The Pelican Brief

You asked. I give:

Alright, so for those of you who watch Chuck (and if you don't, why not? It's a relatively harmless good time), you probably know about Captain Awesome.

Captain Awesome (seen to your left, my right) is the oft shirtless beefcake seen traipsing around the apartment of Chuck and his sister, Ellie (also pictured). Awesome (as he's often called by Chuck) is Ellie's doctor fiancé, and probably one of the nicest guys in the world. He is the perfect gentleman to Ellie, and a sweet "bro" to Chuck's nerdtastic antics and even to his friends. He's loving, caring, and ripped; he's like Edward, but without the sparkles and the blood sucking (and the creepy night-stalking). He's like the epitome of the perfect guy, a great foil for both of the Bartowski siblings who are full of insecurities.

So, how does this all relate to BYU? Well, within the walls of the world's largest (and driest) Bubble, you'll find a whole mess of Captain Awesomes. Yeah, sure, there's a good number of Chuck's, or even Morgan's (Chuck's hopeless best friend), but the vast majority seem to fall into the Awesome category...

Why? Well, if it's not apparent already to most people, BYU has a lot of pretty faces. A lot. Looks are very important to both guys and girls, and it shows. When the metrosexual movement threatened to destroy the very fabric of society, the homies at the BYU were all over it. Finally! They cried! They could dress fab-u-lous, and still get girls! There's a lot of superficiality involved in it, but this quest for sex appeal is so common there because, in the game of coupling, looks are paramount.

But, you ask, not everyone is as good looking as Captain Awesome... Yes, but you've seemed to have forgotten the other half of what makes Captain Awesome so awesome: his genteel nature. Now, you'd be hard-pressed to argue that BYU is not full of the nicest people on the planet... A few examples: If you're running into a building, 9 times out of 10, the door will be held open for you... If you lose something on campus, you'll probably get it back... If you slip on some ice, you'll probably get helped... They're just like that. The majority of the guys at the school served missions, faithfully giving up themselves for two years, and getting lost in the service of others, so that's certainly a factor. They've served in leadership positions, walked through scary neighborhoods, faced daily persecution, and they all (myself included) came out the other side, smiling, and grateful for those two years. So, in essence, the majority of the males at Brigham Young University are, in some respects, Captain Awesomes in their own right.

But, you ask again (what's with the buts? Are you never satisfied?), what does this all mean? Well, having come out of the BYU experience unmarried, single and yearning, I feel like I had to take stock and think "What did I do wrong?"*

This is when I began to realize that during my time there, I was in CONSTANT competition with the Captain Awesomes. I can't call myself awesome. I just can't. I know I'm not drop-dead handsome, and I'm okay with that. I know I don't dress fashionably, or wear polo shirts, and I'm definitely okay with that. I know my body is tubbier than it should be (not okay with that), but I'm willing to accept it for now. Yeah, I served a mission, and I learned a ton, but I still feel spiritually weak. I consider myself a nice guy, but I tend to become an intense misanthrope when placed in small spaces with big crowds, or at Smith's on a Monday or Saturday night. I feel flawed. And I project that. A lot. I'm aware of this.

So, here's my theory:

People like me will always be overlooked, because of the Awesomes of the world. And, in an environment like BYU, I didn't stand a chance, since the majority of the student population falls into the Awesome category in some respect, whereas I just don't have what it takes.

I know my theory is flawed (its a theory after all), and like all theorists, I must recognize these flaws. Here they are:

Most people feel like me. Most people feel inadequate, and no matter how strong spiritually, or attractive physically, most human beings feel flawed (as they should, or else we'd all be screwed). Also, me blaming my singles status on factors out of my control is lazy, and stupid. I'm well aware that I could have dated anyone that I wanted to, but the fact is, I didn't. I didn't date hardly at all. My own fault. And also, who am I to classify myself as throughly un-Awesome? I don't think I'm allowed to say this, but for all intents and purposes, I'm not awesome. Okay? So, just roll with it. If you disagree, then comment below. If you're also single, and ready to mingle, you know my number...

But, what I can say is that the problem with BYU for people with low self-image is that they will most certainly not feel welcome. Yeah, people will love them, and they'll make friends, but will they date? Will they get married? Possibly, but not certainly. Being surrounded by Awesomes all day long can really make a person nervous, thrusting their self-esteem even further down the toilet. It's never easy to feel bad about who you are, but when there's a constant reminder that you aren't what you want to be, or what others wish you to be, it's devastating. I don't think I ever felt this bad, but I came close, especially during the lonely times.

But, I think it's why I abhorred the dating scene in Provo, because I just felt like I would never get a shot. Why pick me, when you can have Pecsnabs Smith? Or Tim McGelhair? It's all a very vicious, unending cycle of self-loathing and misanthropic detest. It's pretty lame.

But, lest you believe I'm bitter, or upset or what have you, I'm not. I actually never saw myself as being married while in school. I just couldn't imagine it. Would I have done it, had the opportunity arisen? Of course. I'm no fool.

So, there you have it. My soul, on a platter of speculation and NBC television programs. Don't pity me, because I don't need it. What I need is a girl, and I'm pretty sure I don't want her pity.

Is that too much to ask!?!?!?

More Useful I'd Be...

I was reminded today how much I love all of these.

I especially recommend:

This one...*

And this one...*

And then the "sequel" of sorts to the last one...*

This one makes me cry...

This one makes me laugh...

This is the one that started it all...*

But, I'd recommend them all. I really would.

cheers!

*Big ups to my peeps:
Carrie "The Bear" Shakes It,
Hayley "Draw Me Wearing This" Smith,
and Ben "Jammin'" Ungz.
Carrie is the brainchild behind Primary South London, formerly known as Earl; Hayley gave us Karolee: A Saga in Two Parts; and Big Ungz gave us Leroy, as well as a few others... Mad props, y'all...*

**Oh, and let's not forget Dean "If Eric Idle and Gene Wilder Sired A Canadian Socialist With A Penchant For Brilliance" Duncan, because this is his (and Ben Unguren's) baby... Nice...**

Pair A Ducks...

Lost makes my head hurt. Here's why:

Wouldn't it be weird to come to the realization that your central purpose in life is not to make a better future, but to actually make for a better present... That's kind of profound, when you think about it.

Also, wouldn't it be weird if you came to the realization that your future self (which is actually your past self) will be greatly influenced by your present self?

And, wouldn't it be wacky if you realized that no matter what you chose, even if you knowingly and directly defied what you believed to be the proper outcome, that no matter how defiant you try to be against it, fate will ALWAYS make things happen as they should?

And finally, isn't it crazy that in this case (unlike other bits of pop lit), no prophesy or omens are needed to declare to these people that "You Have A Destiny" - Of course they do: because it's already happened (but has it? Not to them, of course, but to their forebearers... Wha!?)

Cycles, cycles, cycles, cycles.... This show is all about cycles. How interesting that one of the first image's of the show's Second Season was a Mama Cass Elliot record spinning (in a constant, predetermined cycle), and the opening strains of "Make Your Own Kind of Music", the ultimate song about defying preset norms (or destiny, if you will).... Take a look-see (by the way, for all non-Losties, this was one of the COOLEST reveals this show had done up till that point...)



Ah ha! Have Free Will and Destiny finally found each other? Is holy matrimony on its way? Have these two ideas existed in a false dichotomy all of these years, trying to make us believe that you can't have both? If last week's episode taught us anything, it's that we are free to choose, but that doesn't mean that'll change the outcome...

See why my head spins every single week? And see why I itch to talk to someone at length about this? It's fascinating, if not maddening, but doesn't that make for the best type of media?

Dharma Lady

Firstly, I need to apologize. My gut tells me nothing is wrong, but my heart feels the guilt of something, and in this instance (as with most instances), the heart wins. So, if I have in any way, shape, or form, offended you, hurt you, pissed you off, frustrated you, bitten you, or otherwise irritated you, I cannot help but feel deeply sorry. The inner workings of my brain dictate that I must feel extreme guilt and sadness over the awful things I say and do, and like what Tom Hanks so boldly declares in the classic tech-savvy "will they or won't they" thriller, You've Got Mail...

"I must warn you, that when you finally have the pleasure of saying the thing you mean to say at the moment you mean to say it…remorse inevitably follows"

Truer words have probably been spoken, but in this particular context, Mr. "Just Call Me Joe" Hanks is the I Ching... So, with that in mind, I just want to say, "I hope you're not mad at me, because I'm not mad at you."

Secondly, I came to this realization as I tried for once to actually go to bed at a decent hour:

I sure have been half-assing it lately.

And by "it", I mean everything.

Why, might you ask? Well, I suppose it has a lot to do with my situation. I've resigned myself to experience mediocrity, as if this is to be the expected post-collegiate experience and all. I've almost convinced myself that I'm happy waking up at 9:30 every morning, wandering aimlessly around the house, maybe doing some mild exercise, having a shower, and then figuring out on a minute by minute basis what the crap I'm gonna try next. By the time I decide to do something productive, it's time to eat dinner. And that's it. From there on out, my day is done. Nothing of worth to show for it. Nothing. Yeah, I finished a spec script for 30 Rock, and I've managed to do tons of edits on my senior project, but really? 8 months after graduating, and all I have to show for it is a half-way decent spec script and a new version of a film that should have been done 8 months ago? I've tried to write, but writing without a purpose feels like a chore, and one that is rarely rewarding (Just to be clear, writing my 30 Rock spec was the most fun I've had writing in a long, long time). I kick myself every day at around 11:30 pm, where I realize I have nothing to show for the past 15 hours that I've been awake, so I panic, and I think "Well, what can I do now?" As the fatigue of a day's layabout sets in (pathetic, I know), I decide rather quickly that instead of writing, I'll catch up on Breaking Bad, or watch some dopey movie on Instant Watch, all things that I can (and do) do during the day...

And this half-assing thing extends beyond my secular pursuits. I feel spiritually less than I have been in a while, and it's eating me up. I won't go into this, as it's personal, but being home has made it surprisingly harder to be where I want to be spiritually. I've just been experiencing a lot of adult onset anxiety (or AOA). Chalk that one up to the number 8, and the fact that three people I came to know well growing up have all left their wives to seek selfish endeavors... So you can imagine I've struggled a bit.

So yeah, half-assed. That's exactly how I'd describe my days as of late.

And for those of you mildly put off by my word choice, then I applaud your concern, but, let's be honest, folks: as someone I may have offended once put it, "There's sometimes really no other way to say it " - I'm paraphrasing, of course, but you get the point.

I'm tired of living my weeks Wednesday to Wednesday (if I need to explain this, you don't come here often), because eventually, Wednesdays will be full of summer replacement programming, and So You Think You Can Dance results shows. Soon, what will I have that I can genuinely look forward to? I've grounded my reality in the experiencing of the unreal, and it's making my personal life a living hell. I don't sleep at night because I worry about everything I'm not doing, and how I need to start doing it. It's why I usually don't even try to sleep until I'm tired. It's why I wake up at 9:30.

I'm trying to remedy the writing issues with Script Frenzy, a "competition" of sorts where folks are challenged to complete a screenplay (or a comic book, or a TV spec pilot), of about 100 pages in 30 days (or the month of April). There's no prize, other than a finished script (which is actually a worthy reward). But, I'm on the fence as to what to write. I wrote about a page and half today of something, before giving up, and watching the Damages finale (sooooo good, by the way), so I'm thinking of trying something new. I want to be excited to write again, and I hope this can do it.

As for the other things, we'll see. I know what I need to do, but I just don't have the balls to do it. Well, that's not entirely true. I always feel like I have the best of intentions, just never the gall to follow through. I've never been good with goals, setting them or achieving them. I hate to be disappointed, so I try to avoid setting my sights too high... (and I'm going into filmmaking, why? *shrug*)

I dunno. All in all, this blog post reminds me of something I heard Meg Ryan once say:

"The odd thing about this form of communication is that you're more likely to talk about nothing than something. But I just want to say that all this nothing has meant so much more to me than so many somethings."

So, maybe it ain't all bad. Maybe doing nothing can actually prove to be something. Nora Ephron emphatically states in a revealing behind-the-scenes featurette that "Everything is copy", meaning that everything is a story; I just think I need to pull together everything good about my time here, and forget my failures. I have a lot to be grateful for, being home, and I suppose I need to hold on to those, and stop wishing things were perfect.

I think this sums it all up:

"Sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life. Well, valuable, but small. And sometimes I wonder, do I do it because I like it, or because I haven't been brave? So much of what I see reminds me of something I read in a book, when shouldn't it be the other way around? I don’t really want an answer. I just want to send this cosmic question out into the void...."

*le sigh*

1-900-OKFACE

I had a whole post worked up about this awesome creative epiphany I had while writing that I felt I needed to share... So, I wrote it out, and actually posted it, but then I realized that it just wasn't suitable for public consumption. So, in exchange for that, I'll just mention this:

Carl Jung was a very smart man.

You da man, CJ...

Merkins of Hope

Random Bits 4 U:

- Wait, wait... Hold on... You haven't seen this yet? Check it:



- I'm tired of Facebook. Some people know of my anger and frustration with the "New Facebook", but this is actually more than just skin deep. See, my own personal attachment to Facebook has become a sorta sad surrogate for what most people would refer to as "a life." All of my friends are on Facebook, and so I have, in all of my self-imposed solitude, begun to equate their interest in my continued friendship by how many times they write on my wall, or comment on my pictures. I've managed to convince myself that getting someone to write on my wall is about as amazing as having a friend over for dinner. It's pathetic. I'm trying to quit.

- Have I ever told you my "Captain Awesome" theory regarding BYU? Remind me to tell you later... It's lengthy...

- I volunteered at the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament on Monday. San Diego State played (and lost) against Stanford. I got to wear a cool badge, use a fax machine, and make copies, all while running back and forth to the bathroom, thanks to the countless courtesy bottles of Vitamin Water (Fruit Punch, which is the bestest flavor), and Smart Water that I drank. I also got to walk out on the court (the sidelines, silly) during play. Exciting.

- Saw Coraline today. LOVED it. Creepy for sure, but amazing nonetheless. The 3D was some of the best I've seen (it didn't FEEL like a 3D movie... It just felt good, you know? It's hard to explain.) The experience was almost ruined by half the screen turning green for a good chunk of the second act, but after some finagling, it was fixed. No free ticket. Should I have asked for one?

- I've been doing some MAJOR edits to my senior film. I won't divulge here, but suffice it to say, there are some scenes missing. And I think I like it that way...

- I gave up (refined) sugar about a month ago, but I've had a few slips. One of them was yesterday. I had maple syrup AND ice cream. Overload. Overall, I've done well. No slips today.

- I babysat again for my sister. I don't mind, but the poor thing is dealing with his first cold, and he's miserable. Cute, but miserable.

- Who wants a peek into what I'm writing? I'll give you five words dealing with each script/idea:

• Artists, Rivalry, Kittens, Bonsai, Fellini
• Revolution, Circus, Dystopia, Amnesia, Objectivism
• Utah, Murder, Family, Forgiveness, Depression
• New Adventures of Old Christine

- I saw Watchmen twice. Definitely not a film meant for light consumption. I think it was unfairly maligned by critics and audiences. It's not a "surface" film; it needs to be devoured. I await the director's cut with much eagerness.

- Oh! I saw Changeling, with Big Lips Jolie. Wonderful film. She's incredibly talented. It's a sad film, but incredibly engaging. A tad violent at parts, and a few swears, but I will recommend it, despite its rating. A good film about hope, and determination. And, you get to hear Angie scream the words "son" and "back" a lot.

- Can't recommend Watchmen, tho...

- Is Kent there? I finished "Spider-man: Blue". Excellent piece of work. Thanks for the recommend...

That is all...

cheers!

Señor Macho Solo

Hey folks! It's time for a good old fashioned Guessing Game....

Name this actor/comedian:



Hint: He's a former cast member of Saturday Night Live.

Take a guess in the comments section, or just be lazy and click here for the answer.

AIDS Nuggets

Hey friends!

I present to you, the "Almost But Not Quite A Mac" Dell Adamo

Sorry, but if it looks like a Mac, smells like a Mac, but can only run Windows, it'll never be a Mac.

Duh!

Still, good effort, Dell... I commend your ability to cheat off someone else's paper...

Ramona Flowers

Holy crap, y'all....
Did anyone else see this last night?

Kings

'Twas pretty awesome. Big and bold with loads of Shakespearean flair, this is the kind of the dramatic shot in the arm network television needs. More often then not, this kind of prestige storytelling is picked up by HBO or Showtime (or, as of late, AMC), so having it available to everyone is pretty darn encouraging, and exciting. Give it a chance. Here are the first 20 minutes for your own perusal. If you like political intrigue, alternate universes, and/or updated Bible stories, then give this a look-see....



For the full episode click here.

Federal Bunch of Sticklers

Please understand this before watching: I HATE Elmo. I despise what he's done to Sesame Street (yes, I do have an opinion on the matter), and so I can't condone him, or even his very existence. BUT, I suspect that if Ricky Gervais were to permanently join the cast of Double S, I'd be a faithful viewer, Elmo and all...

EXHIBIT A:


On a side note, I'm seriously thinking about law school......
No really, I'm not joking.
If someone wants to talk me down off this cloud, go ahead. I'm looking into when to take the LSAT...

cheers!

Bitenüker

I really can't call myself a Coldplay fan, but on occasion, I do enjoy their music videos. Here's their latest bit of digital fantastic:

Midnight At The Oasis

I had a dream the other night that Michael Cera and I were the oldest, and dearest of friends.

This is Michael Cera

We were at some theatre, watching something prolific and hilarious, and I kept asking him about Billy Pilgrim. He seemed incredibly confused, and I felt incredibly stupid. This dream bugged me for a while ( I had the dream probably three nights ago), and now I realize why:

Billy Pilgrim - Protagonist of Kurt Vonnegut's classic sci-fi novel Slaughterhouse Five, who, like our favorite LOSTaways, becomes "unstuck in time"

SCOTT Pilgrim - Protagonist of a series of graphic novels by Bryan Lee O'Malley, which is now being made into a feature film by Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead, TV's Spaced).

Guess which one has the most to do with Michael Cera? And I'll give you a hint: it's not Billy...

Don't ask me why this made me feel stupid. It probably has to do with the deepest longings of my heart, which just happens to be to become besties with sweet lil George Michael Bluth. You know, the kind of friendship that involves sharing an afternoon chocolate shake at the local soda jerk, and brushing our hair until our periods are in sync. Of course Tina would be there, as well as Emma and Meryl. I suspect Tony Hale could show up, just as long as he brings along Jessica Walter (naturally). And Bonnie Hunt can come too, but she has to bring some sort of salad (preferably without mayonaise). Last, but not least, Ms. Parker Posey will be pleased entertain everyone with a rousing edition of "Teacher's Pet".... It would be a night to remember, or forget, depending on how free the bar is, I suppose...


Skip to 0:18 for the goods, and stay for the rest... It's a gas...

Aren't my fantasies fun?

cheers!

Juno32 Is A D-Bag

It's pathetic enough that I watch as much television as I do, but in my "line of work", I feel its incredibly important to know your field backwards and forwards, and since I aspire to work in television, I figure I, well, need to know it. In my effort to "Better Know The Biz" as it might be said, I always try and watch the best television has to offer. Sometimes its absolute garbage not worth my time (Entourage, being a prime example) but most of the time it's every bit as good as the critics (and viewers) say it is.

Case in point: Breaking Bad

Yes, he is often without pants, if that's what gets you goin' in the mornin'...

This is a new show for me, despite being into its second season. I gave the show a shot last year, but I couldn't get into its dark tone at the time, for whatever reason. I wanted to like it, and the reviews indicated that it's awesome, but I just couldn't do it. With the start of the second season, AMC aired a marathon of the first season's seven episodes, so, in all earnestness, I TiVo'd the marathon. And so, guess what? I love it. I'm six episodes in, and it's unbelievable how good this show is.

Brief summary: Bryan Cranston (who won an Emmy last year for this role, but is best known as the the Dad on Malcolm in the Middle, or as Dr. Whatley, the Jewish convert dentist from Seinfeld) plays a chemistry teacher who, upon learning he has stage 3A lung cancer, decides to take up "cooking" and dealing crystal meth, in order to provide for his family (a pregnant wife and a teenage son with cerebral palsy) after he departs this mortal coil.

What makes this show so wonderful are the performances, particularly with Cranston. He knocks it out of the park on a minute by minute basis, adding extensive amounts of weight to an incredibly complex character. The supporting cast shines as well, particularly Cranston's washed-out partner, Jesse (played by Aaron Paul), who has gone from a burned out junkie in the pilot, to a rather complex young man, who I've actually begun to sympathize with. I could go on, really, but I won't (for your sake). But, I will say that if you're up for it, check out the first season on DVD.

And so, violent television programs aside, here are some baby pictures (since they seem to get me a lot of comments):





cheers!

Birthday Lasagna

This is what I look like Wednesdays at 9pm when LOST is nothing but a rerun...

Looks like I won't be watching anything...

Diaper Chicken

Yes.

Desolation Row

Watchmen
Sex, Masks, Rock n' Roll
Slo-mo bullets, blue phallus
A bit too faithful

I'm Just Sayin'...

Sorry, couldn't help myself. Just finished Season 2, and still think the season's final image is just bloody fantastic. On to Season 3! I'm starting to piece some things together, which is cool. I recommend all Lostphiles do the same. Don't do it all in one go; one or two episodes a week will probably suffice.

Man, this show is good. If you're not watching, hit yourselves a few times, get a Netflix account, and catch up, for cryin' out loud. It's just that cool.

cheers, Brutha...

Cocoa for Cuckoo Poops...

C - Danny Boyle, for being able to go from a zombie thriller, to a sci-fi chiller to an Academy Award. This author may be slightly disenchanted with the Oscars as of late, but kudos to you for staying true to yourself, and not making bait year in and year out - Stephen Daldry, I'm looking right in your direction....
L - Cox Arena at San Diego State University...
O - A ticket to the midnight showing of Watchmen: The IMAX Experience...
S - Sleepless nights, digging deeper into what exactly is 'funny'...
A - Verbally attacking Sean Penn's Oscar love-in... No one makes me feel bad for being straight, and gets away with it...
T - When life shoots you a t-shirt through a t-shirt cannon, push down everyone around you, because that shirt is sooooo worth it...

Tid Bits Today:

- I've noticed lately that I'm obsessive about being liked by everyone. The thought of someone not liking me drives me mad. I can't pinpoint the issue here, but I'm trying to remedy it. But please, don't hate me for it...

- Sean Penn noted that there were anti-gay protesters at the Oscar's Sunday night. How much you wanna bet none of them were Mormon? Yeah, sorry to disappoint you, Hollywood...

- I keep seeing this image of Harrison Ford, buttoning up his shirt, and looking straight into the camera, while I'm fast forwarding through commercials. It usually occurs right before the show is about to recommence, and I've never seen any product, or cause or anything to accompany this image. Any help on this would be great.

- Am I the only one sick of those High Fructose Corn Syrup commercials? The one thing they forget to tell you during their humorous approach to nutritional ignorance is that sugar is pretty bad for you. It's worse than fat. So, saying that HFCS has the same nutritional value as sugar is like saying cigarettes are as healthy as cigars. Yeah, pretty stupid.

- Have any of you tried the Perfect Pushup contraption? They're pretty fantastic. I've been doing it for two weeks now, and I feel a HUGE difference. There's a consistent burn every time I work out, and I'm sore more often, which is always a good sign.
I recommend them highly. Best $30 I've spent in a while.

- I haven't seen a movie in theaters in quite some time. The last one I saw was probably Benjamin Button, and that was in December. Makes me miss $5.50 matinees...

- I've kept the last six episodes of 30 Rock on my TiVo. I don't have the heart to delete them. But I know, someday, I'll be faced with some sort of Sophie's Choice scenario, and I'll have to delete a few to make way for the LOST season finale.

- Speaking of LOST, this past weeks was interesting. I don't understand how the writer's could have felt this episode would have been best aired before "316". I'm glad ABC intervened, because that would have confused even the fans. Although, the reveal of Locke, alive on the beach would have been pretty cool. Too bad ABC had to go and spoil that in the previews...

- P.S. - I'm rooting for Widmore...

- I finally watched Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and I've been wondering: what ever happened to Phoebe Cates? She was a babe, and then Drop Dead Fred happened, and she seemingly vanished. What's the deal, Phebes? Oh, and if you haven't seen Fast Times, don't. It's a lot more crass than I would have liked.
UPDATE: She married Kevin Kline and made babies. Her last film was in 2001... Hrrmmm....

- Andy Richter is rejoining Conan on his new show. Huzzah! The Late Night gods have proven their kindness with such a noble deed. Well done, good sirs!

- I'm kinda ashamed to admit that I'm excited for Portia de Rossi's new show Better Off Ted.

- Dollhouse, the new Joss Whedon, is actually pretty good so far. It's still finding its footing, but I'm hooked.

- Other good shows?
Flight of the Conchords - Michel Gondry directs! Kristen Wiig and Jim Gaffigan!
United States of Tara - The fourth episode was a nice change in pace, and it's kept that up ever since.
Damages - Soooo good this season...
Battlestar Galactica - Number 7!? Who is Daniel? I need to know!!!

- BYU sports fans are annoying.

cheers!

Hey Brutha...

Sorry folks, but this is another post about LOST...

I rewatched the previous episode, and something crossed my mind:

A lot has been made of the fact that Ben was at a marina, wet and covered in blood while he was on the phone with Jack. Most people have speculated that this is because he either killed, or tried to kill Penny, Desmond and/or Charlie (their baby, not the already dead rocker/ex-Hobbit). Their reasoning for this is that the Humes have a boat that they sail around to places far and wide. But, I must ask: How long does it actually take to get from London to Los Angeles BY BOAT!?!? Sorry, but they're not at the marina, unless they just can't seem to get away from the salty air and the harbor chicks. It is possible that the writers had a seriously lapse in judgment in regards to time and space (which wouldn't surprise me, given this season), but unless that is the case, it is nigh unto impossible for Penny, Desmond and Baby Charlie to have made it to Los Angeles by boat in the time presented us.*

How 'bout that!?

Side Note: My local ABC affiliate has begun airing LOST repeats on Saturday and Sunday evenings in High Definition, which is rad, and I've begun watching them. They're at the end of Season 2 now, and it's pretty great to see where they show was, and how much things have changed.

*All of this is accompanied with the assumption that Desmonds realization of his memory of Daniel is happening in temporal conjunction with Jack and Ben's quest to return to the Island. I can only assume that's the case, since there's no indication otherwise.

Doubting Thomas

MORE LOST SPOILERS AHEAD. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED:

Strangely enough, I thought LOST was a little off it's game this week. This past episode just didn't "do it" for me, as the show normally does, and I think it has to do with the weak storytelling going on off the island, and it's a shame I didn't realize it until now.

On the island, it's answers, answers, answers, with some cool reveals, and some interesting (not redundant) questions asked. But, off the island? No dramatic tension. I think the best way for us to have seen the off island stuff played out, was to have seen them all get back to the island at the beginning of the season, and then, through flashbacks, shown us how we got to that point (both on and off). This way, we would have seen them on the island, working things out, and slowly coming to understand how they got there, à la season one. It was pretty clear at the end of season 4 that no one wanted to return, except Jack, so why drive this point into the ground with whiny characters? The audience knows they need to go back, especially since we're watching our on island characters suffer time flashes, migraines, nosebleeds and even death... So to see most of the Oceanic 6 so callously say "I'm never going back, even if it can help them" makes them (Sayid, Kate, Hurley and Sun) rather unsympathetic.

Also, while it's nice to have them back on the island, didn't it feel sorta rushed? Didn't it feel as if we missed something crucial, and now we have to see what happened in flashback? I don't know if I'm down with that.

My guess about how things panned out? The writer's probably felt the same things I felt; the characters were whiny, and they needed to just get back to the island, no questions asked, and we'll get to the details of it all later. I've trusted Team Darlton (Damon Lindelof, and Carlton Cuse, the show-runners) for 4 seasons now, so I'm up for some more. I still love where the show is headed with our Losties seemingly stuck in the 70s, posing as Dharma members, but the ride there seemed a tad bit bumpy.

The last podcast that Darlton put on noted that this episode (entitled 316) and next weeks episode, entitled The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham, were actually meant to be shown in reverse order, and that they could have been shown in any order, with no real issues, but the writer's felt this one was the best to show first, for whatever reason. This makes me more and more curious about what is to come next week, and if it'll make this past week's episode better. Who knows. All I know right now is that this episode left me feeling empty. Cool ideas, interesting information about the island, but overall, no narrative thrust worth investing in. I dunno.

So yeah, I just needed to vent that, since I gushed so lovingly about the show not a few days ago. So quickly things can change. I still think this season is an intriguing shift in the show's mythology, really giving it all to us in one go. I don't know if it'll be successful, but it certainly should leave a good chunk of the show left for some juicy character moments, and not a lot of mythology, which has never been the show's strength (just the carrot at the end of the character stick)... So for now, here's to better shows, and satisfying conclusions!

cheers, and Namaste...