Today Monica made her television debut on Fox News on a show called Dayside. She was on almost the entire hour as she was seated just behind the host of the show, and she even got to ask a question! Pretty cool if you ask me…my wife, the TV star.
Jul 242005
Jul 102005
I spent much of today watching the Weather Channel, and their continuing coverage of the famous Hurricane Dennis. They do know their stuff, but it’s a bit odd to see them so pumped over a potentially catastrophic and deadly storm. You can tell some of them get really excited over it, especially Jim Cantore, who seems to try to be in the perfect position for every storm every hurricane season, and actually appears somewhat disappointed if the storm veers off in a different direction or weakens unexpectedly. I wonder if he has weather groupies that follow him around from storm to storm.
Watching it as much as I have today, I’m keenly aware of two things. It’s amazing how often they repeat the same, incessant commercials…and I really want to get one of these.
Jul 062005
I just found another very cool podcast: The Signal.
Back in 2002, there was a show on Fox called Firefly. The commercials that I saw for it peeked my interest so I decided to give it a try.
Man, was that good television. It was not only good television, it was good sci-fi television. So I really got into the show…just in time for Fox to cancel it. 
Thank you, Fox executives.
However, due to overwhelming fan support (and DVD sales), the show has obtained what the kids like to call a “cult following”. I think it’s a well deserved following, as the show was the best thing to come on television in a long time. I guess the studio executives in Hollywood were so impressed, they decided to give Joss Whedon his own movie called Serenity based on the original series. 
And now there’s a podcast about it. I haven’t listened to any episodes yet, but the fact that there is one is kind of cool. Either way, I can’t wait for this movie to come out so I can get my Firefly fix.
Jun 292005
You might have heard lately of the passing of someone named Shelby Foote, and if you’ve ever watched Ken Burn’s epic The Civil War, you’ve no doubt seen him. I love that documentary because it just feeds my passion for history, and Shelby Foote’s commentary is a big reason I enjoy it so much. He just has a way of making things more interesting to listen to.
If you haven’t watched it before, be absolutely sure to catch it next time PBS runs it, or just go out and buy the DVD set already. I plan on rewatching it very soon.
I also just added Foote’s The Civil War: A Narrative to my wishlist. *hint* *hint*
Jun 272005
Monica wanted me to share this bit of news regarding a little tidbit I found on vartv.com last week.
// Football net coming to Cox
Cox Communications Hampton Roads has announced that the National Football League’s NFL Network is coming to it’s Hampton Roads cable system. The net will be added to Cox’s Digital Cable Sports & Information Tier on channel 224 on July 14th….. (6/14/05)
She is so excited about it!
Apr 062005
Okay, I admit it. I’m a Battlestar Galactica fan.
I resisted for awhile because I just didn’t want to get into a new show. I tried not to buy into the hype, and I didn’t for awhile. But then, I thought, well maybe I’ll just check out the mini-series that was on back in 2003 to see how bad it was.
I was hooked immediately.
I remember watching the original series and loving it. I even had a toy silon raider. So when I heard about this new series, and that Starbuck was a girl, I thought there was no way it would be good. But boy was I wrong.
I have now watched the entire first season, and I can’t wait for the second season to start this summer. This is one remake that outdoes the original.
It’s good sci-fi. Period.
Jan 232005
Didn’t do a whole lot this weekend as I’m recovering from my cold. I’m slowly feeling better, and I think my veins are pumping Robitussin now.
Been watching some good NFL playoff action today. Too bad the blizzard didn’t hit today instead of yesterday because that would have made these games even more fun to watch. The Eagles surprised me with their play as they finally got over the hump, and the Patriots are not surprising me with the way they are beating the Steelers right now. My prediction of a Pats-Falcons will be half correct, I think. Of course, as I’m typing this, the Steelers are driving to get back to within seven.
I heard a little while ago of the passing of Johnny Carson. When he was still doing his thing, I was more of a Letterman fan, but I did enjoy The Tonight Show, and he definitely pioneered the format that everyone now emulates. I’m not sure why, but it feels weird when the famous people that I can remember as always being there when I was growing up, start dying. It really makes you aware of your own age.
Aug 182004
Wow, we’re actually doing pretty well over there in Athens. Not that we usually do bad in the Olympics, but Paul Hamm winning a gold medal in the men’s gymnastics all-around, the first in like….EVER…is really something.
I’m really enjoying the coverage. What I do is TiVo just about every second of coverage and then watch it in the evenings while working around the house. I fast forward through alot of it, but it lets me see some of the events you won’t normally see on NBC during primetime such as archery, fencing, trap shooting, air rifle, table tennis, water polo, badminton, and everyone’s favorite, synchronized diving.
Synchronized diving? Who thought that one up? How long before there’s a synchronized version of every event? Synchronized basket weaving, anyone?
Mar 012004
11 for 11.
Tied with Ben Hur and Titanic.
Wow.
What an amazing display of respect and honor for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King at the Academy Awards last night. The movie was just showered with awards all night long, and deservedly so.
It won in the expected catagories such as Best Costume Design, Best Art Direction, and Best Special Effects, although I can’t fathom why it wasn’t even nominated for Best Cinematography. The sweet wins were for Best Score (I can’t stop listening to this song), Best Song (I can’t stop listening to this either, actually all three scores), Best Director, and Best Motion Picture. For such a diminutive man, Peter Jackson made such a grand trilogy. Too bad none of the actors were nominated for anything; half of them deserved an award more than the pompous Sean Penn.
All in all, it was a very subdued evening, politically speaking. There were only two guys who couldn’t keep their opinions to themselves, and even they weren’t obnoxious about it.
Feb 172004
I watched the interview with Mel Gibson on Primetime last night, and I have a new found respect for the man. The “must-see” factor is very high for me on The Passion of the Christ, and you have to admire his devotion and determination to get this kind of movie made in Hollywood today. I’m not a follower of his brand of Christianity, but it looks as if the guy has made one heck of a movie that adheres very closely to a literal translation of the four gospels. The spirit of what all Christians hold dear is definitely there.
He came off very well in the interview, in my opinion. It was a very good, solid discussion of the movie, his beliefs, his intentions for the film, and how it all ties together, and the editing wasn’t horrible (an unusual occurrence when you’re dealing with an overwhelmingly secular media). I figure this is going to be a tough movie to watch as the violence is pretty graphic, but I feel it is something I must endure. I can’t wait to see it.
