Bulldog VS Dinosaur

From another of my favorite YouTube channels, Elvis and Khalee: "two bratty bulldogs who enjoy watching TV and mouthing off to our parents!'. It's hilarious how they recognize villains or monsters in movies, especially from horror flicks.

Other than barking at bad guys, they really seem to enjoy watching TV, especially nature shows.  Their reaction to some cheetahs in a recent video made me LOL because when one saw the big cats on TV, it barked for the other to come provide some backup. 

You'd never have to worry about Freddy Krueger or Jason if you had these two dogs.



Their owners also post some very unusual time lapse videos of some very odd events in their garage.  I'm not sure if they're a spoof or hoax, but it's weird.

Norm!

Some of the best Norm quotes from the television series Cheers.

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WOODY: "What's your pleasure, Mr. Peterson?"
NORM : "Boxer shorts and loose shoes. But I'll settle for a beer."

SAM: "What's new, Normie?"

NORM: "Terrorists, Sam. They've taken over my stomach & they're demanding beer."

SAM: "What'd you like, Normie?"

NORM: "A reason to live. Give me another beer."

SAM: "What'll you have Normie?"

NORM: "Well, I'm in a gambling mood, Sammy. I'll take a glass of whatever comes out of that tap."

SAM: "Looks like beer, Norm."

NORM: "Call me Mister Lucky."

WOODY: "What's the story, Mr. Peterson?"

NORM: "The Bobbsey twins go to the brewery. Let's cut to the happy ending."

WOODY: "Hey, Mr. Peterson, there's a cold one waiting for you."

NORM: "I know. If she calls, I'm not here."

SAM: "Beer, Norm?"

NORM: "Have I gotten that predictable? Good."

WOODY: "How's it going, Mr. Peterson?"

NORM: "Poor."

WOODY: "I'm sorry to hear that."

NORM: "No, I mean pour."

SAM: "What's going down, Normie?"

NORM: "My butt cheeks on that bar stool."

WOODY: "Pour you a beer, Mr. Peterson?"

NORM: "All right, but stop me at one. Make that one-thirty."

SAM: "What's the story, Norm?"

NORM: "Boy meets beer. Boy drinks beer. Boy meets another beer."

WOODY: "What's going on, Mr. Peterson?"

NORM: "The question is what's going in Mr. Peterson? A beer please, Woody."

WOODY: "Can I pour you a beer, Mr. Peterson?"

NORM: "A little early isn't it, Woody?"

WOODY: "For a beer?"

NORM: "No, for stupid questions."

COACH: "How's life treating you Norm?"
NORM: "Like he caught me in bed with his wife. "

WOODY: "How's it going Mr. Peterson? "
NORM : "It's a dog eat dog world out there, Woody, and I'm wearing milkbone underwear."

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The Leftovers

Only one more day until the 3rd - and final -season of The Leftovers debuts! (Sunday night on HBO)

From Wiki: The Leftovers starts three years after a global event called the "Sudden Departure", the inexplicable, simultaneous disappearance of 140 million people, 2% of the world's population, on October 14, 2011. Following that event, mainstream religions declined, and a number of cults emerged, most notably the Guilty Remnant.

The story focuses primarily on the Garvey family and their acquaintances in the fictional town of Mapleton, New York. Kevin Garvey is the Chief of Police. His wife Laurie has joined the Guilty Remnant. Their son Tommy has left home for college, and their daughter Jill is acting out. The second season moves the main characters to the fictional town of Jarden, Texas.

The third season begins in Texas, but the main characters are moving to Australia, as evidenced in this teaser clip.



I wasn't for sure if I was going to like this show, at first thinking it was going to be some sort of rehash of the Left Behind series of books and movies, but it soon became clear that while there are religious overtones, they're subtle and the main religion is the cult, the (extremely creepy!) Guilty Remnant.

As is the case with many TV shows and particularly movies, the soundtrack adds significantly to the mood. The first season used The Leftovers Piano Theme - Max Richter for the intro and variations are played prominently throughout the episodes. The second season's intro was one of my favorite tunes, Let The Mystery Be by Iris DeMent. (Opening credits for the 2nd season) I'm not only looking forward to this finale season, but also to hear what new music they use.  Another teaser clip has ABBA's "SOS" - my favorite tune of the Swedish group. A pop tune, sure, but seems to fit perfectly, same for the Richter piece composed for the series and DeMent's not-quite-religious (perhaps even Agnostic) ballad.

IMDb entry for The Leftovers

Official website (HBO)

Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd

A "bump" from April '09.

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Last night I was binge-watching the new series Timeless and a cover of this was at the end of one of the earlier episodes. I knew I had posted it before, but found it was now blocked from being viewed in the U.S. due to copyright concerns. This version is also live, but not with all of Pink Floyd, only David Gilmour.

After watching the episode, I came online and listened to several versions of the tune, both studio and live in concert as well as some covers. I then researched the lyrics to find out if there was any specific reference being made. What I found out was very interesting: Behind the Song: Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here”. That said, I've always thought the lyrics were fascinating, well crafted to match the lovely melody.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

In the now-iconic 1966 animated TV special Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Boris Karloff was the narrator and voice of the Grinch, but didn't sing its most famous song, You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.  The singer was Thurl Ravenscroft, arguably best known as being the voice of Tony The Tiger from 1953-2004.

Squidbillies Theme Song

While I've done a few reviews of movies and TV shows, I keep meaning to do more, but to be honest, they take a lot of time and especially if I want them to be truly original and worth reading.

I used to watch Squidbillies when I had cable, then thought the show had been cancelled, so I was surprised to see the newest episodes online. I've been d/l them to watch on my tablet and while it's not as funny now as it was when I first started watching it, it's still good for a grin now 'n then.

My favorite part is the theme song; this one is done by Billy Jo Shaver and is, IMHO, the best of all the renditions.  The lyrics match how I feel much of the time these days.

While I'm WAY behind on writing reviews, it's given me an idea for an easier topic/label to start doing: Theme Songs.

One Toke Over the Line - The Lawrence Welk Show

Uh, it's "spiritual", but not in the way you think.

What Brady Are You?

You Are Greg Brady

Outta sight! Suave and all American, you tend to be clean cut and upstanding. You're friendly with most people and a huge flirt (sometimes even with family members!).

What Brady Are You?

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At least I wasn't Jan, such a whiner.

"Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!"

Making A Murderer

While I couldn't say I binge-watched Making a Murderer, it's probably closer to say I "power-watched" it in a couple of days.  The ten-part series, made over the course of ten years, tells the  story of a Manitowoc County, Wisconsin man named Steve Avery who was convicted of rape and attempted murder, serving 18 yrs. in prison before DNA evidence exonerated him.  Avery was out only two years and was about to file a civil rights lawsuit for millions of dollars when he was charged with the brutal rape and death of a young woman.

As with any review of a current work, I won't give spoilers or say much more about the series or case;  in fact, I avoided reading anything about him or this documentary series until after I finished up the last episode. Like many writing about it online, though, I am torn as to his guilt or innocence on the murder conviction. It's obvious that the local police department coerced witnesses, mishandled the crime scene and while I'm of the mind that evidence definitely was planted and tampered with, I'm still not convinced he's innocent.   Avery's learning disabled nephew was also involved and was charged for his participation in the murder and subsequent cover up...but if you watch the series, you'll most likely be confused as to his own part in the crime - IF he even took part in it.

Maybe it's because the series left me so unsettled and is why I can't give a little bit higher grade, but I'd still strongly recommend watching. It's available on Netflix and when getting the following trailer, I noticed the first episode had been uploaded to YouTube.  Like most other movies or TV programs, you can also find it online with a little bit of ingenuity and Google skills. 

Here's one of the better reviews I read online:

‘Making a Murderer’ is an Actual American Horror Story, More Haunting than ‘The Jinx’

clishmaclaver

clishmaclaver noun [klish-muh-kley-ver, kleesh-]

Scot. gossip; idle or foolish talk.

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Certainly sounds like a Scottish word, but it would probably help to read it out loud in Scotty's voice.

New Definition of "A-List" Celebrities

I was looking through a TV/movie website earlier and saw the series Running Wild with Bear Grylls hosted by the survival "expert" Bear Grylls (I previously wrote about him, hence the "expert" in quotation marks). I watched an episode of his earlier show, Man vs. Wild, where Grylls was accompanied by Will Ferrell and while I found it mildly amusing, I wasn't impressed. I had hoped the celebrity accompanying Grylls would at least take it a bit more seriously, if for nothing other to keep up the farce that they were ever in any real danger.

This new show's description reads: Bear Grylls, British adventurer, takes A-list celebrities on wild outdoor adventures, pushing them beyond their comfort zone.  There are a couple of people on this list I am not familiar with, but knew the rest.  I intend to watch the episodes with Kate Hudson (so cute!) and Kate Winslet (be still my beating heart) but I am not particularly enthused about watching any of the rest...I might or I might not. 

That said, it's the description I have some problems with;  while some of the celebs are definitely on the "A-List", I am pretty sure some others aren't, one in particular.  I've given a hint on the screenshot below. 

(Click for larger view)

I don't have anything against Tom Arnold;  he was really good in True Lies, but he's not someone I care to see much of in anything. He's "B-List" at best.

Let The Mystery Be - Iris DeMent

I've been watching "The Leftovers" and really enjoying it, but am behind a few episodes and a couple of weeks ago while reading a review of the 2nd season, saw a comment that stated they didn't like the new theme song.  I finally got around to watching the first couple of episodes of the new season and immediately knew who the singer was.   Here's the new opening theme, followed by the full version of the song:

I like it just fine (love Iris DeMent!), but the theme to the first season is hauntingly beautiful and still used in parts of these newest episodes. I plan on doing a review of "The Leftovers", but will wait until I catch up on the couple of episodes I've not yet seen.

Gilligan's Island Original Intro

From the un-aired pilot episode.

Clean Break

Clean Break is an four-part Irish drama set in the small coastal town of Wexford.  The village is quaint, the surrounding countryside lovely, yet both show the scars of the economic downturn in that nation.

Frank Mallon, a local luxury car dealer, has already lost his wife, is slowly losing his daughter and is on the verge of losing both his home and business, plus some gorgeous seaside property he was planning to develop. He hatches a plot to rob the local bank, headed by the loathsome manager, the husband of a woman with whom Mallon once had an affair.

It would be giving away too much to reveal any more and I'm afraid I've already said too much if you're one of those who didn't even like that much information about a movie or TV show before you have a chance to watch.  That said,  there are some interesting plot twists and turns and some "Oh, no!" moments.  Clean Break doesn't have a lot of action; no car chases or gun battles, yet it never is boring....which such a short series should never be and it certainly doesn't fail in that regard. I was riveted through each episode and eagerly awaited the next.

As was mentioned, the scenery is, for the most part, lovely and even the abandoned and dilapidated buildings in some of the scenes have a forlorn  beauty all their own.  For a four-part series, the character development was more than sufficient.  The cinematography is first rate, the writing and dialog  superb, the acting is excellent by all and the ending...well, I like to think I can usually see what's coming, but I certainly didn't see this one.  To be honest, I didn't like the way it ended, but it wasn't disappointing...if that makes any sense and I reckon it will if you watch the series.

At this writing, the first three episodes have been uploaded to YouTube and if you're so inclined, the complete series can be found via your favorite search engine, I'm sure.

I gave it a "7" on IMDb, which might not sound as good as I made it out to be, but I'm very stingy with my grades.  (It was probably a good thing I wasn't a teacher;  the kids might have liked me, but they would have hated my grading)  I've discovered some drama gems from British television and now I'm wondering what-else the Irish have done that I've missed.  If Clean Break is indicative of their version of quality TV, then I want to see more.

Follow the Money

Note:  The following is meant to be a mini-rant and a bit of trivia but is also a semi-snarky review of the new Fox series Minority Report based upon the 2002 hit movie.

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I was torturing myself watching the fourth and latest episode of Minority Report last night when I noticed something strange;  when a man is attempting to buy some fake I.D.,he plops some banded currency on the table, then reluctantly throws down some more on top of it.  The scene went by fairly quickly, but not so quick that I couldn't make out the face on the $500 bill:

(click for larger view)

Yes, that's President Obama on the bill and it proved to me that Hollywood is indeed full of leftist partisan hacks.  Andrew Jackson notwithstanding, I've always thought the portraits on American currency were intended to be of good Presidents or at least of people who made a significant contribution to society.

Why Obama?  If he deserves to be on a bill, then - in all fairness - so does G.W. Bush;  after all, both of them certainly spent enough money, printed more than their fair share out of thin air, too.

Be that as it may...and I certainly didn't mean for this to turn into a political rant...I believe that's the last episode I will watch.  If Minority Report had been anything but a ubiquitous, poorly done police procedural show (albeit set in the future) I would have given it a proper review. 

My recommendation?  If you're watching it now and enjoying it, please be my guest and continue doing so.  I just don't think it's going to last long, that's all.  What's wrong with it?  Oh, if I only had enough time and space to list the things.  I had high hopes for the series, but IMHO (and according to the ratings), it doesn't have much of a future, especially considering how many Obama dollars much money it's got to be losing. The show is visually appealing, the special effects are pretty good and the acting isn't horrible...but not even the gorgeous Meagan Good can save this series.  The potential was there but it was wasted.

On a related note:  I noticed a woman on the hundred dollar bill, so I took a screen shot, rotated it to get a better view but still didn't recognize the face, but did see it was Australian currency. (or maybe American money honoring Australian notables)  Thanks to the world-wide interwebs, I was able to find out the woman was Dame Nellie Melba, a noted opera singer of the late Victorian era and the early 20th century. I had never heard of her.

My only hope is that if the world lasts to the time this TV series takes place, we'll honor folks like her much more than we do those such as President Obama.

Nothing On TV

Well, nothing on one of the TV sites I sometimes like to use to find programs that aren't available to me. I was looking for A Season of Notre Dame Football, but the search results at CouchTuner gave me this:

When I read that, this scene from Star Wars popped into my head:

The Beverly Hillbillies

Debuted on television on this date in 1962.

The Partridge Family

Debuted on this date on ABC back in 1970.

Star-Studded Cast

I was searching for a place to catch up on past episodes of Mythbusters when I found a site that had this as the latest listing:

I'm gonna make sure I don't miss this show!  Although I never watched The X-Files, I'm a big fan of Gillian Anderson and several of the things she's done since that.  Johnny Depp?  Ehhh - I've liked a few of his movies,but he's not my favorite actor by any means.  He's probably more concerned about not going to jail in Australia than anything else right now.  I'm really anxious to see what part Paul Newman has to play in this reality program...seeing as how he died over six years ago.

Burrito Bummer

Odd 404 page on Nerdist, found after clicking a link on Wiki about X Company, a new series on CBC.

Now I want to run down to the nearest Allsups and get one of their burritos.  They're not bad...if you drench them in about a half dozen of the little hot sauce packets.  Like their corn dogs, I always ask when they were made (cooked) because if they're more than six/seven hours old, they turn to nasty mush inside.  I've brought corn dogs home that I could drive a nail with.