Confessions of a TV junkie

Ok, I must admit it. I'm a TV junkie. I don't know how it happened, but somehow we've gotten ourselves hooked on too many shows. Let's recap...

Sunday nights the tv is locked on ABC from Extreme Makeover: Home Edition straight through Grey's Anatomy. Love Grey's Anatomy. For Monday nights, we really like the new show "What About Brian?", and I enjoy 2 1/2 Men every now and then. Tuesday nights... American Idol and Law & Order SVU. Wednesday nights is obviously dedicated to watching my fave Lost (and the AI vote-off show).

Then we finally hit the Thursday through Saturday stretch where we don't have any "must see" shows (and I'm hoping it stays that way because I can't handle another favorite!) Of course, that doesn't mean the tv isn't on! On Thursdays I might stop down for "The Office" and Fridays I do like NUMB3RS, but for the most part I'll channel surf and end up stopping on something with "Law & Order" or "CSI" in its name. Or something on HGTV, Discover Channel or The History Channel. HGTV deserves its own blog, because I can watch that for hours. Especially shows like Landscaper's Challenge and Designed to Sell.

Back to American Idol, I was pleased that Kellie Pickler was finally eliminated. Long overdue. She's sweet and sings well, but she's been out of her league for weeks now and coasting by on personality rather than talent. I enjoyed Katharine and Chris' performances the most, and the voting justified that feeling since they were top 2. I think they'll be top two in the end as well. Chris is our household favorite, and I thought Katharine finally had the kind of performance we knew she could, and the kind that makes you think of Kelly Clarkson in season one (though not as good). My guess is the next off will be Paris, then Elliott, then Taylor. We shall see.

I loved the guest celebrities Andrea Bocelli and David Foster. Foster was great because he was no-nonsense and didn't kiss up to the contestants. And Bocelli... wow. That guy can sing. Didn't realize he was blind, either. I've been a Josh Groban fan since he hit the scene way back when, but I'll add Bocelli to the list. There's a reason he's a megastar -- his performance on Wednesday made the contestants look like the amateurs they are.

Here's the recap for this week:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12504371/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11813015/

Upcoming episodes of Lost

Going through withdrawal? Me, too. We've got one more week until Lost starts with new episodes again. This week is a recap/catch-up episode. So, at least it's not a regular repeat! After that, it is a 4-week run of new episodes, ending with a 2-hour finale. Read below at your own risk for the listing of episode titles along with which character is focused upon. The finale sounds especially exciting!


April 26, 2006 -- Lost: Reckoning

The survivors of Oceanic flight 815 have been locked in a test of faith ever since they crashed on the island. Discover how this faith has been tested for both the fuselage survivors and tailies. Are you a person of faith or science? This is the dilemma that plagues the island survivors and also defines their character. Discover how faith in the hatch led Locke on a mission to find a way inside, and how his discovery of Desmond led to his belief that punching in the numbers every 108 minutes would ensure everyone's survival. In addition, Michael's dogged mission in finding Walt, the tailies fight for survival during their first 48 days through their collision with the fuselage survivors, the uncertainty of prisoner Henry Gale's allegiances, and tensions between the survivors and "The Others" have left everyone questioning what they believe in. Additionally, the healing powers of love are explored through a timid Hurley's struggle with asking Libby out on a date, through the strong bond between Sun and Jin, and through Jack and Sawyer's mutual - yet unrequited - attractions to Kate.


May 3, 2006 - Episode 2.20: Two for the Road (Ana-Lucia-centric)

Jack and Kate return to camp with an exhausted Michael and news about the Others; Ana Lucia interrogates the prisoner (Michael Emerson) again; and Hurley plans a surprise for Libby.

US Preview:



May 10, 2006 - Episode 2.21: ? (Eko-centric)


May 17, 2006 - Episode 2.22: Three Minutes (Michael-centric)


May 24, 2006 - Episode 2.23-24: Live Together, Die Alone (2-hour season finale) (Desmond-centric)

Lost, episode 2x19: S.O.S.

Wow, good episode. It is late and I don't have time to browse the boards, but I will say for now that I did enjoy the episode. Here are some random thoughts (I'll add more later)...

* I loved the back story on Bernard and Rose, especially how we find out she had cancer and the island has cured her... and she knows about Locke's big wheelchair secret.

* This episode reminded me a lot of some of the Locke episodes (like Greater Good), where someone is doing something that others don't like or even know about, but the underlying reason they are doing it is with good intentions. Bernard runs people off with his dictatorial mission to build the sign, but he does it for Rose. Rose undermines Bernard, but it is because the island heals her and Locke. Everyone has their reasons, but everyone keeps secrets. Typical Lost.

* Interesting stuff about the faith healer in Australia and the magnetic energy source references.

* Locke has been frustrated by the island (trying to remember the map, questioning the buttons, etc.) and seems to give up, but after talking to Rose on the beach he returns to the hatch and starts smiling and drawing the map. To me it was obvious he'd made his peace with the Island and was once again listening to it and following its lead rather than trying to do it himself. Insert your favorite religious comparisons here.

* Kate finally tells Jack about finding that medical hatch and the costumes (fake beard, etc.) And we learn she has been holding out until Jack lets her back in the club.

* Michael is back! Or is it really Michael? Or is he "infected"? This could get interesting.

* Eko and Charlie are indeed building a church. I love Bernard's line to him about "I liked you better when you just walked around and hit people with your big stick".

* Sawyer asks where Jack got the gun. Some day everyone is going to connect Charlie to Sawyer's big con where they kidnapped Sun and got the guns, etc. And it is not going to be pretty.

* Nice shot by Jack to release them from the snare net. Of course, wouldn't it be easier to shoot the lines right above them?

* Henry is still very creepy. That smile he got when Locke was yelling at him about the buttons... eek. And the preview for upcoming episodes with him grabbing Ana Lucia and saying "You're the murderer" looks good. Who is he referring to? Goodwin? Shannon? The felon who shot her when she was a cop? All of the above?

* What about when Henry says "They'll never give up Walt"?

* Hey look... Vincent is back, too! Good doggie...

* Sawyerism of the night: "Here comes Dr. Giggles. Oh Happy Day."

More later... post away with your comments and observations!

Counting down secrets of the ‘Lost’ hatch

Stumbled across this interesting article on MSNBC.
Counting down secrets of the 'Lost' hatch...

Lost, Episode 2x18: Dave

Wow... that was a weird episode. I'm not quite sure what to think of it yet, and since I'm too tired to stay up browsing the boards, here are a few random thoughts. I'll add more tomorrow.

* so, Hurley feels responsible for the deaths of a couple people when he was #23 on a crowded deck built to support only 8 (like those numbers?)

* Hurley has an imaginary friend named Dave. I saw this one coming real early in the episode.

* Funny scene with Hurley beating up on Sawyer, all the while repeating the nicknames he's called him through the episodes.

* Sawyerism of the night: "I got enough food to open up a mini-mart. You think Sayid needs a job?"

* Sayid is losing it. What good will it do to kill Henry?

* I'm betting Eko is building a church. Everyone catch him doing the sign of the cross from the water?

* Locke sure panicked at the suggestion of the wheelchair, didn't he? That character has been built up and beaten down in succession more than any of the others.

* Nothing like a leaf-full of peanut butter to make you feel better.

* Listening to Hurley and Dave talk on the island about how the whole island thing being Hurley's imagination sounded like the writers toying with the raving theorists of this show.

* Same thing with "Henry" saying ...."noone can see them, not even God" in response to Locke saying "God only knows how long you people have been here". That's blantantly toying with the theorists about it being Purgatory (or Hell).

* Ditto for Henry telling with Locke about the hatch and entering the numbers, how he didn't do anything and it made a loud noise "like a magnet". That plays to the electromagnetic theorists.

* Then we have Dave jumping off the cliff right after saying "See you in another life, eh?"

* Nice twist at the end with Libby being a patient. I did NOT see that one. I thought they were going to show her as a Doctor in the hospital. Pretty chilling, too, seeing her distant glazed expression after kissing Hurley. There's more to this.

* End result of the night... you have no idea which way is up. Is it all in Hurley's head? Is it all in Libby's head? Are they on the island or not? Fun stuff...

Streaker interrupts news

For those who haven't seen this, this was caught on live tv last night here in Dallas on Channel 8's 10pm news. Funny stuff. Amazing that the reporter doesn't miss a beat or even break a smile.