OK, so I'm a little stoked about "The Simpsons" movie premiering this weekend. But then, I'm old enough to remember the Simpsons vignettes on "The Tracey Ullman Show" an eon or two ago.
Truth be told, the series - which has surpassed 400 episodes - hasn't lived up to the high benchmark it set for itself during its first decade. Episodes like the one about the monorail, or the company softball team, or some of the other classics from those early years far surpass most of the ones done in recent years.
In fact, the only truly standout "Simpsons" episode I can think of during the last few years that measures up as a classic was the one written and starring Ricky Gervais as a guy who swaps wives with Homer.
But despite the show's recent faults (and, in defense of the writers, it's probably hard coming up with fresh stuff after 18 years) there's no denying "The Simpsons" have become a part of Americana.
And the reviews of the movie have been pretty good. Whenever adapting a current-running TV series into a movie format (such as "The X-Files" a few years ago), it's hard to do something that doesn't seem like an expanded episode of the series.
So my advice is to grab a doughnut, pour yourself a squishy and race to get the best seat in the house. Woo-hoo!
RIMES RESPONDS: TVGuide's Michael Ausiello has a pretty interesting interview with "Grey's Anatomy" creator Shonda Rimes about the departure of Isaiah Washington, posted here: http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Ausiello-Report/Shonda-Rhimes-Breaks/800019387
Personally, I don't believe a word of what she said about the incident. In the interview, she said it was her decision to fire Washington and she wrote the season with that plan in mind all along.
COMIC CON ITEM OF THE DAY: I really should make this a regular feature while Comic Con is still going on. (I plan on attending at some point in my life, but sadly not this year).
Karen Allen, who played Marion Ravenwood in "Raiders Of The Lost Ark," will be reprising her role in the newest Indiana Jones movie.
Though specifics on what Marion's role would be in the story, the mere presence of one of the greatest female characters in the history of cinema (I don't exaggerate; I love Marion) is just getting me more antsy to see this movie.
THIS JUST IN: "The View" will be adding two rotating co-hosts to replace the departed Rosie O'Donnell, the Associated Press is reporting Friday.
Whoopi Goldberg and Sherri Shepherd, both of whom have appeared on the show before, will be rotating in with regular hosts Barbara Walters, Elizabeth Hasselbeck and Joy Behar.
Whether they will have the ratings impact the controversial O'Donnell had remains to be seen, but the ratings remained strong after Rosie left, so it shouldn't be too much of a worry.
WEEKEND'S BEST BETS: The Doctor and Martha run into Daleks during 1930s New York on "Doctor Who," (Sci-Fi, 9 p.m.) On USA, "Monk" visits a nudist resort while Shawn takes on an FBI psychic on "Psych" from 9-11 p.m.
On Saturday, BBC America is running a marathon of the entire second series of "Hex," which had one of the more disappointing endings in recent memory.
On Sunday, the second part of "Kill Point" (Spike, 9 p.m.) airs. Hopefully, the show will pick up a bit. Also, "Mystery" (PBS, 9 p.m.) presents a new Miss Marple case. "The 4400" (USA, 9 p.m.) and "The Dead Zone" (USA, 10 p.m.) are also new.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Best.Animated.Movie.Ever.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
First, you left off the most important show of Sunday, "Entourage".
Second, thanks for the recommendation on "Mad Men"--great writing, interesting cast (I was even surprised by a now grown up Vincent Kartheiser as the slimy, backstabbing new recruit at the Ad firm) so I will definitely be watching episode #2 onff my DVR this weekend, but at least I checked out the pilot.
I have taped the pilot for "Damages" and probably have time to catch up on that, more "Mad Men", "Monk", this week's "Rescue Me", "Bronx" and everything else that's temporarily on hold with in laws in town.
I missed the "Kill Point" pilot, but honestly, with so many shows this Summer (plus the fantastic "My Boys" is returning this week) there's too many and I skipped trying to find the re-run. "Damages" and "Mad Men" seemed like the two worth adding to the summer rotation schedule.
As for the news today about Zachary Quinto as the young Spock, perfect. No one is more suited to do a next generation Spock then a certain brain-eating "Heroes" villain. Quinto is quickly becoming an "it" actor for sci fi fans.
Still, as a true Trek fan like yourself, I would be remiss if I didn't say this is not what I had hoped for for the next "Trek" film, going back to the Kirk/Spock era and re-imagining it.
Sure, I will be there to see it, but I had hoped for either seeing the 'Trek' universe advanced a 100 years or re-visiting the Dominion War with members of the TNG, DS9 and Voyager cast. It could have been one helluva an epuic sci fi battle film.
Well, Paramount may be trying to reboot the whole franchise for the next generation (no pun intended), a' la James Bond. Since the original crew is still the most familiar, it makes sense that they may go with them. What will be interesting is if this is a one-time idea, flashing back to the early years, or keeping the 'new' Kirk, Spock, et al for a series of films.
It will be hard to do any more films with the crews of the spinoffs. The TNG crew I think has pretty much finished with doing movies, and the DS9, Voyager and Enterprise crews don't have a big enough or broad enough following to justify a movie.
Post a Comment