Saturday, April 5, 2008
The two best shows on network television
Second season Earl went to prison. Watchers like I presumed it would just be for an episode or two but no, it turned into the whole season, completely dropping the original premise of the show and becoming a prison comedy.
This third season he's out of prison, doesn't believe in Karma any more, and is getting on with his life. His brother found the original list Earl had thrown away, and now he's determined to get Earl back on the right Karmic path.
So currently the premise of the show is whether or not they'll ever get back to the premise of the show. I like that.
Every detective or medical show past or present has at least given you a chance of figuring it out. At the end, you can say to yourself gee, I thought the killer was the daughter but it turned out to be the sailing instructor, or I thought the transplant was going to work but I guess they should have gone for the hysterectomy.
Not on House. There isn't the slightest chance in hell you'll ever guess the ending of House. The creators of this latest reincarnation of Sherlock Holmes have deliberately deprived you of that thrill. They give you all the same clues House gets, but he knows so much more than you that even a million stabs in the dark won't lead you to the esoteric solution Dr. House comes up with, which is not only from the heights of obscurity but never previously mentioned anywhere in the show. Someone tuning in at the very end would have just as good a chance of figuring out the ending as someone who watched the whole thing. Since you're NOT going to second guess the plot, you focus on the people, and particularly, House's brain and the performance of a Brit doing the best American accent imaginable. Good idea.
MD
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Crank it
Why is the hottest presidential candidate's wife reminding me of a porn film?
Behind The Green Door
Dear , We have some exciting events over the coming months to launch us into November's general election. On the heels of its West Coast premiere at SF MOMA in February, Duncan Roy brings Dax and company to present four site-specific editions of the show at Hollywood hot spot The Green Door in conjunction with Justin Kern. Tony Award-nominee Justin Bond once again helms the show as emcee with a cast that features "Weimar New York" regulars Penny Arcade, The Pixie Harlots, Daniel Isengart, Taylor Mac, Julie Atlas Muz, Tigger!, Sanda Weigl and proudly introduces Novice Theory. Special guest performers from the Los Angeles area will appear in the show each night. The producers of the show intend to make a personal contribution to Dennis' re-election campaign from the proceeds of Thursday (April 10) night's show. To find out more about the show and to purchase tickets, visit www.weimarnewyork.com. |
Paid for by Re-Elect Congressman Kucinich Committee |
Cleveland, OH 44111
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Canada troops battle 10-foot Afghan marijuana plants
OTTAWA, Canada (Reuters) -- Canadian troops fighting Taliban militants in Afghanistan have stumbled across an unexpected and potent enemy -- almost impenetrable forests of marijuana plants 10 feet tall.
General Rick Hillier, chief of the Canadian defense staff, said Thursday that Taliban fighters were using the forests as cover. In response, the crew of at least one armored car had camouflaged their vehicle with marijuana.
"The challenge is that marijuana plants absorb energy, heat very readily. It's very difficult to penetrate with thermal devices. ... And as a result you really have to be careful that the Taliban don't dodge in and out of those marijuana forests," he said in a speech in Ottawa, Canada.
"We tried burning them with white phosphorous -- it didn't work. We tried burning them with diesel -- it didn't work. The plants are so full of water right now ... that we simply couldn't burn them," he said.
Even successful incineration had its drawbacks.
"A couple of brown plants on the edges of some of those [forests] did catch on fire. But a section of soldiers that was downwind from that had some ill effects and decided that was probably not the right course of action," Hiller said dryly.
One soldier told him later: "Sir, three years ago before I joined the army, I never thought I'd say 'That damn marijuana'."
-more -
Monday, March 31, 2008
Al Jaffee's brilliant fold-ins
Unfolded