Well, it seems my first March entry comes in halfway through the month.  So goes the nature of my professional/personal time the last several weeks. 

I won't get into a whole rant or venting spiel, but will just say that work is on an ever-descending shit-spiral, that seems to be picking up speed the last few months. Essentially, the workload combined with the kind of work my job entials day in and day out is pushing me to the end of my tolerance levels.  The new job/career path search is officially underway, because this current work is making me too old (and too bitter) way too fast.  And the zero down-time at work has joined forces with fairly busy evenings (and simply being too exhausted for Interweb play) the last month or so, thus my severe lack of updating and/or keeping up with regular commenting on my flist. For that I apologize and will try to do better.

Anyway... aside from that crap, I've been meaning to post all week about last weekend's MegaCon 2008 here in Orlando. I actually got too busy to remember to buy my advance pass online, prior to the week before (when advance ordering closed), so I had to get a ticket at the gate. I only wanted a one-day ticket for this one, as it was half the price of the three day pass, and I figured I could get what I wanted to get done in one day, and reduce the two added days of temptation to spend more $$$ on fandom stuff I really don't need.  It worked out okay for my day spent there on Saturday, but the waiting lines were horrendous. A fairly brief summation (compared to FX, anyway) under the cut:


Other than the above show stuff, the only other babbling I've got is that Lost is continuing to be sock-knocking-off fantastic this season. I won't get plot-spoilery for already-aired episodes, but  I just feel pity for anyone that will never realize the monumental nature of what this series is - how original and groundbreaking it is as a "genre" drama - and am continually impressed with the turns the story takes. We have been getting some substantial answers to questions that have been lingering for a couple of seasons now, as well as being given new questions and puzzles that we had no idea could be introduced prior to this season.  I anticipate the weekly installments of this show more than anything else I have ever watched. No lie.

Also, the best TV-related news since the strike ended must be the respective renewals of Supernatural and Friday Night Lights.  The CW must know by now that SPN is by far the best thing they have on their schedule, quality-wise, and I'm sure the stellar ratings numbers (highest of the season, if not of the series) of the last pre-strike filmed episode helped with the decision. And I don't care what kind of episode-sharing deal has to be made with NBC and Direct TV (or any other network), as long as FNL is back in some capacity. In terms of genuine overall-quality - from writing to acting to directing and overall production value - the series is THE best show since the 2004 season brought us Lost, Veronica Mars and Battlestar Galactica. 

And finally, this month's Paley Center for Media's Television Festival makes me temporarily wish I lived near L.A. The annual event has an awe-worthy lineup of show panels this year, the first notable of which was yesterday for Pushing Daisies. The event's entire lineup can be found at the official page, but I'll also c/p the list panels I'd be there for in a heartbeat, if money and distance were no object:

 

I mean, really - the Buffy reunion is worth the drooling alone - almost the entire friggin' cast, plus Joss! - but to be there for talk about Daisies, Judd Apatow's insane entourage, Chuck (moderated by Lost's exec. Damon Lindelof!), Friday Night Lights, Damages (best FX drama since The Shield), The X-Files (new film being made - awesome), and Mad Men - a show I want to get into, hearing only good things about - all of those are a TV enthusiast's dream. I look forward to reading/hearing/seeing details about what went on during each, and will be insanely envious of anyone who gets to actually be there.

I guess that's about it for now. Hopefully I won't go a few more weeks between posts again.  Oh, and since I may not be online tomorrow, early Happy St. Patrick's Day to all. It's the honorary Irish day, and I'll at least have a beer or two to celebrate.  Too bad it's not on a weekend this year. Oh well.





Kristen Bell is awesome.

One of the perks of having an often-tedious federal government job is the acquired vacation time and regularly scheduled time off for federal holidays.  Today, Columbus Day, is one of those such days, so no work for Jeff equals TV-catch-up and reading list time. 

Just a few thoughts on TV since Thursday.  Possibly spoilery for some who haven't seen, so under a cut:


I will also briefly mention that last Wednesday's second episode of Private Practice was much, MUCH more watchable than the first hour.  The cases of the week were better, and the characters actually behaved like professional adults, rather than immature adolescents.  Perhaps there is some hope for this spin-off.  Prison Break, on the other hand, is a lost cause.

Still also keeping up with everything else: Earl, 30 Rock (guest Jerry Seinfeld gave a funny shout-out to the quality of Lost - awesome), The Office, Grey's, Big Shots, ER, Ghost Whisperer, Atlantis, Housewives, and Dexter.  There's just too much to get into with more detail. And tonight's all new with HIMYM, Chuck, Heroes, and Journeyman.  I do think I may actually drop Prison Beak, though.  I can barely sit through it anymore.

Maybe I'll go read a little bit until then. From a book! What a concept! 






Kristen Bell is awesome.

Just a spew of recent happenings/noteworthy things:

This past Saturday was my 10-year high school reunion here in Orlando. The thing had been pushed back from earlier this summer, as the organizing/planning changed hands a few times, I believe.  One of my oldest and best friends Michelle and I decided that we would each go if the other one went - neither of us were really super-excited to go, but we didn't want to possibly later regret missing out on it, either.

Anyway, it was actually not that bad, save for the fact that I was disappointed in the turnout.  Our senior class of 1997 from Dr. Phillips High had almost 800 graduates, and I don't think even a tenth of that number showed up Saturday night. Still - it was nice to see a handful of people I hadn't seen or heard from in a decade, and many alcoholic beverages were had at the Rosen Plaza Hotel bar, which always makes things fun.  Also, there seemed to be some type of celebrity impersonator/look-alike convention this weekend, and dozens of different "stars" ambled in and out of the bar/seating area, providing a good source of entertainment and random conversation.

Sunday afternoon, I ended up meeting empressvesicaand ancient_immieout and about for movies and grub - fun was had.  Ended up seeing Shoot 'Em Up (mindless, over-the-top action - maybe worth a rental) and 3:10 to Yuma (excellent, serious western - Christian Bale and Russell Crowe balance each other perfectly, and Alan Tudyk has a memorable turn, too).  Dinner was had at Kobe Japanese steakhouse, and it was goooood.

And since my dear _cinjudes_brought the show up in her entry found HERE, I'll also mention that I've gotten the parental units hooked on Friday Night Lights, as well.  They are over halfway through season one, and are making themselves find the time to finish the set before season two starts in a couple of weeks. I did this with them three years ago with Veronica Mars, too, and I must give them props (both dad and mom) for keeping up with Lost and loving Firefly.  Though not nearly in the quanitity/variety I enjoy, they still do watch their share of TV, I must say.  I guess I come by my affinity for the tube somewhat naturally.

Lastly, I'll add to the previous entry pertaining to the variant cover art from BtVS Season 8, drawn by Georges Jeanty. Dark Horse just released the variant cover image for issue 9 - the standard version of which, done by Jo Chen, I already posted - found HERE.  Jeanty's variant art isn't all that great on this one, IMO, but it is funny, for the bit of situational commentary it plays on the current Faith-oriented arc, with Giles involved.  The image is HERE.

That's all I've got for now.  More randomness later. 





Kristen Bell is awesome.

Work is so kicking my ass, but I've got to add an entry here for new TV before I burst.  Fake cuts to brief comments at W-I, as usual, for stuff from the last week:

Bones: 2.12 - "The Man in the Cell"

Smallville: 6.13 - "Crimson"

Supernatural: 2.13 - "Houses of the Holy"

Heroes: 1.14 - "Distractions"

Last week's Friday Night Lights was intense and poignant as usual, while Thursday's Scrubs, The Office and The O.C. were also wholly entertaining in their hilarity. 

Tonight is new Veronica (yay! but ugh! -- the angst!), and tomorrow is all new, with Friday Night Lights, Bones, and the return of Lost - finally.  Thursday's slate of TV is all new, too. Kick-ass couple of days. Or at least, it would be if work didn't suck so hard. 

Back to it.



Kristen Bell is awesome.