Note to Self: If I win the $1,000,000 prize on Survivor, I need to remember to claim it on my taxes.

Batman Begins pix

2005-01-18T14:50:00.000-05:00

There is a new group of BATMAN BEGINS preview pictures being shown on a Dutch website here. Sorry, I can't tell you what the rest of the site says as I don't speak Dutch. Here is another site dedicated to tracking the new movie, scheduled to be released June 17th.

24 Review - 11am to 12pm

2005-01-18T14:47:00.000-05:00

Again, the action is slowed but many plots were advanced on last night's episode.

1. Jack tracks the kidnapper only to have the man discover he's beeing followed and commit suicide by driving his truck into an oncoming cement mixer. Sweet. But because the guy had called ahead to let them know he wouldn't be there EVER the folks at CTU were able to guess where Secretary Heller and his daughter are being held. Jack arrived at the end of the episode.

2. Nothing much else happened. No, I'm serious. Erin Driscoll's crazy daughter arrived at CTU and was being examined by their medical staff, Chloe was forced out of CTU and was escorted from the building, and the nutty Sleeper Cells got rid of Debbie's body and talked her mother, who showed up looking for her, into going away. And here I thought the bodies were going to start piling up in their basement.

3. Nuke them from Orbit. At the end of the episode Jack was skulking around outside the compound, suiting up (which essentially means putting on a jacket and then filling the pockets of said jacket with many, many guns) when Driscoll told him to stand down - the President had ordered a military strike of the compound with Heller and his daughter still inside. Better to do that then have them executed live on TV. Well, needless to say Jack didn't agree and started down the hill toward the compound to rescue them. Did I mention he's ROGUE!?

4. Previews. Jack infiltrates the compound and GUESS? He shoots some people! A lot! He needs to try decaf. The episode shows Jack talking to Audrey, so we know he gets that far at least. My guess is he finds her, tells her "I'll be back," then sets off to rescue the father before he can be killed.

Is it just me or is the 12am/12pm thing confusing? I can never remember if 12pm follows 11pm or 11am. Oh well - maybe someday we'll become a military state and go on military time.

Cylon Attack!

2005-01-18T14:35:00.000-05:00

Battlestar Galactica is back, filled with pulse-pounding action and almost unlimited amounts of dread and terror. Just watching the cyclons nuking the 12 human colonies from orbit was enough to interest me, and the dense writing, excellent acting and unresolved plotlines were enough to hook me. Things are brought up and then not mentioned again, the sign of a foreshadowed, well-plotted writing team that is planning ahead for twists aplenty. Keep up the good work, guys. And you're to be congratulated for the multiple strong female leads-that is rare on TV today. Watch BATTLESTAR GALACTICA Fridays at 10:00pm on the Sci-Fi Channel.

24 Review - 9am to 11am

2005-01-12T13:18:00.000-05:00

While the pacing remains high, less actually 'happened' on the next two segments of 24 which aired Monday night. Here is a rundown - if you haven't seen it, don't read this! I can describe what happened but the show's producers do a much better job of presenting than I can.

1. Jack Goes Even 'Roguer': To track the Internet designer and his kidnapper, Jack calls Chloe and asks for help even though Erin Driscoll has announced that Jack is rogue and no one is to help him. Jack tracks the kidnapper, who stops to interrogate the designer and then leaves him with two thugs to execute. Jack uses a sniper rifle and kills the thugs, then calls 9-11 to pick up the injured designer. Jack tracks the kidnapper, convinced he will lead Jack to Heller's location. When Chloe can't get satellite tracking, Jack waits until the kidnapper stops for gas, then goes in and HOLDS THE PLACE UP, trapping the kidnapper. Seeing Jack pretend to lose it and actually act like a criminal was great. As the show ends, Jack is tracking the released kidnapper and Chloe has him on satellite but the cops stop Jack and arrest him for the store holdup. Sweet.

2. Heller and the Hot Daughter: Nothing much happened here except that crazy-man Heller staged an escape attempt and kills three thugs before he is recaptured. Now if he can try four or five more escape attempts, he might whitle down the numbers.

3. Sadistic Mommy: The mom of the sleeper cell family tests her son by telling him he needs to kill Debbie, his girlfriend. She invites Debbie over to the house to talk, then tells her son to do it. When the kid refuses and tries to escape with the girl - whoops, Mommy already poisoned her tea! Oops! And the best part? As they are standing over the dead girl's body, she SENDS HIM TO HIS ROOM for not killing her first! Ha ha! Good parenting!

4. Previews: Looks like Jack somehow gets away from the cops as he is shown shooting a very large semi-automatic weapon and sliding down the hill near the holding compound. Debbie's mother shows up at the sleeper cell's house - "I'm just looking for my daughter." That pile of bodies in the basement is about to get bigger. We still don't know about the stolen metal briefcase or the 'device' mentioned earlier, but the government DID 'change all the codes' that the Secretary of Defense had access to,' so they've got that going for them. Which is nice.

(Original Content Alert - this is an original content alert. Do not be frightened. This information was actually written by an actual person. Please link or credit back to this site. Do not copy/paste to another location - there is far too much of that happening on the 'Internets' anyway.)

24 Review - 7am to 9am

2005-01-10T09:30:00.000-05:00

Last night's 2-hour season premiere of 24 started off with a bang and only got better from there. Taut and well-paced, the season began with a train derailment and quickly introduced 5 other distinct storylines, advancing each while introducing a host of new characters and giving us just a moment to reconnect with our favorite man-on-the-edge. The older characters are not missed or even mentioned except for the revelation that Jack's daughter Kim has married Chase and they just bought a house together somewhere in LA. No mention of Palmer or Tony Almedia or Kim's sad and lonely one-legged exboyfriend. This show goes through characters like I go through coffee. If you did not see the episodes (2 1-hour episodes were shown back-to-back), be warned. There be spoilers here...

1. Jack is Happy: The show introduces a completely new and original character-a smiling, happy Jack Bauer. He's been fired from CTU for his heroin dependency and has moved on, living and working in D.C. for the Secretary of Defense, a new character played by the former Senator from California Greg Sumner - oh, sorry, I mean played by esteemed character actor William Devane. Jack is happy, secretly dating the Secretary's daughter (played by Kim Raver from NBC's Third Watch) and getting on with his liife. He's back in L.A. for a budget meeting with Erin Driscoll, the new woman in charge of CTU and the person that fired Jack.

2. Storylines a-Plenty: Hold on, here is a rundown. The train derailment was a cover to snatch a metal briefcase, the contents of which have yet to be revealed. A sleeper cell of Islamic terrorists is involved somehow, orchestrating their plans from a small suburban home in Los Angeles. A young man discovers strange codes being planted all over the Internet and calls Chloe at CTU (yes, she's still there, and still so FRUSTRATING) to let her know. When he returns, he finds all of his coworkers dead. He runs away and a man follows, cornering him at a train station and kidnapping him.

3. Jack Goes Rogue: It only takes Jack about a half-hour to go rogue, seeing that Erin Driscoll is not handling things in the way that he would handle them. CTU is interrogating a suspect who won't give them anything, so Jack storms into the briefing room and shoots the poor chap in the leg to get him to confess the next target: Secretary of Defense Heller. I'm sure the guy doesn't believe it, but he got off lucky - last year Jack cut a guys head off in that same room. Maybe Jack should have just mentioned that to the suspect, or just waved a saw around. No torture needed. I was hoping this season would be 100%-torture free as last year there were people being tortured seemingly on every single episode. Oh well.

4. The Plots Thicken: Secretary of Defense Heller and his daughter Audrey were successfully kidnapped just as Jack calls to warn them. They are whisked into a van and are being held by Islamic terrorists in an undisclosed location in the city.

5. On Trial: As the 2 hours end, the terrorists announce an online, Internet-televised trial of Heller, warning solemnly that if he tried and convicted, he will be punished 'according to their laws.' Sounds like a potential beheading to me. Yuck.

6. Loose Ends: We aren't told why the Internet was being targeted but it might have been a precautionary measure to make the War Trial broadcast untraceable. The contents and purpose of the metal briefcase are not revealed, although the young man delivering the case to the secret compound is followed by his heartbroken, soon-to-be-dead girlfriend. He tells her to leave but the boy's father gives him an ultimatum - kill the girlfriend because she knows too much.

7. Where Do We Go Now? Here are some predictions: Looks like Jack has managed to find the Internet designer who first noticed the Web attack and his kidnapper - the rumor is that Jack will corner them both in a convenience story by pretending to rob the place. The trial of Secretary of Defense Heller will begin on-line. The boy and his girlfriend will somehow escape, probably assisted by his mother, who also mentioned something about a device. God only knows what that is. The briefcase might contain nuclear missile launch codes for the Secretary of Defense to use in a war - in that case, the terrorists might be able to use the codes and the Secretary to launch an attack, possibly on Israel. Jack will continue to be as 'rogue-y' as possible, and at some point there will a large explosion. I guarantee it. Stay tuned - another 2 hours are on tonight and then the show will settle into its regular Monday night slot next week.

(Original Content Alert - this is an original content alert. Do not be frightened. This information was actually written by an actual person. Please link or credit back to this site. Do not copy/paste to another location - there is far too much of that happening on the 'Internets' anyway.)

Pepsi Refutes Rumor

2005-01-07T14:37:00.000-05:00

We here at BTG like to stay on top of the latest internet/email rumors circulating through cyberspace, such as the new Pepsi Can emal we just received. Supposedly, the email claims, Pepsi is releasing a patriotic can that, for politically-correct reasons, omits the words 'Under God' from the included text of the Pledge of Allegiance. We haven't been able to find any evidence or photos of such packaging, and Pepsi is vehemently denying it on their official website. Turns out this is a rehashed rumor that targeted Dr. Pepper cans back in 2002. In that case, Dr. Pepper did in fact produce and distribute cans that contained the words 'One Nation' and 'Indivisable' at the top of their package, wrapping around the can. Some saw this as an omission of the two words that come between them in the Pledge and got upset. Oh well.

(Original Content Alert - someone at BTG actually wrote the above words. Please credit appropriately. Thanks)

24 - Season 4 Preview

2005-01-04T18:31:00.000-05:00

Here's what we know for sure:
Jack Bauer is back for Season 4 of Fox's 24 titled "Season 4 - Instinct Never Dies" (sounds like a Bond movie to me). The show will start on Sunday, Jan. 9 with a two-hour premiere. Jack isn't at CTU and doesn't do field work field anymore ("I could've joined other agencies if I still wanted to work in the field, but I didn't") and has a new significant other, the daughter of the Secretary of Defense (played by Third Watch'salways-hot Kim Raver). VERY sorry to say that President Palmer and Jack's daughter Kim are no longer listed as season regulars and I've heard NO rumors about any guest shots. The slimey VP from last season is the new President, so we can assume a couple of years have passed and that Palmer followed through with his decision (last year, he told Jack that he had decided not to run for President again in the wake of Sherry's death). Tony Almeida's character is set to return (he was being dragged off to prison when we last saw him) but the status of his HOT wife is unknown. CTU's new supervisor Erin Driscoll doesn't want Jack around, but it appears he is drawn back to CTU by unforeseen circumstances. Chloe, Jack's mousy and annoying assistant from last year (who I kept hoping would be killed off last year) is still at CTU and helps Jack.

Here's the current speculation:
Day 4 starts at 7 a.m. and again last 24 continuous hours over 24 episodes. Accordint to Zap2it, this season begins with an explosion on a commuter train and soon Jack is back to his renegade ways, trying to save Los Angeles and maybe the world from a vague but catastrophic terrorist threat. After extensive housecleaning within the cast, "24" now co-stars Kim Raver ("Third Watch"), William Devane ("Knots Landing"), Oscar-nominated actress Shohreh Aghdashloo ("The House of Sand and Fog") and Nestor Serrano ("The Day After Tomorrow") and features Aisha Tyler ("Friends") in a recurring role. Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland, L) is secretly romantically involved with the Secretary of Defense's daughter Audrey (Kim Raver). In reviewing the preview, we see in one scene that a bad guy is holding Jack's her at gunpoint, perhaps explaining how he's draw back into the world of espionage. Maybe she gets kidnapped - is everyone around Jack just perpetually unlucky?

TV Rules is saying: "Season four begins 18 months later with the episode “Day 4: 7:00 am – 8:00 am.” CTU is now headed by Erin Driscoll (Alberta Watson, “La Femme Nikita”), a steely government agent who made firing Jack one of her first priorities upon taking over. After the explosion of a commuter train, Jack, who is now working for Secretary of Defense James Heller (William Devane, “Knots Landing”) and also is romantically involved with his married daughter, Audrey (Kim Raver, “Third Watch”), suddenly finds himself heading back to CTU for a meeting with Driscoll on Heller’s behalf. Also featured will be Nestor Serrano (“The Day After Tomorrow”) as Middle Eastern businessman Navi Araz, Oscar-nominated actress Shohreh Aghdashloo (“The House of Sand and Fog”) as his wife, Dina, and Jonathan Ahdout (“The House of Sand and Fog”) as their son, Behrooz." Not sure where their information is coming from - there is no sourcing.

Relevent links: Episode guide at TV Tome and a hard-to-find (thanks Google!) gallery of pictures from the premiere. The original casting call looks interesting as it delineates exactly what they're looking for in the new characters joining the show.

Please Donate Today!

2005-01-02T17:34:00.000-05:00

50 Foot Robot!

2005-01-02T01:43:00.000-05:00

Watch out! Oh my God, here comes a 50 Foot Robot! It looks to destroy the city, crushing every pitiful human in it's path! And - no, it can't be - it uses FLOWERS as weapons! Flowers, you say? It's true...

Dave Barry's 2004 Year in Review

2005-01-02T01:39:00.000-05:00

He's my favorite humorist, and his insights are always amusing. Dave Barry's 2004 Year in Review is a fun look back at the year that was.

Happy New Year 2005

2005-01-01T19:52:00.000-05:00

Happy New Years Everyone!!! Join me in wishing everyone a Happy New Year, especially those affected by the South Asia Tsunami. I hope everyone is reunited with their missing loved ones or, at the very least, can find some closure if they lost family members or friends. Here in the U.S., let's remember how lucky we are and make a donation to the charity of your choice.

January TV Preview

2005-01-01T02:55:00.000-05:00

Here is a quick article from Ain't It Cool News on the shows premiering or returning in January. Some highlights: Medium (1/3), Alias (1/5), 24 (1/9), Battlestar Galactica (1/14), Jonny Zero (1/14), American Idol (1/18), Point Pleasant (1/19), and Numbers (1/23).

'Stingy' U.S. to Donate $350 MILLION to Tsunami Relief Effort

2004-12-31T20:56:00.000-05:00

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (AP) - The United States upped its tsunami relief aid tenfold to $350 million Friday as the world’s ships and planes converged on devastated shores. Bottlenecks of supplies built up, fears of epidemics grew, and in an echo of 9/11’s aftermath, people at a Thai resort scoured a bulletin board of 4,000 photos in search of the dead and missing.

Six days after the earthquake and tsunamis that ravaged 3,000 miles of African and Asian coastline, the death toll passed 121,000, and 5 million people were homeless. Remote Indian islanders were said to be facing starvation.

Help Victims of the Asian Earthquake and Tsunami

2004-12-29T17:56:00.000-05:00

Here is a new blog set up to coordinate relief efforts for the tsunami. Any help that you can give is appreciated. The South-East Asia Earthquake and Tsunami

Midwest Officially Renamed "Hoth"

2004-12-24T13:54:00.000-05:00

We're in Dayton, Ohio for Christmas and wouldn't you know they had the largest snowfall on record in honor of our visit? Exciting, you say? 18 inches is a little too much excitement for me, as we were essentially trapped in the house for two days. Got out yesterday and hiked through unplowed streets to get groceries - a walk that should've taken an hour took over three. Exciting, huh?

It's Cold Today!

2004-12-20T13:34:00.000-05:00

Cold, cold, cold in DC, I tell you. Not Manitoba cold, but 12 degrees this morning with a wind chill of -7. If DC was France we would have already surrendered! Read more from the Washington Post here.

Independence Air Still Flying

2004-12-19T22:24:00.000-05:00

This was a recent stock purchase of mine. Hope they don't go under and declare Chapter 11. From the Detroit News: "Independence Air continues to teeter on the brink of bankruptcy as the low-fare carrier struggles to renegotiate $83 million in airplane lease payments due in January. Hurt by stiff competition from carriers such as Northwest Airlines and higher-than-expected jet fuel costs, Independence already has sold four of its 87 50-seat regional jets to raise cash and announced it will suspend its daily service between Lansing and Washington, D.C., Dulles International Airport on Jan. 2. "

Festivus for the Rest of Us

2004-12-19T21:57:00.000-05:00

Tired of the over-commercialization of Christmas? Even the Pope would agree with you. Some people are turning to celebrate a made-up holiday. No, not Kwanzaa (invented by a California academic in 1960) but a holiday invented on a television show! Lots of festivus fans are celebrating their own holiday on the 23rd with the airing of grievances and feats of strength. The venerable New York Times even produced a large article on the holiday in their December 19th edition. If you want to read it, you'll need to Google it as I don't link to the NYT (they require registration).

Suggestion

2004-12-19T15:30:00.000-05:00

Don't see how close you can fly to those large radio towers.