A Mickey Poop

Getting my nephew to say Pizza Hut is one of the most amazing things I get to do as an uncle.

The scary thing is, he will literally repeat anything you tell him to, which can easily be abused. I choose not to abuse that privilege, thanks in part to how adorable he is when he pronounces benign things like "monkey" and "salsa."

And for the record, no one taught him Mickey Poop; he invented that one on his own. It's what he calls his diapers, since they always have a picture of Mickey on them, and usually have poop inside of them.

Toddlers....

Until Next Time...

HAPPY HARLOW-WEEN!

Scary.

Yeah, it's a sticker

I was really proud of myself a few weeks ago for doing almost one post everyday for a week. But, as great  a victory as it was, I still couldn't bring myself to blog after that week. Why? Well, I realized that this blog had digressed into some media saturated love-fest, where I'd predictably bring some random bit of media to your attention, and then beg you to care. I wanted to change that.

But, not before I did this. 

WHAT I AM (and am not) WATCHING

I did it last year, thanks to the urging of some friends, and I'll do it again. 

I'll try and keep it short. 140 characters was the norm last year, but I'm pretty sure I didn't stick to it. I probably won't here.
___________________________________________________________________________

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER - Back on its game, but still not quite what it once was. I love the characters, so that helps. 

CHUCK - Becoming increasingly bored. The show keeps rebooting itself, rehashing prior conflicts. Getting old fast.

HOUSE - Pure, enjoyable noise. House's dynamic with his girlfriend and best friend make the show worthwhile. The medical mysteries, however, are predictable and the show's weakest part.

THE EVENT - Fence-riding. It has potential, but it squanders it with predictable twists. Also, its characters aren't engaging. 

LIE TO ME - This show is always on in my house. Can't. Stand. It.

MIKE AND MOLLY - Watched the pilot, but did not like it. I hope it gets better, because Melissa McCarthy resides in a special place of my heart (Sookie!)

HAWAII  FIVE-O - I wanted to love it, but so far, I don't. And since when did Hawaii become a hot spot for criminal activity? Sheesh.

CASTLE - A delight. Nathan Fillion is so underused in the cinematic world, it's criminal. #nathanfillion4uncharted

GLEE - Groan. I look forward to it only for the music. Other than that, I couldn't care less.

NO ORDINARY FAMILY - Another wasted show. I can't quite pinpoint what bugs me about it, but I think its the constant "Our family is in trouble" line. Stop whining! For serious.

RAISING HOPE - Best new show (that didn't get prematurely canceled), period. Funny, heartwarming, and completely adorable. 

RUNNING WILDE - Where's the fun? This show feels so labored and forced, it's painful. Peter Serafinowicz steals the show, though. #serafinowicz4uncharted

PARENTHOOD - Almost gave up on it, simply because I watch too much TV. But, I'm glad I didn't. The best family drama on TV. And the best part? It's funny too.

THE GOOD WIFE - Phenomenal. Everything about this show is astoundingly good. It's a legal drama with a nice serialized center. Probably the best writing on television.

UNDERCOVERS - I've only seen two episodes, and I already know two things: 1) It's not for me and 2) It won't see a second season. 

THE MIDDLE - I'm SOOO glad ABC ran reruns of this show during the summer. A nice, easy to digest family comedy. Gotta love it.

MODERN FAMILY - Still on top, but not on fire. A few of the episodes have been duds, but only duds due to the show's incredibly high standard. I hope it gets better.

COUGAR TOWN - LOVE. Just pure, unadulterated love for this show. Best ensemble since Friends. Busy Phillips is a genius comedienne. 

BIG BANG THEORY - Same ole, same ole. 

COMMUNITY - Still in love. The Space Race episode was near perfect. Last weeks was bizarre, but on second viewing, it was better, and rather insightful. 

30 ROCK - It's back! They brought the funny back! Fun live episode, great guest spots with Matt Damon, Queen Latifah and Paul Giamatti.... Just add Michael Sheen, and it'd be perfect.

FRINGE - Deliciously good. The mythology is alive and well, and the show makes no apologies for its new direction. Firing on all cylinders. 

THE OFFICE - Can take it or leave it. Don't like that they're rehashing Jim/Pam with Andy/Erin. I do want to see how they write off Steve Carell...

OUTSOURCED - Blech.

MAD MEN - Another nearly flawless season. Not one episode was a dud, and even one of them was by far the best this show has seen (The Suitcase). The finale was quite a whopper as well, if only on an emotional level.

RUBICON - Critics be damned! This show is amazing. The finale was a bit soft, but I think the second season (if there is one) will be phenomenal.

CAPRICA - I don't know if I'm up for more of this show. We'll see.

LUTHER - Love a good miniseries. Just started on BBC America. So far, so good. Idris Elba is great, but Ruth Wilson steals it as a psychopathic ex-child prodigy. #ruthwilson4...nevermind

SHERLOCK - The first episode of this Holmes update aired on Sunday on PBS. Brilliant. Steven Moffat again hits it out of the park. And it's got a future Hobbit in it, so...

TERRIERS - I'm saving this one up on the DVR. The first two episodes were fun. Trivia Bonus: this one's filmed in San Diego.

FILMS

TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE - Not bad. Not great. Very well made, just not all that well-written.

FOOD INC. - Changed how I look at food. A must-see for any and all American consumers.

SECRET OF KELLS - Beautiful animation with a nice simple story. Fine holiday fun.

THE RIGHT STUFF - I secretly love films about the space program. This one was stellar.

WHEN IN ROME - Um, yeah.

DEAR ZACHARY - Wanna get your heart ripped out AND punched in the gut? Watch this film.

KLUTE - Interesting film from the 70s. Another Oscar win for an actress playing a hooker. Oscar loves a prosty.

Most of these films are available on Netflix Instant Watch. One of them isn't. Try and guess!


I've also been playing me some Super Mario Galaxy 2. So much fun, and perfect for small dose gaming, which I love.

I think that's all. Thirty shows. Seven movies. A failed hashtag joke (or two). And even a bad pun.

All in all, a red-letter day here at the Habdashery...

Now to go make a cake.

Winklevi

Full disclosure: I fully admit to clapping when I laugh. Sometimes. Not all the time. But every once in a while, it's a good way to express just how hilarious something truly is. It is not, however, a device that should be utilized EVERY TIME YOU LAUGH. Especially not in a half-filled movie theatre.

I get that The Social Network is a pretty funny film (yes, it is), but really Dude Who Sat Behind Me? Was it sooooo funny that you just had to clap at every single remotely funny line? And not even a "round of applause" sort of clap, but the much-maligned "slow clap" made infamous in John Hughes knock-offs and football movies that take place in the 60s? And feature racially diverse teams who have to learn to play together, despite being the wrong color? 

Really?

And to add insult to injury, the first 10 minutes of the film were out of focus! 

The things I have to put up with! 

I mean, really. 

But, besides all of that, the film was fantastic. It was on par with some of the best films Hollywood has ever produced; a sort of millennial version of All The President's Men mixed with the destructive genius imbedded in Citizen Kane. If this film soars at the box office, it will win the Oscars. It will trounce them, and steal its first-born child while it's at it. It's just that good.

"But," as one Mr. Levar Burton once told me, "you don't have to take my word for it." 

Ba-dum-bum!