Who is ringing in the New Year with you? Who do you wish could be with you, but isn't there?
My favorite person is ringing in the New Year with me -- me.
Seriously, I have never been a big fan of New Year's Eve. It's never really seemed like this big important occasion or different from any other night, except that it gives people yet another excuse to get drunk, and the intermittent fireworks are annoying.
I always babysat on NYE in high school and in college -- and got paid really well, too -- and then for the last five years, I've worked at the paper till about 1 a.m. or so. (And then had to drive like a grandma, hands at 10 and 2, eyes peeled, hoping some drunk driver didn't smash into me on the way home.)
This is my first NYE where I don't have to work, and honestly, it's not going to be any different from, say, last night, with the exception of all the random NYE specials (which I won't watch) and then the aforementioned annoying fireworks, probably right when I'm trying to sleep.
I am, however, glad I don't have to work tomorrow, but it will be spent doing all my major New Year Cleaning. Furniture will be rearranged, closets will be cleaned out, I might actually get around to going through and sorting some boxes of crap that have been out on my balcony since I moved in two years ago, fun stuff like that. TiVo apparently was satisfied with the week-long research gig I helped them out with, because last week I was contacted and asked if they could fly out and conduct a two-hour interview in my home. For which I shall be well compensated. Again. I figure this is as good a time as any to make sure everything's spotless.
Did I mention I love TiVo?
Anyway, this probably sounds bitter. It wasn't meant to sound that way -- I don't have anything against New Year's Eve or New Year's, it's just it's never been a big deal. I was in Times Square one year and more than being enthralled, I felt incredibly claustrophobic and just wanted to get out of there. (Fortunately, we left around 7 p.m. before the real craziness started -- seriously people were passing out samples of Pepto Bismol and condoms.)
Hope you all have a good New Year's Eve, and Happy 2008.
I like to go to the movies by myself. Only during the day. I'm not sure why it seems sadder to go by yourself at night, but for some reason, lots of people go alone during the day. Anyway. I like it. It's relaxing. Plus, I can see what I want, at the time I want, I can get there early enough to see the previews (I hate trying to find a seat when the theater's already dark, and I like the previews), I can sit where I want, and nobody tries to talk to me during the movie.
Today I went and saw National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets. I *loved* the first one, and this one was equally as entertaining. Movies like this are super fun. It's Disney, so it was nice and clean. Good cast -- the original main cast from the first were all back, plus the delightful Helen Mirren as Ben's mom. Lots of car chases, illicit behavior like breaking into Buckingham Palace and kidnapping the President, and humor courtesy of Justin Bartha's Riley (whom I adore). Really fun. I highly recommend it to anyone who liked Goonies as a kid.
I caught the trailers for several movies I'm excited to see: Leatherheads, starring George Clooney, Renee Zellweger, and John Krasinski; The Spiderwick Chronicles, starring Freddie Highmore and Freddie Highmore (he plays twins); and the much-anticipated next chapter in the Narnia series, Prince Caspian.
I think I shall make this Sunday afternoon movie outing a regular occurrence. There are several currently out that I want to see, including Atonement, Awake, The Great Debaters, P.S. I Love You, Dan in Real Life, Enchanted and Juno, and Cloverfield and Untraceable are due out in the next couple of weeks as well. Plus I may or may not want to see 27 Dresses. I haven't decided yet because Izzie has been annoying me this season on Grey's, and so by extension, Katherine Heigl is kind of annoying me, too. Maybe it's better off a Netflix pick.
I'm pretty sure there was a CSI episode where the victim had literally been scared to death. I'm not one for horror movies, and I don't like torture flicks like Hostel, but I love suspense thrillers. Even though I watch from behind my fingers a lot.
I first saw the trailer for Untraceable last night and I am not exaggerating in any way, shape or form when I tell you that it scared the crap out of me. Especially the last part. And if a trailer can do that...
FBI agents? Serial killers? Colin Hanks? Yeah, I'll definitely be seeing it the first weekend it comes out. (Jan. 25)
ETA: Well, crap. If I have LOST on the list, then I have to put Veronica Mars on the list. It just feels like VM's been gone a lot longer. Naturally, it ties with LOST.
So Kristin just posted her Top 10 shows of 2007 and because I am nothing if not a stalker follower (seriously, isn't there some saying out there about imitation being the best form of flattery or something?), I thought I'd post my list as well.
Except...it's really a lot harder than I expected. For one, we are in total agreement about our top show -- okay, it's #2 for her, but I don't have Showtime and when I did, found Dexter to be way too bloody for my taste -- but the little dilemma is that it hasn't aired this season. Technically, it did air in 2007, but if that's the case, then I'd have to move shows like Grey's Anatomy and Heroes higher, because they rocked the last half of last season. Not so much the first part of this season.
What to do, what to do...
Screw it, it's Damon and Carlton.
Okay, now that that dilemma's been settled, here's how I decided: obviously writing was the first factor taken into consideration. I mean, The Hills might be entertaining, but a) it's, er, "reality," and b) there's just not a lot of substance there. The second factor was the entertainment value, from the glitz and glamor and sophistication of Gossip Girl to the bonus of staring at John Krasinski for half an hour on Thursday nights. And finally, I took into consideration when I watched it. For example, Pushing Daisies is better written than Chuck, but I'd watch Chuck live or at least the night it aired every single week and sometimes PD got pushed off onto another day.
Finally, remember that these are my top 10 shows. I understand that there are some stellar shows out there, such as Battlestar Galactica and Brothers and Sisters, to name a couple, but somewhere along the way -- in the middle of Season 3, actually -- I lost track of BSG and I still have to finish Season 1 of B&S. And so I'm going with shows I watched regularly this year.
Top 10 Shows of 2007
10. Grey's Anatomy: Um, seriously? What happened this season? If it weren't for the excellence of last season -- say what you'd like, but last season was why this show stands out in my mind and hasn't been cast aside as just another Desperate Housewives -- Grey's wouldn't make the list at all. I swear, Izzie -- and the whole ridiculousness that was Izzie and George -- nearly ruined the entire show. If it weren't for the last two-parter, and more importantly, the awesomeness that is Bailey, I probably would've banished my Season Pass for good.
9. Heroes: That's right, it's at No. 9, when last year it probably would've been at No. 3 or 4. I just couldn't bring myself to care through most of this season, and the characters I didn't care about seemed to multiply. Also? Am I seriously the only one who just wants to yawn whenever Peter Petrelli is on the screen? Or, at the very least, shake him and implore him to use another expression -- or any expression at all? Still, the last three or four episodes, plus Matt's dad's power, plus Kristen Bell was enough for Heroes to remain as both a Season Pass and a candidate on my Best Of list.
8. Friday Night Lights: Writing-, acting-, and quality-wise, this show should be nearer the top. It really is one of the best shows on television. But the others above it scored higher in the other two categories, especially since I've only watched the first two episodes of this season and have been saving the rest to catch up on later.
7. House: Talk about night and day. I was so bored with last season -- and annoyed with the deterioration of the ducklings, primarily Cameron -- that I bailed with about four or five episodes to go. (And I still have no desire to see them.) I almost didn't tune in this season, but I am so glad I did. I loved the Survivor-style approach to House's finding his new team. It was fresh, it was entertaining, and hey, we were spared Foreman's glowering for most of the season. (I still wish he'd fall off a building and disappear forever.) Plus? Olivia Wilde is an excellent addition to the cast. I just hope Thirteen's real name is not what's circulating.
6. Gossip Girl: That's right, I'm ranking GG above the rest because it gets points in the entertainment and "When Jen Watches" categories. GG is fun and glamorous and...well, fun. Plus, it's well-written, well-acted, has a killer soundtrack, and there's even a surprising amount of substance and profundity underneath the glitz. (And before you roll your eyes, Kristin, Michael Ausiello, and Matt Roush have consistently talked about how much they enjoy it, too -- and it made Kristin's Top 10 list. I always suspected my taste was more in sync with hers.)
5. Criminal Minds: Usually I don't rank procedurals because of the very nature of the show, but I have to say, CM is not your usual procedural. There's a surprising amount of character insight and emotional payoff, and when combined with the angle -- delving into the minds of the most aberrant serial offenders -- and the execution, you get one excellent hour of television. I actually don't understand Matt Roush's hatred for this show. It's no darker than Dexter, which he loves.
4. The Office: Okay, so, it was definitely proven that The Office is better in a half-hour format this season, but what can you say about this show except that it is side-splittingly funny, even when you're squinting at the clock on your DVD player and wondering when the hour is going to end. And finally we get back the Pam from Seasons 1 and 2 and I could squee over Jim and Pam again instead of wondering when she'd been replaced by a cyborg. (Which is what I thought for much of last season.) And like I said above, 30 minutes of John Krasinski? Bonus points galore.
3. Pushing Daisies: Oh, Ned, you stole my heart from the first second you were on-screen. What a delightful, whimsical, and charming hour of television. This show from Bryan Fuller easily wins the Best New TV Show award. It is smart, funny, endearing and bittersweet, with an engaging and unique concept and one of the best ensemble casts I've seen.
2. Chuck: This is where my rating system comes into play. As I said, Chuck might not have been the best-written show on TV this season (although it came pretty close) but the premise and its execution, the exceptionally stellar cast -- most specifically the charmingly adorable Zachary Levi -- and the fact that you had a show that infused action with both heart and wit made this one of the few hours I scheduled around, TiVo be damned.
1. Veronica Mars: That's right, I have two No. 1s. Anyone got a problem with that? I can't talk much about it, because I think I've finally (finally!) gotten a handle on the Veronica-Mars-is-canceled depression I had going on there for a while, but like LOST, this is one of the best shows I've ever seen. Ever. And yes, I'm including Seasons 2 and 3, because as I have said an infinite amount of times, while Seasons 2 and 3 as a whole didn't compare to Season 1, their worst episodes were still better than 99.9% of what was on TV. Plus? Two words. Kristen. Bell.
1. LOST: It is simply the most sophisticated, complex, gripping, and intriguing television show I have ever seen. I actually pity the viewers who bailed, because obviously this is not a show for the attention deficit-inclined, and they missed out on seeing how some of those seemingly -- and frustratingly -- random details fit into the complexity that is the LOST mythology. And if that's not enough, the frakking flash-forward in the finale alone was mind-blowing enough to land it at the top of the pile.
There you have it. My choices are actually largely in keeping with the real columnists -- or at least the Big 3 -- with the obvious exception that I don't have Showtime or HBO (nor do I like The Wire or Dexter), find Ugly Betty a bit too campy for my taste (although their general consensus is that UB was off its game this season as well), and can count on one hand (with two fingers left over) the times I've laughed while watching 30 Rock.
I hope this frakking strike ends soon.
Show us a TV show you never miss.
In keeping with my Top 10 shows of 2007, I'll post the trailer from the upcoming season of LOST. Cannot wait, although the eight episodes and then the year-long wait till February 2009 might be the death of me.
Seriously? This trailer gives me the chills.
What's the best book you read this year?
Well, duh.
I'm so frakking sick of the WGA, the AMPTP, and this whole strike. Seriously. I may have started out in full support of the WGA? But now I think they're more intent on whining in blogs and positing about the evilness of the AMPTP in "clever" little videos on YouTube than actually sitting down at the bargaining table. As I've said before, even the most clueless person in the world knows that you cannot refuse to budge when you're negotiating, and I'm sorry, but the WGA is basically saying, "This is what we want, and we're not ending the strike till you give it to us."
That's great. I'm so glad they're thinking of their fans through all of this.
Anywho, so I've got a list of premiere dates for all the new crappy reality shows, but I'm not posting them. (Or the release date of According to Jim, because I'm still bitter that god-awful comedies like it are still around while Arrested Development was canceled.) If you're really interested in checking out Farmer Wants a Wife and How to Look Good Naked and Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, well, okay, but you won't find any info here. Kristin's got a full list over on E! Online.
One thing about this strike: I'll be watching shows that I definitely wouldn't have bothered with.
Wednesday, Jan. 2
Law and Order (NBC): I had given up on the original, a show I've been watching since I was in high school, but Matt Roush recently reviewed the two-hour return and he said that it is really great. All the cast shake-ups -- new ADA, Jack's been promoted to DA, new cops, etc, etc, -- have really paid off. I'm looking forward to it.
Sunday, Jan. 6
Cashmere Mafia (ABC): Yeah, this is one of those shows I wasn't going to watch, because it's gotten some ho-hum reviews. But I'll take anything new, and I did really like Lucy Liu during her Ally McBeal days.
The L Word (Showtime): I, uh, am not a fan of this show, nor do I have Showtime, but I figure there's got to be someone out there who would like to know when it returns.
The Wire (HBO): Ditto with this show.
Monday, Jan. 7
Medium (NBC): I've started catching this occasionally in reruns on Oxygen, and it's pretty interesting. I wouldn't ordinarily have time for it if, say, Chuck and Heroes were on, but gee, thanks to the stupid strike, my Mondays are wide open. And after all, a procedural is a procedural and I'll pretty much watch 'em all.
Tuesday, Jan. 8
One Tree Hill (CW): I cannot believe that frakking Dawn Ostroff got rid of Everwood, Veronica Mars, and Gilmore Girls -- all exceptionally well-written and well-acted dramas -- for the likes of this piece of crap.
Friday, Jan. 11
Monk (USA): Monk's fun, but I don't think I've ever made it through an entire season.
and
Psych (USA): I LOVE Psych. It's so funny and clever and James Roday is cute.
Sunday, Jan. 13
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (FOX): Cannot wait for this. I've already seen the pilot, and it is excellent.
Monday, Jan. 14
Kyle XY (ABC Family): This wasn't half bad, but I missed the second season, so I think I shall be skipping this season.
Prison Break (FOX): Whatever. Prison Break is dead to me.
Tuesday, Jan. 15
American Idol (FOX): Every year I say I'm not going to watch, and every year I do.
Saturday, Jan. 26
Torchwood (BBC America): I really want to watch this. But I need to watch the first season (seasons?) before I can do that. I suppose I should get started on downloading. (Yeah, that's write, WGA, I don't care anymore.)
Thursday, Jan. 31
LOST (ABC): I guess eight episodes are better than nothing. But it is going to be a torturous year to find out what happens with the big cliff-hanger that's promised. Also? I'm beginning to wonder if the "he" Kate referred to in the finale is Sawyer. I've decided it's actually a baby. Jack's baby. And no, that doesn't make one ounce of sense. I'm just running with a couple of spoilers I found.
Eli Stone (ABC): I've heard good things about this, and it's a Greg Berlanti (Everwood, Brothers and Sisters) project, and it's got my nephew's name (well, the Eli part), so I'm checking it out.
There's a bunch of other premiere dates beyond January, but I'm still hoping against hope that the strike will end by the end of January, and so everything will come back by February.
Merry Christmas to you and your families!
"Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.
Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
In the same region there were shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold I bring you good news of great joy which shall be for all people; this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."
When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us."
So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.
But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart."
-- (Luke 2:1-19)
Share your favorite
holidayChristmas song.
I blogged about this earlier this week, but it would have to be "Strange Way to Save the World." I also really, really like "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day," especially the line "God is not dead, nor does He sleep; the wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth, good will to men."
Of course, Jars of Clay does the best cover I've heard thus far. Dan's voice is so uniquely awesome.
I am ridiculously excited to see this movie. Yes, most of that excitement stems from the inordinate amount of secrecy surrounding this project -- the cast signed on without seeing scripts, Cloverfield might not even be its actual title, the trailers are vague, etc. -- but mostly because it's JJ Abrams. I've heard the "Blair Witch" description thrown around, but sorry, the fact that JJ's behind this alone makes it 125 times better than BWP. (Which annoyed me and in which I didn't even so much as flinch until the last five minutes.)
