Move & Improve: Scrubs

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Television

January 6, 2009

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I’ve always been a casual fan and viewer of Scrubs, but I have to say that the first two episodes of the new season are spot-on, and the show has more than earned a Season Pass in our house.

The half hour series, whose eighth season debuts tonight on a new network (ABC), consistently achieves the perfect balance of laughter and poignancy…and you will find that to be the case during the unusually touching second episode.

FYI, in an attempt to post with greater frequency, you may notice more entries but shorter content. Let me know what you think.

I hope you all had a fantastic start to the new year!

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Exclusive Preview 6: The Write Environment with Doug Ellin (Entourage)

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Television

January 3, 2009

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This is a peek at the final installment of the fabulous DVD series The Write Environment, which features an interview with Entourage creator/executive producer/writer Doug Ellin.

We are introduced to Ellin’s office; it is a typical work space except for Entourage photos and posters from Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Terminator (Larry David and James Cameron are two of Ellin’s many influences and idols).

Of all six gentlemen interviewed, Doug Ellin is the least structured in terms of writing style. Considering the challenges involved to maintain interest in 5 characters during a half hour show, as well as his success doing so, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Ellin literally writes without a net. He is certainly adept at dialogue, as evidenced by the quick and relevant wit of Entourage, as well as three Emmy and Writers Guild award nominations for Ellin and the series.

Ellin began his career as a stand-up comedian and then actually worked in a mailroom before creating and directing a few short films and two features (Phat Beach, Kissing a Fool).  I found him to be an amusing combination of neurotic and casual. You may be surprised to learn which of the Entourage characters he bases many of his own life experiences on and who’s eyes the show is seen through…

In addition to Doug Ellin’s interview, all of The Write Environment DVDs (Tim Kring/Heroes, Damon Lindelof/Lost, Phil Rosenthal/Everybody Loves Raymond, Sam Simon/The Simpsons and Joss Whedon/Dollhouse) are now available though the official site and Amazon, and would make an excellent gift for all aspiring writers and television fans!

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They Have to Come Back! Your Favorite Shows Return; A Winter TV Schedule

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Television

December 30, 2008

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Thanks to Kristin at E!, here are the dates when many shows return after the holidays. I tried to include the series’ which you seem to be interested in, and marked the ones I watch with an asterisk (double asterisks indicate a new show).

Friday, 1/2
Lipstick Jungle (NBC) *
Stargate Atlantis (SciFi)

Sunday, 1/4
Brothers & Sisters (ABC) *
Desperate Housewives (ABC)
The Unit (CBS)

Monday, 1/5
The Bachelor (ABC)
Gossip Girl (The CW)
One Tree Hill (The CW)

Tuesday, 1/6
90210 (The CW)
The Biggest Loser: Couples (NBC)
Law & Order: SVU (NBC)
The Mentalist (CBS)
NCIS (CBS)
Nip/Tuck (FX) *
Scrubs (ABC) *
Without a Trace (CBS)

Wednesday, 1/7
Damages (FX) *
Law & Order (NBC)

Thursday, 1/8
30 Rock (NBC) *
ER (NBC)
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) *
My Name is Earl (NBC)
The Office (NBC) *
Private Practice (ABC) *
Ugly Betty (ABC) *

Friday, 1/9
Monk (USA)
Psych (USA)

Sunday, 1/11
24 (FOX)

Monday, 1/12
The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
CSI: Miami (CBS)
How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
Samantha Who (ABC) *
Two and a Half Men (CBS)

Tuesday, 1/13
American Idol (FOX)

Wednesday, 1/14
Criminal Minds (CBS)
CSI: NY (CBS)

Thursday, 1/15
Bones (FOX) *
CSI (CBS)
Smallville (The CW)
Supernatural (The CW)

Friday, 1/16
Battlestar Gallactica (SciFi)
Friday Night Lights (NBC) *

Sunday, 1/18
American Dad (FOX)
Big Love (HBO)
Family Guy (FOX)
Flight of the Conchords (HBO) *
King of the Hill (FOX)
The L Word (Showtime) *
The Simpsons (FOX)
United States of Tara (Showtime) **

Monday, 1/19
House (FOX) *

Tuesday, 1/20
Fringe (FOX) *

Wednesday, 1/21
Lost (ABC) *

Thursday, 1/22
Burn Notice (USA) *

Monday, 1/26
The Closer (TNT)
Trust Me (TNT) **

Wednesday, 1/28
Life on Mars (ABC) *

Thursday, 1/29
Hell’s Kitchen (FOX) *

Monday, 2/2
Chuck (NBC)
Heroes (NBC) *
Medium (NBC) *

Wednesday, 2/4
Life (NBC) *

Thursday, 2/12
Survivor (CBS) *

Friday, 2/13
Dollhouse (FOX) **
Terminator:: TSCC (FOX)

Sunday, 2/15
The Amazing Race (CBS) *

Sunday, 3/8
Breaking Bad (AMC)

Monday, 3/9
Castle (ABC) **

Thursday, 3/19
Kings (NBC) **

What am I missing, and which are you more excited for?

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Great in ’08: Pop Culture Picks in My Rear View Mirror

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Film, General Pop Culture, Music, Politics, Television

December 26, 2008

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There are myriad year-end lists published every December; here is my (J)opinion about the Best of 2008.

STELLAR PERFORMANCES

Glenn Close, Damages

Robert Downey Jr., Iron Man & Tropic Thunder

Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight

Mary Louise Parker, Weeds

Sean Penn, Milk

Jimmy Smits, Dexter

Rutina Wesley, True Blood

The women of Mad Men

FAVORITE FILMS

The Dark Knight

Iron Man

Milk

Slumdog Millionaire

Wall E

TOP TELEVISION

30 Rock

Dexter

Mad Men

Lost
 
NEW SHOWS

Fringe

The Middleman

True Blood

POLITICS & POP CULTURE

Even better than the real thing: Tina Fey as Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live.

Hallelujah. Change has never looked better.

With the passage of Proposition 8 in California, the wedded bliss that Ellen & Portia and 18,000 other happy couples share may be revoked.  Our plans to get married are now on hold as well. Disappointment doesn’t begin to cover how I feel.
 
MUSIC: ALBUMS

Coldplay: Viva La Vida

Death Cab for Cutie: Narrow Stairs

Killers: Day and Age

Pink: Funhouse

Kanye West: 808s & Heartbreak

MUSIC: SINGLES

Ben Folds w/Regina Spector: “You Don’t Know Me”

The Bravery: “Believe” & “Time Won’t Let Me Go” (tie)

Kaiser Chiefs: “Never Miss a Beat”

Kings of Leon: “Sex on Fire”

I’m sure that there are shows, films and songs I’m forgetting, so let’s blame the holiday food coma.

I hope that you enjoyed a fabulous holiday, and Happy New Year to all!

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Final Answer: Slumdog Millionaire. Yes!

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Film

December 21, 2008

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I wanted to provide a quick review of Slumdog Millionaire before the holidays, because I think this movie deserves a wider audience and I highly recommend it.

There have been very few films in the last few years as equally heartbreaking and heartwarming. It is beautifully filmed and edited, accompanied by a fantastic soundtrack.  Colorful and compelling, Slumdog Millionaire weaves us through one young man’s life in a series of very seamless and clever flashbacks while he is on the verge of winning the Indian equivalent of one million dollars on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

Director Danny Boyle (28 Days Later), who has already been recognized with a Golden Globe nod for helming this film, definitely deserves an Oscar nomination as well.

Slumdog Millionaire is very impressive from start to finish; led by a talented and relatively unknown cast (at least in the U.S.), it is a fascinating story with a great script, enhanced by superb cinematography. It is now my second choice in the Best Picture category this year, along with Milk.

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