If you haven't heard, many tv series are back on the airwaves with new episodes. Unfortunately, none of the television shows I care about are back. Heroes? Pushing Daisies? Where are you? Luckily, there is still cable infotainment. And with that thought, on to the recommendations...
Television: Top Chef
Most skill shows on the networks don't involve skill. Bravo shows, however, do. I love Top Chef and this season they are in Chicago. The first week they made deep-dish pizza and since then they have had a zoo-inspired challenge and a film-inspired challenge, among others. They are off to an excellent start! While I don't have a favorite yet, I'm keeping my eye on Richard. In case you're wondering, Spike and Andrew are tying for this season's Top Ass.
Film: Paris, je t'aime
If you haven't put this 2006 indie/foreign film on your list, add it now! (Especially if you plan on seeing the City of Lights in the next month or two.) It's a series of 2o five-minute films shot by different directors. Each film is about/set in a different part of Paris and all deal with love, both the good and bad aspects. My favorites are the Coen brothers' (with Steve Buscemi), Nick Nolte's, and Elijah Wood's. But the one that blew them all out of the water was the very last film; my heart broke, wept, and leapt all in five minutes. How often can we say that?
Book: The Pillars of the Earth
Oprah Book Club sticker be damned! Despite being hawked by America's Queen of the Talkshows, I find myself loving this book. It's a bit lengthy - my copy is about 1000 pages - but a super quick read. I devoured 100 pages the very first night I opened it. The book is set in the early half of the 12th century and follows Prior Phillip as he finances a cathedral, Tom Builder as he builds said cathedral, and Lady Aliena who does something. (Cut me some slack, I'm only 300 pages into the thing!) Normally I would wait until finishing a book before recommending it but not this time. I love the pace, history, and characters of this book. It's not a book for the beach but it is one for the ages.
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7 comments:
In my house Top Chef is banned. Its too addictive like heroin or pixie sticks. I got a dissertation to write and vacuuming to do!
Paris Je T'aime is a truly wonderful film. You are so right about the last film, which in many ways was the least dramatic episode in terms of action but really had an effect on me too. Though I have to say, the "vampire" episode really didn't fit in with the film and really didn't work for me.
I must say, I'm glad to have the Office/Earl/30 Rock back - but aside from that, the rest of my week is pretty much unchanged by the writers returning. I don't watch anything else regularly (when is T:SCC coming back?) Jennica, I've even given up on Degrassi - don't like any of the new characters or the stories.
As far as movies go, my netflix queue is plugging along. I loved loved loved Atonement. No Country for Old Men was really good too, but I liked Atonement more. Next up are Juno and There Will Be Blood.
I also recently finally saw Pan's Labyrinth (Incredible!) and Children of Men (Disturbing!)
Krista, Pan's Labyrinth is one of my favorite films now. I think it's absolutely beautiful and I can watch it over and over again. I also really like Children of Men, especially the ending.
The vampire episode didn't fit in and that's why I think I liked it. It was different, almost like an intermission.
Yeah--I missed the Office SO much! I was even watching the reruns on TBS on Tuesday nights.
Hmmm....you're right, not much change for me either, except the excellent (and quite liberal!) Boston Legal is back too. Looking forward to Lost coming back after its brief break as well.
But mostly I've been catching up on tapes of the Tudors, John Adams, and whatever was on each Sunday's Masterpiece Theatre. They showed a new Room with a View after the Jane Austens finished last week. The new Sense and Sensibility was excellent, by the way. I liked it better than the Thompson version--much better cast in terms of the correct characters, IMO. It's on DVD if anyone's interested.
For anyone who cares--Heroes and Pushing Daisies, and a number of other new shows, are being held till next fall. I think your Terminator show is back next fall too.
Who watches Degrassi here? Certainly not me. :-)
No, I'm with you, Krista. WTF, a whole episode about Liberty's brother and his friend? Who was that girl anyway? I hate the Darcy/Snake storyline. I hate that Emma isn't being faithful to Sean. Craig was in the "movie" for about one minute. It's really gone downhill, and I hear that it's coming back next year again!
I have heard that the final season of Instant Star is on in June though...not that anyone I know watches that either. :-)
I gave up on Instant Star a long time ago. Partly because I never knew when it was on, and partly out of shame! No more Nogin for me! I also didn't bother with the new RW/RR challenge - so most of my guilty pleasure TV choices are finished!
I saw most of the new Sense and Sensibility. I liked it a lot, but I still like Alan Rickman as Brandon. The younger Marianne was very good.
I am so excited that NBC has decided to do a 52-week programming schedule for next year. Hopefully some other channels will follow suit. I have no problem with my favorite shows taking off the rest of this season. I prefer a long string of new eps so there is some continuity there. This summer I am going to watch "Bones," "The Tudors," Season Two of "Big Love," and "John Adams." I figure it will be my summer of tv.
Don't forget Rome. 2 excellent seasons and very self-contained.
Yeah, I do like the Colonel Brandon/Rickman better. But the Elinor and Edward were far better in the new one. That Edward was HOT! And Elinor was the right age. I love Emma Thompson, but I never could buy her in her mid-thirties playing the part of the typical age 20 Austen heroine. Nor did I get her with Hugh Grant.
I am ashamed to say that I did watch the latest RW/RR challenge. (Not the one before that, though.) I blame the strike--there was nothing else on! It wasn't bad, though. I just wish they would get a better range of cast members and not rely so much on the newest seasons.
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