TV: Forward and Back

I'm frustrated that Blogger was out of commission because this post was lost and I was already behind! Grrr!

And of course I have no clue what I said exactly :o( But I did post about three shows on Syfy.

Warehouse 13 which is returning this summer, July 11.

The American Being Human was growing on me and will return in 2012.

And premiering the same day as Warehouse 13, is a new show called Alphas.

EDIT: Adding on...found this from E! and thought I'd share before it got too late in June.
The fall shows! Returning, canceled, and those in between.

Check it out and I'll give my opinions on the rundowns in the next TV post :)

TV: Fringe

I'm nearly caught up on my Fringe! I had 11 episodes saved, watched 10, had 1 more to watch and a new episode was showing Friday. There's always something new although I'm worried about what's going to happen now that the show is heading toward a resolution. If you don't know anything about the show read my post here. The show has now focused more on a parallel universe, btw.

While I'm in the sci fi, my coworkers and I were discussing TV shows and of course I told them I'm into the nerdy ones, Fringe, Chuck, Eureka, Supernatural, Being Human (new episodes soon :)), and Torchwood (which I've heard is gearing up for another miniseries-squeee!) And of course they all looked at me like I was an Observer.

They asked me about V and The Event. Anyone watch those? Should I be interested?

TV: Being Human

BBC America has a new show, Being Human, (I've seen about 5 episodes so far) about a vampire, a werewolf, and a ghost living together trying to be human. So far I like it and I'm always a little surprised at how things turn out in each episode. British TV is slightly different from American TV so I don't always know what to expect. If you want the lowdown you should read the Wiki on the show. You can tune in Saturdays at 9.

TV: Warehouse 13

Syfy, no longer SciFi, has debuted a new show called Warehouse 13. Basically it's the warehouse from Raiders where they put that ark into a wooden box. There are other wooden boxes in the warehouse each containing items with unusual properties. The warehouse is watched over by some special branch of the FBI, head honcho, played by C. C. H. Pounder, and quirky watcher, played by Saul Rubinek. Similar to X-Files, two FBI agents, a no nonsense practical woman, played by Joanne Kelly, and a paranormal sensitive man, played by Eddie McClintock, are recruited to help "bag and tag" more unusual items.

With the basic plot out of the way, it's a shame that it sounds so much like other shows because I think it has potential. They are just beginning to scratch the surface of the characters. I believe there is a lot of depth that we haven't seen yet. Also, there are hints of several larger more difficult hurdles than the single episode item collection.

It's not without it's quirks. One thing that takes getting used to is the devices used for completing their tasks. They look old fashioned but are really more advanced than our current computers, cellphones, etc. Hopefully it will stay on long enough for us to get used to it.

Tuesday nights on Syfy.

TV: Torchwood: Children of Earth

Too excited for words! Torchwood will be back!

Unfortunately, it will be for an excrutiatingly short 5 days (July 20, BBC America). You may recall that I've written about the show before. You may have heard me upset in another post about how it wasn't showing anymore :( Now it's back, and I can' hardly wait for the first episode. B had me check out the forums at the first link above. Apparently, the lead male actor John Barrowman, who plays Captain Jack Harkness, is unhappy with the short number of episodes even though they have done well in the ratings. Get a gander here.

But I refuse to be depressed. I will enjoy every minute.

UPDATE 7/20: And holy cow! I hate when there is such a gap between the season finale and the premiere of the new season. Not knowing if Torchwood was coming back made this even harder. I looked forward to the new episode with trepidation. It blew me away - Day One was brilliant!

UPDATE 7/25: I'm shocked, dismayed, saddened and speechless. It was awesome, but the ending - Day Five - was surreal. It didn't end the way I thought it would, and describing why would only ruin it for anyone who hasn't seen it. Just whoa.

TV: Fringe

Fringe. I was mildly interested when I heard previews for the show. Now I'm totally addicted. It centers around an FBI agent who gets pulled into these cases involving fringe science. (Where'd they really get that term?) Fringe science is levitation, telepathy, reanimation, ESP, etc. All the really fun stuff. :o)

All these weird cases have to do with something called The Pattern which is what the FBI agent (Olivia Dunham played by Anna Torv) is supposed to be figuring out. Every episode gives you tiny pieces to this seemingly 10,000 piece puzzle. She is aided by two others and her supervisor (the head of the fringe division.) I know this could be good because one of the creators is J.J. Abrams of Lost fame.

I watched the pilot and kept thinking, "This is like X-Files, but...not." Wiki's description says it's a cross between X-Files, Altered States, Twilight Zone, and Dark Angel. Since I'm not so into those other shows I can't say if the description is right. But I'm intrigued and thankful that Fox, who as I'm typing this, has just picked up 15 more episodes of the show. And I'm saying that if you like the sci fi, then give Fringe a try.

TV: Supernatural

I've been hooked on this show, Supernatural, since the beginning. Although B and I missed some episodes and had to wait for reruns. We had to have something to make up for the lack of Buffy, The Vampire Slayer in our lives. The show is about two brothers, Sam and Dean, who battle against various paranormal demons and creatures.

I have to admit, the first several episodes were like watching a horror movie. I actually cuddled up to B and covered my eyes for a few scenes. One night I was afraid to go to bed (last time that happened was because of a Stephen King book.) But as the series has unfolded, I've developed a spine of steal and the show has become a treat.

For me personally, it certainly helps to have the hunky Jensen Ackles as one of the main characters. The poor thing was stuck in hell after the Season 3 finale. It would take too long to tell how that happened. His brother, played by Jared Padalecki, was supposed to save him this season, Season 4, which began on September 18.

The season premiere was too cool. That description is pretty amazing considering I watched Ackles for most of the show :oD

TV: Eureka

Hmmm. Where do I start? If you haven't figured out by now that I like sci fi, then this must be the only post you've read. Eureka, on the Sci Fi channel is one of my faves. The show focuses on a town called Eureka (Wiki link) whose residents are nearly all genius scientists. The arrival of the new sheriff starts the series and it is he who saves the town from the adverse effects of the scientists' creations.

The first exclamation of awe would be caused by the gadgets. They are a geeks dream: sidewalk hover scooters, cars that drive themselves, and a house with artificial intelligence. I mean, the house can be miffed that you're late for a meal and lock you out. Imagine a house like that with highly imaginative teenagers. They'd never destroy the house with a party.

The next giddy "Oooh" has to do with the humor. The scientists never use normal descriptions and Sheriff Carter (Colin Ferguson) is one of the few non-geniuses. Imagine how he'd react to the science speak. "It's a ray that causes instant death. Why don't you just say death ray?" That sort of sums up his comments. He and another character named Fargo provide most of the funny moments. Here's one more:

Allison (In charge of the company that all the scientists work for and Carter's boss) - "It's not my fault that there are things about yourself that you are just not cleared to know."
Carter - "Yeah, I would hate to find out something about myself that if I told me, I would have to kill me."

The last engaging quality is the plot. There is actually something going on here that underlies each of the wacky disasters. There was an unknown entity, a trusted character going rogue, a deceptive psychologist, and the latest a big brother character who has some secret we don't know about yet. Even each episode leaves you guessing about what is really going on. Just plain fun!

Check it out...Tuesdays, Sci Fi, 9/8C

OMG! I wrote this last week. Yeah, I know, but I do work for a living. Anyway, did you see this week's episode? Holy moly. Can't wait until the season finale (because I know they aren't going to clear up the problem in next week's episode.)

TV: Torchwood

B is a giant Dr. Who fan. I bet you know one, too. So it is no big surprise in our household to find that Torchwood, which has ties to the Doctor, is set on our DVR. Now this is not the best show ever, but it is so fun to watch and I'm a fan of TV sci fi, Star Trek, Babylon 5, and Firefly. If you like sci fi and you have access to BBC America you should tune in. Well, maybe...

I'm not a fan of the controversial. So although I have plenty of my own real life opinions about things, I will try to refrain from putting out big hot topics here. The reason I am posting about Torchwood, besides the TV category, is that I've been having a little issue with B. This will be the closest to controversial that you'll see me get.

One of the male characters is known to like going both ways. For the last few episodes we have seen him "snogging" with other male characters. No, no, not in the timid sense at all. B could be seen doing some major squirming. The preference of the characters makes no real difference to us and that's not what I want to emphasize here (so no hate mail.) This issue is that B has NO problem if two women are going at it. Can we say double standard?

No one said life was fair, but I object! To my delight, he likes the show and therefore has to see the other side of the coin. In the end, I am laughing hysterically seeing him so uncomfortable. Serves him right.

No real "Great show, watch" promotion here. Just laugh along with me as I watch B cringe.

TV: Dead Zone and The 4400

I LOVE to watch TV! I should feel guilty that I let the tube rot my brain. I don’t. I even write in the times for the season or series premieres each fall on my calendar so I don’t forget to program the DVR. Luckily, B feels the same way I do. B is the one that introduced me to Ain’t It Cool News and now it’s listed in my favorites. (You should check out Ausiello’s Report under News+Views and TV Editor’s Blogs if you are a TV addict too.)

So B comes to me and says, “Did you hear the news?”
“Um, no. What news?”
“Oh,” Long, long pause. “You better check AICN.”
This dreadful feeling comes over me, very similar to bopping on the freeway, coming around the bend, and seeing cars parked from carpool lane to right hand barrier.

Listed in the Coaxial is “Dead Zone Dead; The 4400 86’d!” I felt sucker punched. Man, why do all the fun shows get dumped! For those who don’t consider the TV one of their “bestest” friends, The Dead Zone was a show based on the book by Stephen King and starred Anthony Michael Hall (Don’t you remember Sixteen Candles?) I’ve always wished I could see the future and the past. I have no problem admitting to superpower envy. I guess they were trying to boost ratings when they gave his kid the same abilities even though Hall’s character supposedly got them from an accident and subsequent coma. I’m bummed it didn’t work.

Speaking of superpowers, The 4400 was about abductees, 4400 of them, that returned with superpowers. It made being taken by aliens a pretty good idea. Well, it turns out they weren’t taken by aliens, but us in the future, and the show was getting more complicated and fun. Boom! Gone! I’m doubly bummed.

To placate the masses of cult fans they are playing reruns. That’s like trying to straighten out Britney Spears by threatening to take her kids. They need to close them up with a movie. (No, that won’t help Britney.)

They are always taking away my shows! Don’t even get me started on Veronica Mars! Maybe if I had the power to mind meld with TV producers and networks…