Featured TV Series: Outlander

I read the "Outlander" series of books by Diana Gabaldon over a decade ago.  They are some of my favorite books and characters.  Long before the story was televised, I would find myself thinking about the characters sometimes - out of the blue I would just think, "Wonder what Claire and Jamie are doing?"

In the books, the romance was epic, the hero bigger than life... and the show does not disappoint.  I was skeptical that any living man could live up to my image of Jamie Fraser.  With a little stretching of my ideal imagination, I have accepted Sam Heughan.  

He really does a great job portraying the character of Jamie.  

And Caitriona Balfe is Claire.  The casting there was superb, right down to her hair.  And the villian, Black Jack Randall, is played masterfully by Tobias Menzies.  

The story follows Claire Randall, a combat nurse in 1945 recently returned from the battlefields of World War 2.  On holiday with her husband in Scotland, she is mysteriously transported through time to 1743. She immediately becomes involved with a group of highlanders, ends up married to one of them and embroiled in the Jacobite rebellion.  Life is hard, dangerous and primitive, her life is constantly in danger, but she must learn to adapt.  In the beginning she is focused on finding a way to get back to her own time and her husband, but soon realizes she has fallen in love with her strapping Scottish husband, Jamie Fraser.  The love and romance between the two of them grows deeper and her heart is torn.

I am thrilled with this show!  Having loved the books so much, I'm so happy they are doing them justice. The genius of the books was in the fact that they were such a unique combination of romance, adventure and historical fact.  Starz has brought all that to life so well.  Not only is the romance and sex believable, so is the darkness, rape and torture.  

Do yourself a favor and watch "Outlander" on Starz.

Featured TV Series: Wet Hot American Summer:First Day Of Camp

Yes, Campers, they are back!

Fans of the 2001 movie, "Wet Hot American Summer," will be sure to enjoy this newest Netflix series.

The movie was a bit of a box office disappointment, but has since gained a cult following.  The popularity of the movie has prompted Netflix to produce this prequel.

Where the movie takes place on the last day of summer camp at Camp Firewood, the first season of the series all happens during the course of the first day of camp, summer 1981.

Nearly every one of the adult cast of the movie have returned to reprise their roles in the series, along with some new faces.  Remember, these were adult actors portraying teenagers 15 years ago, and now they are playing those same teen characters again.  Some pull it off better than others!

Starring (just to name a few):
Paul Rudd
Bradley Cooper
Elizabeth Banks
Amy Poehler
Molly Shannon
Janeane Garofalo
David Hyde Pierce
Christopher Meloni
Marguerite Moreau
H. Jon Benjamin
Kristen Wiig
Jason Schwartzman
Jon Hamm
Chris Pine

If you read the Featured Movie: Wet Hot Summer review, you know that I called the movie a hoot.
Well, the show is all that and more!  While fans of the original movie are sure to enjoy it, it might not have the same appeal for those not in the know.  There is something of the ridiculous about it, and yet I couldn't seem to stop watching.

Being a prequel, you get answers to questions like: Why does the can of vegetables talk?
(Once again, voiced by the hilarious H. Jon Benjamin, the can of veggies may be my favorite character!)

The big adventure in the movie was a piece of Skylab falling to earth, on a beeline for the camp rec center.  In the new series, the counselors find that the government has been dumping toxic waste in the woods just outside of camp.  When the "powers that be" realize they have been found out, the white house orders an assassin, The Falcon, to destroy the camp and kill the counselors.  All the while, rehearsals for the big talent show continue...

We binged watched the entire series in one evening.
The episodes are short and the whole thing takes place in one day, so it flows well for binge watching.
A fun and entertaining ride!

What did you think of "First Day Of Camp?"

Creepy Colonel Sanders

Is it just me, or does anyone else find the new KFC commercials featuring a revamped Colonel Sanders to be just a little bit creepy?  

Don't get me wrong, I am a huge Darrell Hammond fan.  During his long run on Saturday Night Live, he was always one of my favorites.  He was born to play Bill Clinton, and his Dick Cheney was so spot on, it was scary.  Come to think of it, I think that may be what bothers me so much about his Colonel Sanders...it is eerily close to the evil, cackling Cheney and it totally creeps me out.

I read that KFC is tickled with the controversy surrounding the revival of their iconic character.  Of course, in the world of advertising, if people are talking about it, then it's a success.  But, I can tell you, for me personally, it does NOT make me want to go out and buy chicken!

What are your thoughts on the new Colonel Sanders?

Featured TV Series: Bloodline

Netflix original "Bloodline" was filmed in the fabulous Florida Keys.

It centers around a family in Islamorada, who own and manage an "Inn" which is actually The Moorings Resort.  The family house is the Main House at The Moorings, which local Keys folks also recognize as a close twin to Pierre's restaurant.  The Moorings, Pierre's & Morada Bay Cafe have the same ownership and architecture.  

  

The Rayburn family are pillars of the Islamorada community; the parents run the Inn, their daughter is an attorney, one son is a detective and sheriff's deputy, another son operates his own business refurbishing boats at a local marina.  But, things get interesting when the black sheep son comes home, dredging up old family secrets and threatening to both ruin the family's reputation and destroy them financially.

The scenery is amazing, of course!  I enjoyed the story and thought the writing and acting were both good.  Sam Shepard and Sissy Spacek are wonderful, again of course!  But all the rest of the cast are strong as well, especially Ben Mendelsohn who plays Danny the bad boy.  The style of filming was also well done and interesting.  Sometimes it seemed that the camera was hiding in the room, observing and seemingly capturing the characters unaware and vulnerable.  Even the soundtrack is good.

While I did really enjoy the story, I got an extra thrill from seeing all the familiar backdrops and scenes set in places I go regularly.
Some of the boating scenes were filmed in the bay right in my "backyard"...

I saw Morada Bay (of course), MM88, The Whistle Stop, Caribbean Club, The Safari Lounge (DAB), Caloosa Cove Marina, Bud & Mary's Marina, Sunshine Market (right across the street from me!), Alabama Jacks, oo-tray's parking lot(!) and more.

The big party in the very first episode was catered by Caribbean Catering and we recognized their lights, chairs, dishes, and Debbie's special touch!  

(Sam & Danny Rayburn in one of the "swingy" tables at MM88.)

(Danny Rayburn with Chelsea and Eric O'Bannon at The Whistle Stop.)

(Danny at Alabama Jacks.)

Bloodline has been renewed for a second season, supposed to premier sometime in 2016.

So far I haven't seen or heard when they will begin filming.  When they were filming the show last summer, we were staying in Boston and missed all the excitement.  Looking forward to being around town when the next season is filmed...who knows, maybe I can sneak on as an extra!  How fun would that be?  

It is only available from Netflix, and only streaming at this time.  I highly recommend this show, it gets 2 thumbs up and 5 stars from me.

What did you think about Bloodline?

Featured TV Series: Orphan Black

Orphan Black is a Canadian show, aired on BBC America.  Tatiana Maslany is incredible, playing multiple characters who are, in fact, clones.  

Each clone is different with distinctive mannerisms.  They all have different ways of walking, even very different ways of talking, and sometimes it’s easy to forget they are all played by the same actress.  This is especially true when the scene brings 2 or more clones together and even more so when one clone has to impersonate another.  Tatiana is absolutely amazing portraying both characters simultaneously.  One of the clones has even become a man!

Matt Frewer is great as usual, playing the scientist who would do anything for the cloning project.  Exploring the ethical and moral implications of human cloning, the show raises issues including a radical religious movement regarding the creation of human life.

The entire cast is fantastic; the show is well written and intelligent.  The third season premiers on April 18.  I am currently re-watching season two as a refresher before the new one.  Definitely go back and catch this one from the beginning.

Have you been watching Orphan Black?

Watcha Watchin'?

There are actually a lot of good shows running on TV right now.

Here's a list of what is currently on my DVR:

"12 Monkeys" - Based on the movie by the same name, this show is a good ride.  They have made some changes to the original movie plot, but kept the gist of it.  It's gritty and dark, but the characters are developing well.  The girl who plays Brad Pitt's character from the movie is amazing...she had to have studied his mannerisms because she acts just like him!

"Archer" - I never wanted to like Archer, but, yeah, well... It's crude, silly, down right ridiculous sometimes, but there it is on my DVR.  It makes me laugh.

"Dig" - I've just started watching this one and haven't really made up my mind about it.  Anne Heche has never been one of my favorite actresses, but she is pretty good in this.  The whole prophesy of the red heifer is kind of silly to me, but if you buy into it, the show seems like it might be pretty good.

"Doctor Who" - Don't judge me...

"Drunk History" - If you aren't watching Drunk History, you don't know what you're missing.  Each week, a semi-famous to famous actor proceeds to get shit faced drunk while being filmed and telling historically factual stories.  While they are drunkenly telling the story, you also get to watch other semi-famous to famous actors act it out, including drunken slurs and inappropriate comments.  It's a hoot!

"Gotham" - This one snuck up on me.  The story centers around Bruce Wayne as a child of about 12, and young detective Gordon.  Gordon is busy trying to clean up the corrupt Gotham police department, while Bruce is trying to find out who murdered his parents.  The two begin to form a friendship.  Other future Batman characters are shown young, such as The Penguin, CatWoman (a young street urchin,) Poison Ivy, The Riddler and more.  Jada Pinkett Smith is absolutely amazing...It's almost worth watching just to see what fabulous dress she will be wearing.

 "iZombie" - A new show that I think has potential.  It's light and silly, but a fun ride.  A young doctor is killed and wakes up as a zombie.  To satisfy her hunger for brains, she transfers to the morgue.  She soon learns that she takes on the memories and personality traits of the person the brains once belonged to, and uses that ability to solve murders.  Like I said, light and silly, but I'm enjoying it so far.

"Marvel's Agent Carter" &

"Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." - Both of these shows are spin-offs of The Avenger's Movie.  I love the movie, and I LOVE Joss Whedon, who wrote the movie and produces the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.  I like how they are developing the Marvel universe.  Agent Carter is cute because we get to know Howard Stark (Tony Stark's father) back in the day.  S.H.I.E.L.D. is a little more serious. If you didn't already love Agent Coulson from the movie, you will after watching the show.

"Downton Abbey" - My guilty pleasure.  I love this show.  It's just so English.

"Supernatural" - My go-to show.  They currently run the past seasons on TNT every day, and I can watch them over and over and over.  Watching Dean and Sam Winchester basically grow up on this show has been a great experience.  I normally don't like shows that deal with god and the devil, angels and demons, good and evil, black and white.  What I like about Supernatural is how they deal with these issues, but they are not black and white at all.  Some demons are good guys, and most angels are dicks.  Probably my favorite show on tv right now, I love me some Supernatural.

"The Americans" - I featured this one a while back:  Featured TV Show-The Americans.

"The Last Man on Earth" - This one was a silly find!  Will Forte is funny in this dark comedy.  Not very high brow, but it's worth a chuckle.

"The Walking Dead" - Oh yeah baby.  There was a time when my friends considered this show to be rated "NS" for No Suzi.  I don't usually like overly gory or bloody shows.  But, I have been hooked on The Walking Dead since watching the first episode.  It is so dark, so gruesome, and yet so very human.  It's one of the only shows that consistently causes me to yell at the TV!

"Vikings" - I featured this one a while back: Featured TV Show-Vikings.

"Weird Loners" - Haven't even watched this one yet.  I think they have only run one episode.  The ads looked quirky.  We'll see...

What's on your DVR?

Featured TV Series: Vikings

History channel's "Vikings" is inspired by the sagas of Ragnar Lothbrok, one of the best known Vikings of mythology.  The series follows Ragnar's rise from a farmer to a chief and eventually King. His vision and desire to expand takes the Vikings to England and France in search of land and glory.

He is aided by his brother Rollo, his adviser Floki, his son Bjorn, and his wives, the shieldmaiden Lagertha and the princess Aslaug.  However, his most trusted friend and adviser soon becomes Athelstan, an English priest taken hostage on Ragnar's first raid of the English coast.

On the one hand, by portraying the mighty and fearsome Ragnar as a husband and a father, a man with marital troubles and who cares about his people and the future, the series shows the more human side of the Vikings.  On the other hand, there is no shortage of blood lust and barbarism.  They are fierce warriors, and have no qualms about slaughtering innocents for their own expansion.

With just the right mix of historical fact, well developed human characters, violence, sex, and incredible scenery, I consider "Vikings" one of the best shows running right now.  

Watch "Vikings" Thursdays at 10:00 p.m. on History Channel.

What do you think of Vikings?

Featured TV Series: The Americans

The Americans was a surprising find for me.  I knew the concept, KGB spies living undercover in America, but I had not expected it to be such a human story.  The show’s creator and former CIA agent-turned-author, Joe Weisberg, has described the series as being ultimately about a marriage.

Philip and Elizabeth Jennings (Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell) are two KGB spies in an arranged marriage.  They were both recruited by the KGB in Russia when they were very young, and they were complete strangers when they were sent to the U.S. to pose as Americans.  They live in suburban Washington, D.C., shortly after Ronald Reagan is elected president.  As part of their “cover” they have two children, teenager Paige and preteen Henry, who are unaware of their parents' true identities. Their complex marriage becomes more passionate and genuine each day, but as Philip begins to warm up to America's values and way of life, his relationship with Elizabeth becomes more complicated.  She feels it is important to hold onto the values of the mother land and even hopes to return home one day. He does not share that dream.

Further complicating their marriage are the intimate, dangerous and darkly funny relationships they must maintain with a network of spies and informants under their control.

Year Of The Screaming Goat

What is the deal with all the screaming goats in advertising right now?  So far I have seen three different companies using them in commercials, two of them aired during the Super Bowl this year. 

The first one I saw was the Discover surprise screaming goat during the Super Bowl.  

In this other Super Bowl commercial, Sprint somehow implies their competitors are like screaming goats… but they later come back and apologize, correcting the description to what I presume is supposed to be a more derogatory comparison.  However, I personally find the screaming goat to be much more annoying. 

Then I saw the Geico scapegoat screaming goat ad, and really started to wonder if it was coincidence or if there was something I didn’t know about.  Why have so many advertisers decided to use screaming goats to sell their products?  I realize this is the Chinese Year of the Goat, but I’m still a little confused as to why they are screaming.  Maybe it’s just because screaming goats are funny?  This one particularly really makes me laugh.  I know it’s silly, but I giggle every time.

What are your thoughts on the sudden popularity of screaming goats?  

To Boldly Go

...to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before.

The world lost an icon yesterday. 

Leonard Simon Nimoy
Born: March 26, 1931, West End, Boston, MA
Died: February 27, 2015, Bel-Air, Los Angeles, CA

The 83 year old actor died of end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.  He revealed he was struggling with the ailment in 2014, according to the New York Times. Nimoy had been a smoker, which contributed to the ailment, before he gave up the habit years ago.