July 2007 - TV Babble

TV Babble

E-mail Subscription

Receive an e-mail notification of new posts on this site:

Vimu Subscription

Spotlight Posts

My Thoughts on CBS's The Mentalist

My Thoughts on NBC's Crusoe

My thoughts on BBC's Primeval

My thoughts on Fox's Fringe

Adherence to Reality in Television Shows

A New Use for the Remote – TV Babble’s Rating System

TV Characters You Identify With

Why is Television Seen as Being Uncultured?

[ more ]

TV Babble - July 2007

Rove's Second Appearance on Leno - Video and Review

July 26th 2007 00:49

Rove McManus once again appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Although his last performance set the bar high, this time around he managed to meet, and maybe even exceed, it.
The tiny talk show host held an easy rapport with his heavyweight counterpart, and the familiarity between them ensured a slightly more relaxed atmosphere this time around. All in all, Rove once again held his own, and came across as funny, confident and very genuine.

Below is the video of Rove as a guest on The Tonight Show.

Rove McManus on The Tonight Show - Second Appearance

Vote

Comments (10)

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: Nina - Category: No Category

Email this Post to a Friend

Rove and Leno - Part Deux

July 25th 2007 00:57

Rove McManus*

It seems that Rove McManus did indeed make an impression last time he was in the US, as he is once again appearing on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. This coincides with his own show being broadcast from stateside; last week in New York, and this week in LA.

Jay Leno*

For someone as unknown in the US as Rove, it is a great honour to be invited onto the hallowed Tonight Show stage once, let alone twice. Whether his return visit is as entertaining and successful as the first remains to be seen. Rumour has it that Rove may make a permanent move to the States once his contract with Network Ten expires - but is he really ready to make an impact on their market, rather than just appear as a novelty?

The Tonight Show featuring Rove McManus will air at 11pm tonight on The Comedy Channel.

*Images courtesy of Wikipedia, and used under Fair Dealing for identification

Vote

Comments (6)

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: Nina - Category: No Category

Email this Post to a Friend

Heroes: Unexpected

July 17th 2007 11:57

Unexpected was an action-packed episode of Heroes. That which has been set in motion continues, but there are many surprises along the way.

Still in his remote cabin, Ted (Matthew John Armstrong) receives an instant message, despite having no internet connection. As if MSN wasn't evasive enough already. The IM is from Hana Gitelman (Stana Katic), who has the ability to send and receive wireless signals. I wonder if she has a download limit. She says that she has information pertinent to his abduction.

Claire (Hayden Panettiere) is panicked about Mrs Bennet (Ashley Crow) and wants to talk to her father, but Lyle (Randall Bentley) says that he is on a business trip. She returns to her mother, only to find that she is back to normal.
Claire continues to worry, but her mother reassures her that she will be fine. Then she collapses, so obviously fine is a subjective term.

Mr Bennet's 'business trip' is, in fact, a visit to Isaac's apartment. Isaac (Santiago Cabrera) explains to him that Peter (Milo Ventimiglia) is the one who will blow up the city. From the paintings, Mr Bennet (Jack Coleman) recognises the roof of the Deveaux building. Saying that Peter may return, Mr Bennet gives Isaac a gun, and tells him to 'save the world' if need be. Shooting Peter may save the world, but would certainly incur the wrath of fangirls everywhere. Which only goes to show, violence is never the answer.

Matt (Greg Grunberg) is keeping his bag of stolen diamonds in a drawer, but pungent socks don't strike me as the most effective security measure. He pours them out onto the dresser, a move whose practical necessity remains a mystery. The only purpose seems to be so he can hurriedly hide them when Janice (Lisa Lackey) enters. She says that Mohinder Suresh called, wanting to talk about Matt's DNA. Matt is incredibly suspicious, wondering why he continues to be hunted. He doesn't seem to realise that the people who had no qualms about kidnapping him wouldn't bother with such niceties as a phone call.

In Montana, Mohinder (Sendhil Ramamurthy) and Sylar, still impersonating Zane, are on a road trip. Sylar thanks Mohinder for bringing him along; Mohinder thinks that his presence will help him to quell people's skepticism. It's hard to be skeptical without a brain, I guess.

Sylar has some hearing trouble*

The pair meet another evolved human, Dale Smither (Rusty Schwimmer), who has superhearing. She is able to hear Sylar's heart beating quickly, as if he is nervous. He claims that he is just excited to meet her, but is probably just thrilled at the prospect of some serious eavesdropping. Dale agrees to meet them tomorrow for some tests.
Later that night, Dale is busy doing repairs, when she hears a nearby heartbeat. Looking around, she is shocked to see Sylar standing right beside her. She didn't hear his footstops; he says that there weren't any. When she asks what that sound in his heart is, he replies 'murder.' It may be an utterly cheesy line, but Zachary Quinto totally pulls it off. He plays insane so well.
The next day, Mohinder and Sylar return to Dale's garage. Sylar has a terrible headache, presumably due to his newly-acquired ability. Mohinder stumbles upon Dale's corpse – a sight he had better get used to if he and Sylar are going to continue their travels. If Sylar listens really closely, he may be able to hear the cogs turning slowly in Mohinder's head.

Hope's boyfriend, whose name is really Steve Gustavson (Bill Fagerbakke), pulls Hiro (Masi Oka) out of the closet at gunpoint. He claims to be a Gaming Commision Officer, and asks where Hope (Missi Pyle), Ando (James Kyson Lee) and the bag are. Hiro tells him that he must go with him to save Ando, or else Hope will get away.
In the car with Gustavson, Hiro tells his new companion that he brought Ando along with him and thus is responsible for his well-being. Steve tells him that taking on a partner will only leave him with blood on his hands. On a journey such as this, the spilling of blood seems inevitable.

Ando and Hope stop in a parking lot. All those waffles must have damaged Ando's IQ, because his stupidity is headed into Matt territory. Ando offers to take the bag and will not take no for an answer, even to the point of struggling with Hope over it. It must be a cultural thing. The bag rips, and casino chips spill everywhere. Ando finally realises that something is amiss, and Hope takes out a gun.
Ando gathers up the chips, and Hiro and Gustavson arrive just as he finishes. Hope uses Ando as a shield, pointing her gun at Gustavson. He tells her that he wants his share, which leads me to conclude that Las Vegas' entire population is criminal. A gun fight ensues, and Ando is hit in the arm. Hiro and Ando seek shelter in the luggage compartment of a bus, while Hope and Gustavson battle it out. Hiro is sorry for dragging Ando on his quest. Hope comes over to them and takes aim.

Hiro uses his ability*

Hiro concentrates as Hope pulls the trigger. He manages to stop time and reverse it, causing the bullet to fly back into the chamber. The recoil throws her off, allowing Gustavson to tackle her. Both Ando and Hiro had their eyes closed, so Hiro doesn't realise that he was able to use his ability. It seems the quest for the sword will continue.
Gustavson and Hope are taken into custody, while Ando has been fitted with a sling, but seems relatively unharmed. Once again, television reinforces the postion that being shot isn't all that bad. Hiro is determined to leave Ando behind, as he doesn't want him to get hurt any further. He says that life isn't a comic book, although Stan Lee's appearance as a bus driver may suggest otherwise.

Back on the rooftop of the Deveaux building, Claude is attacking Peter with a wooden pole. Peter wants him to stop, but Claude refuses. He continues to attack Peter, and tells him to pull out one of his powers to stop him. As he takes another swing, Peter manages to stop it using telekinesis. Initially, Peter isn't sure where he acquired this ability, until he remembers his encounter with Sylar. Clade says there might just be a chance of stopping hi from exploding, then promptly smacks him in the face with another pole, knocking him down. I'd just like to reiterate how fantastic Christopher Eccleston is in this role – his misanthropy could make him wholly unsympathetic; however, Eccleston manages to bring a likeable quirkiness to the role.

Matt goes to meet Ted and Hana, where the latter explains to them about their mysterious marks. She says it is from a pneumatic needle that injects a radioactive isotope, and a shipment went to Primatech Paper. They concoct a plan to get to Bennet, and they need Matt to read Bennet's mind so that he can't lie to them. They not only want to save themselves, but also be heroes and save others.

Claude and Peter are still on the roof, discussing maximum potential, which may be another term for deus ex machina. Looking through thermal goggles, Mr Bennet fires a taser at Claude, hitting him in the neck. The Haitian (Jimmy Jean-Louis) tries to do the same to Peter, but Peter is able to stop the probes before they reach him. In this moment, we see a change in Peter, and what follows is possibly the most compelling sequence in the series so far. Peter decides to do something unexpected, and throws Claude off the side of the building. He flies down to catch his mentor, then takes off, flying away over the New York skyline. I got goosebumps when I watched this for the first time, and it was wonderful to see Peter finally take control of his abilities after wallowing in so much doubt. Words cannot fully capture the impact of this scene – it has to be watched to be appreciated.

Claude wakes up at Peter's apartment. When he asks how Claude is feeling, Peter answer is a punch in the face. I'm guessing that translates to pretty damn awful. Claude accuses Peter of knowing that 'they' were after him, explaining that he stays invisible to escape their detection. Claude concludes that Isaac must be working for them. Peter is desperate for Claude to stay as they are finally getting somewhere, but Claude will not stick around and be hunted. It is a shame to see Claude go, but after Peter's display, I don't think he needs help bringing out his powers anymore.

Mrs Bennet has been rushed to hospital with a subdural hemorrhage. A doctor tells Claire that it happened in the area of her brain that controls memory. She asks if radiation or domestic violence could have played a part. After some trepidation, Claire reveals vague details about The Haitian's role in her mother's brain issues. The doctor is understandably incredulous, and says that she will talk to Claire's father.

Mr Bennet arrives at the hospital, and he and Claire fight over her mother's condition. He reveals that the doctor told him about Claire's theory – so much for confidentiality. She pleads with him to stop lying, and he finally tells her that if the wrong people find out about her ability that she will be in danger. He explains about what happened with Sylar. Claire is still angry and says that he doesn't just get to apologise. John Howard also subscribes to this concept.

The Bennets return home to find Ted and Matt waiting for them. Matt is sure that everyone has a lot of questions, as they sure do. You have that right, Matt, although not as many as those of us who watch Lost.

Isaac finishes a painting of Peter standing in his apartment. Considering Peter is standing right behind him, it isn't the most futuristic one he's ever painted, although it is a cool effect. Peter is angry at Isaac, and blames him for Claude's departure. Peter believes Isaac's actions are because of jealousy, but Isaac insists that he cares about saving the city. I would say it's a touch of both. Isaac grabs the gun given to him by Bennet, and points it at Peter.

An unexpected end for Simone*

Turning invisible, Peter taunts Isaac, saying that he is no hero, and that Simone left him because he couldn't even save himself. Isaac hears a noise and fires – hitting Simone squarely in the chest. Simone collapses, and is caught by a now visible Peter. I should probably be ashamed to admit this, but I laughed when Simone bit the dust. I may have even cheered. Yes, I am a terrible person, I know. I have nothing against Tawny Cypress, I just wasn't fond of the character. Like Claude, I felt that Peter's attachment to her was holding him back.

It is the unexpected that takes our breath away. Sometimes it is welcome, other times, not so much. It is what we learn from; what challenges us. The unanticipated can fall on us like a tonne of bricks, or it can allow us to soar up to the heavens. Whatever the unexpected may bring, it will always take us by surprise.

Overall Rating

*Screencaps courtesy of the Heroes Wiki, and used under Fair Dealing for identification and critical commentary.

Vote

Comments (13)

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: Nina - Category: No Category

Email this Post to a Friend

Babble On - Spaced

July 12th 2007 09:03

'Babble On' is a new category of posts, and as the name suggests, prattle on about the merits of a particular TV show.

The Cast of Spaced*

Today's babble is on the British sitcom Spaced, written by Simon Pegg and Jessica Stevenson (now Jessica Hynes) and directed by Edgar Wright.

The programme follows the lives of Tim (Simon Pegg) and Daisy (Jessica Stevenson), two slacker twenty-somethings. Despite barely knowing beach other, they masquerade as a professional couple in order to gain and share a flat. While this may not be the most original concept, the amusing characters and clever execution ensure that the show is entertaining and unique

[ Click here to read more ]

Vote

Comments (4)

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: Nina - Category: No Category

Email this Post to a Friend

Heroes: Run!

July 11th 2007 01:33

Run! was a slightly weaker episode of Heroes. However, the distance travelled in this episode brings the story closer to its ultimate destination.

The episode picks up where it left off, with Meredith (Jessalyn Gilsig) on the phone to Nathan (Adrian Pasdar). She informs him that both she and their daughter are still alive. Meredith asks for $100 000, or she will let the world know that Nathan had a child out of wedlock. I'm quite certain that when Claire (Hayden Panettiere) imagined her birth mother's attributes, blackmailing was not one of them. She is fast overtaking Mr Bennet (Jack Coleman) as the most duplicitous parent

[ Click here to read more ]

Vote

Comments (4)

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: Nina - Category: No Category

Email this Post to a Friend

Time Travel - Heroes Episodes To Screen Directly After the US

July 5th 2007 23:49

In good news for Heroes fans, Channel Seven has announced that it will be screening the new season of the show directly after it airs in the US.

Yatta!*

The same will be done for Prison Break. This should mean that new episodes will hit our screens in late September or early October.

This is a great move for both fans and the network itself. Viewers can be up to date with the most recent happenings without having to download the episodes. It is also a blessing for those of us who frequently online discussion pages and websites, as it reduces the chance of inadvertently reading spoilers. As for the network, it should result in better ratings, and a far better sense of goodwill with their audience. The only downside is that we may have to contend with the various hiatus that occur in American screenings, but hopefully they should fit in fairly well with the Summer and Easter non-ratings periods

[ Click here to read more ]

Vote

Comments (12)

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: Nina - Category: No Category

Email this Post to a Friend

October 2008

10 Posts

September 2008

5 Posts

June 2008