Adventures of FanGirl in LA

Last Night on Earth -- Noah & the Whale

High Maintenance -- Miranda Cosgrove

CD/DVD

No Color -- The Dodos

John Barleycorn Must Die -- Traffic

Pursuit of Radical Rhapsody -- Al Di Meola

Dancing Backward in High Heels -- New York Dolls

Rango -- Hans Zimmer

Timeline -- Yellowjackets

Several Shades of Why -- J Mascis

The Big Roar -- The Joy Formidable

New Television

2011-03-15T00:01:00.001-07:00

Coach Season 4
DVD

Batman The Brave and the Bold Season 1, Pt 2
DVD

The Virginian Season 3
DVD

Vampire Knight Guilty 1
DVD

Laramie Season 1
DVD

Who Do You Think You Are? Season 1
DVD

The Snoop Sisters Complete Series
DVD

D. Gray-Man Season 2
DVD

Gunslinger Girl Complete Collection
DVD

New Movies

2011-03-15T00:01:00.000-07:00

The Fighter

iTunes

DVD
Combo + Digital

Hereafter

iTunes

DVD
Combo+Digital

The Switch

iTunes

DVD
Blu-ray

Waste Land
iTunes
DVD

A Shine of Rainbows

iTunes

DVD

Au revoir les enfants

Blu-ray

Yi Yi

Blu-ray

Clannad
DVD

New Releases: Books

2011-03-08T00:01:00.003-08:00

Fiction

Tiger's Wife -- Tea Obreht
Hardcover
Kindle
Audiobook

Three Stages of Amazement -- Carol Edgarian
Hardcover
Kindle

The Jungle -- Clive Cussler
Hardcover
Kindle
Audiobook

One of Our Thursdays is Missing -- Jasper Fforde
Hardcover
Kindle

Love You More -- Lisa Gardner
Hardcover
Kindle
Audiobook

Non Fiction

Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks -- Rebecca Skloot
Paperback
Kindle
Audiobook

The Social Animal -- David Brooks
Hardcover
Kindle
Audiobook

Enchantment -- Guy Kawasaki
Hardcover
Kindle

56 -- Kostya Kennedy
Hardcover

The Thank You Economy -- Gary Vaynerchuk
Hardcover
Kindle

New Releases: Music

2011-03-08T00:01:00.002-08:00

Glee the Music Vol 5
iTunes
CD

Stronger -- Sara Evans
iTunes
CD

New Releases: Television

2011-03-08T00:01:00.001-08:00

Walking Dead Season 1
DVD
Blu-ray

Hannah Montana Forever
DVD

New Releases: Movies

2011-03-08T00:01:00.000-08:00

Inside Job
iTunes
DVD
Blu-ray

Tales From Earthsea
DVD

Read more »

Thoughts on Two and a Half Men's abrupt cancellation

2011-02-27T14:57:00.000-08:00

Last Thursday (Feb 24th), CBS Network and Warner Bros Studio halted production for the remainder of the season.

Sheen, who is no stranger to issues, has been on a real streak lately. Caught with prostitutes, talk of trashing hotel rooms, rehab.

But the latest is a real winner. Seems that Mr Sheen pulled a serious hate game during a radio interview, bashing Two and a Half creator Chuck Lorre. But not just your regular basing. This was straight up, below the belt anti-semite nastiness. This was followed up with a message to tabloid news site TMZ, repeating the same talk.

Read more »

New iTunes movie apps, very awesome

2011-02-16T15:10:00.000-08:00

This morning saw the release of two new apps from Warner Brothers studio.

This apps, tied to the movies Inception and The Dark Knight, are available in two versions. The free version includes the first five minutes of each movie and a sampling of the bonus features. The full version, purchased within the app, provides the full movie and tons of features. There are also links to talk about the movies via facebook or twitter.

New Books

2011-01-31T22:05:00.000-08:00

Fiction

Blackveil -- Kristen Britain
Book
Kindle

Read more »

New Music

2011-01-31T20:54:00.000-08:00

Musica + Alma + Sexo -- Ricky Martin
iTunes
CD

Read more »

New Television

2011-01-31T20:46:00.000-08:00

Garrow's Law Series One
DVD

Read more »

New Movies

2011-01-31T19:05:00.000-08:00

Never Let Me Go
iTunes
DVD
Blu-ray

Let Me In
iTunes
DVD
Blu-ray + Digital

Read more »

Project Watch: Charlie's Angels (ABC)

2011-01-29T18:53:00.001-08:00

The upcoming pilot has found a director.

Marcos Siega has been signed to direct the remake pilot. Siega previously directed the pilot for Vampire Diaries as well as several episodes of Dexter, Cold Case and other shows.

Project Watch: Charlie's Angels (ABC)

2011-01-28T21:00:00.000-08:00

Hello Angels.

ABC's pilot has found its trio of angels for their remake.

Minka Kelly (Friday Night Lights) and Rachel Taylor (Transformers) join Annie Ilonzeh (General Hospital) as the crime fighting hot babe trio.

Read more »

Music News: Coachella 2011 Lineup Revealed

2011-01-19T22:34:00.000-08:00

And Holy Music Batman, what a lineup it is.
This year's Coachella Fest will be April 15-17 and it is packed to the gills with music.
More details about the event can be found on their website.

Read more »

Golden Globes Recap and Thoughts

2011-01-17T11:44:00.000-08:00

Last night was the presentation and broadcast of the 68th Annual Golden Globes.

The Globes, which recognize excellence in film and television, are awarded by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association rather than peer vote. And while the presentation is much more casual with the presenters, nominees and loved ones sharing a banquet dinner before the show and vast parties after, the award itself is very highly esteemed. In part because it is more impartial. In fact that impartiality and casualness is part of why I place the Globes on the top of my list of awards. Which is not to say that I don't enjoy the Oscars, Emmys etc, but they are more of a giant group pat on the back in my book (however it is a nice pat particularly considering the company one is standing in).

Read more »

New Music

2011-01-16T22:05:00.000-08:00

The King is Dead -- The Decemberists
CD
CD/DVD
Vinyl
iTunes

Low Country Blues -- Gregg Allman
CD
Vinyl
iTunes

Read more »

New Television

2011-01-16T20:56:00.000-08:00

Justified Season 1
DVD
Blu-ray
iTunes

Merlin -- Season 2
DVD
iTunes

Read more »

New Movies

2011-01-16T20:39:00.000-08:00

Takers
DVD
Blu-ray
iTunes

Stone
DVD
Blu-ray
iTunes

Read more »

New Movies

2010-11-28T20:31:00.000-08:00

Fantasia/Fantasia 2000
DVD
Combo

Sorcerer's Apprentice
iTunes
DVD
Combo + Digital

Knight and Day
iTunes
DVD
DVD + Blu-ray
Combo + Digital

Vampires Suck
iTunes
DVD
Blu-ray

Waking Sleeping Beauty
iTunes
DVD
Blu-ray

Going the Distance
iTunes
DVD
Combo + Digital

Valhalla Rising
DVD
Blu-ray

The Special Relationship
DVD
Blu-ray

Cairo Time
DVD
Blu-ray

The Sicilian Girl
iTunes
DVD

Shadowland
DVD

Destination Forks
iTunes
DVD

New Television

2010-11-28T19:32:00.000-08:00

Parks and Recreation Season 2
DVD
Blu-ray

Lucy Show Season 3
DVD
Blu-ray

Touch of Frost Season 15
DVD

Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Vol 17
DVD

New Music

2010-11-28T16:07:00.000-08:00

Glee: The Music Volume 4
iTunes
CD
Mp3

The Beginning -- Black Eyed Peas
CD
Mp3

Number One Hits -- Tim McGraw
iTunes
CD
Mp3

Bare Bones -- Bryan Adams
CD
Mp3

Joy -- Fefe Dobson
CD
Mp3

Lost in Time -- Eric Benet
iTunes
CD
Mp3

Let Freedom Reign -- Chrisette Michele
CD
Mp3

Love Me Back -- Jazmine Sullivan
iTunes
CD
Mp3

Mr I -- Ron Isleyfan
CD
Mp3

Black Swan -- Soundtrack
iTunes
CD

Green Hornet -- Soundtrack
CD

Danger Days -- My Chemical Romance
iTunes
CD
Mp3

New Books

2010-11-28T14:53:00.000-08:00

Fiction

Port Mortuary -- Patricia Cornwell
Book
Audiobook
Kindle

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand -- Helen Simonson
Book
Audiobook
Kindle

Non Fiction

As Always Julia -- Joan Reardon
Book
Kindle

Kids/Teen

Matched -- Ally Condie
Book
Audiobook
Kindle

New on iTunes: The Beatles

2010-11-16T10:31:00.000-08:00

So a day or two ago Apple started dropping hints that they were releasing something big on iTunes today. The Blogosphere went nuts thinking it was iOS 4.2, the return of lala.com style music streaming, a Zune pass like subscription service, 1080p formatted video. You name it, someone said that was the mystery item.

Instead, it was the inclusion of The Beatles on iTunes. Now on the one hand I'm utterly underwhelmed. But on the other I have to agree that this is a rather big moment. Not because of that whole Apple Inc v Apple Records legal stuff. Whatever is my call on that.

No this moment is big because The Beatles are historically one of the biggest bands ever. They are one of the groups that made Rock and Roll. Without The Beatles, current music would likely look a lot different. And for a long time they have held out against going digital. The remaining members have taken an almost philosophical stance against digital music. For the group to finally say yes is a validation of the whole form, the purchasing style. Perhaps it isn't 'the best' way to listen to their music (purists would say that is still vinyl) but for the upcoming generation, iTunes etc is THE most common choice for buying music and it is better for them to hear the songs even in a 'lesser' format than to be totally unaware of who The Beatles are.

And hey, apparently the release has places like Amazon worried about selling their CDs so they are dropping prices so that's also a win.

Go ahead, you know you wanna take a look.

New Movies

2010-11-15T11:29:00.000-08:00

Avatar Extended Edition
DVD
Blu-ray

Disney's A Christmas Carol
iTunes
DVD
Combo
Combo with 3D

The Kids Are All Right
iTunes
DVD
Blu-ray

Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore
iTunes
DVD
Blu-ray
Combo with 3D

The Last Airbender
iTunes
DVD
Blu-ray
Combo

The Extra Man
DVD
Blu-ray

Don't Look Back
DVD

The Night of the Hunter
DVD
Blu-ray

Modern Times
DVD
Blu-ray

The Shawshank Redemption
Blu-ray

The Polar Express 3D
Blu-ray

Clash of the Titans 3d
Combo

Open Season 3D
Blu-ray

IMAX Under the Sea 3D
Blu-ray

This Week's New Movies

2010-11-02T22:58:00.000-07:00

Toy Story 3
iTunes, Combo
Toy Story Trilogy Set
Blu-ray/DVD
Sound of Music 45th Anniversary
Blu-ray, Collector's Set
Cars Toon: Mater's Tall Tales
iTunes, Combo
Bridge on the River Kwai
Blu-ray
Goonies 25th Anniversary
DVD, Blu-ray
White Christmas
Blu-ray
Highlander Director's Cut
Blu-ray
Centurion
iTunes, DVD, Blu-ray
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Combo
Love & Distrust
DVD
The Wiz
Blu-ray
I am
DVD

This Week's New Television Box Sets

2010-10-24T23:16:00.000-07:00

CSI: NY Season 6

Star Wars Clone Wars Season 2

DVD, Blu-ray
Man V Food Season 2
DVD
Venture Bros Season 4 Vol 1
DVD
Hetalia Axis Powers Season 2
DVD
Trigun Complete Series
DVD
Poldark Series 2
DVD
War of the Worlds Final Season
DVD
Law & Order UK Season 1
DVD
Tonight Show with Johnny Carson
DVD
Canaan Complete Collection
DVD, Blu-ray

This Week's New Movies

2010-10-24T22:21:00.000-07:00

Back to the Future 25th Anniversary Trilogy
DVD+Digita l, Blu-ray+Digital
The Girl Who Played with Fire
iTunes, DVD, Blu-ray
Sex and the City 2
iTunes, DVD, Combo
Winter's Bone
DVD, Blu-ray
Paths of Glory
iTunes, DVD, Blu-ray
House
DVD, Blu-ray
Clapham Junction
DVD
Legend of the Black Scorpion
Blu-ray
Plan B
DVD
The Infidel
iTunes, DVD
Wild Grass
DVD, Blu-ray

Criminal Minds "Remembrances of Things Past" (603)

2010-10-07T19:22:00.000-07:00

Criminal Minds
“Remembrances of Things Past” (Ep 603)
The team investigates the reappearance of a killer that got away from Rossi years before.
Original Air Date: Wednesday, October 6, 2010

We open with Rossi at home. He is on vacation, probably the time off they are all required to take each year as mentioned in previous episodes. He is interrupted by a phone call from Hotch who tells him they have a new case. A case that has details very similar to one of Rossi's old unsolveds.

That old case, dating back to the 1990s and dubbed "The Butcher", was a series of kidnapping, torture and murders of several young blondes. At first Rossi is against the notion that the Butcher was back in action but quickly becomes convinced as they gather more information. Hotch however takes more convincing. Eventually they come to realize that it is The Butcher with the help of a partner, his own son.

The title of the episode is a multilayered reference. We start with the departure of JJ, whose name plate is still on her office door. Then we have reference to Ellie Spicer who has become attached to Morgan as a kind of godfather/confidant (something Prentiss is a tad snippy over). Next is the discovery that the killer is suffering dementia and memory loss and is trying to recreate his last kill (but due to his growing condition never will). Coby, the son, is trying to help his father remember both the killings and simple day to day information. He also argues with his father over things he remembers that his father says are not true. Things that tie into a memory Coby has actually attempted to forget -- the memory is watching his father kill his mother.

The episode is also interesting in regards to the notion of relationships and the power they can have over people. Coby is groomed by the very person that should have been protecting him into being a killer and submissive to his father's will even after the man grows weak and frail. On the flip, Morgan and Ellie share a tragic moment that creates a bond that is therapeutic for Ellie. It calms her, makes her feel safe even though Morgan is on the other side of the country. I can't help but wonder if Morgan has finally found the woman, or rather girl, that would make him give it all up. He has always played himself as a playa, destined to never settle down. But we know from previous episodes that family is important to him. Be it the family he was raised in or his BAU family. Add to this his promise to Matt Spicer to protect Ellie and I can buy the idea that in the very near future, Morgan might leave the BAU to, at the least, transfer to Los Angeles to be nearer to Ellie.

The one thing that saddens me about this episode is that it shows, to me, just how disposable JJ was as a character. She's gone and it doesn't feel like anything is really missing. The briefing meeting run by Hotch feels perfectly normal, there's no need for a press conference, the local cop is barely seen (allowing the focus to be on the team). The episode is book ended by Rossi's writing work, first by his block and then by his jumping into something (possibly about the Butcher which is one case it is noted he never wrote about). JJ just isn't missed. And a part of me wanted something to be done or said that would bring up her absence during the case and not just the moment of removing her nameplate, presumably so it wasn't trashed. When Gideon walked off at least we got Reid's abandonment angst moment. I really wanted someone to slip up and say her name, forgetting she wasn't there. Or something.

All in all a good episode. Although probably not one that I'd repeat view with any obsession, just not that good.

Episode
itunes

Songs

Official Site

Season Sets

Season One DVD, Blu-ray, iTunes

Season Two DVD, Blu-ray, iTunes

Season Three DVD, Blu-ray, iTunes

Season Four DVD, Blu-ray, iTunes

Season Five DVD, Blu-ray, iTunes

Season Six DVD, Blu-ray, iTunes

Books

Finishing School

Killer Profile

Jump Cut

The Forensic Psychology of Criminal Minds -- Katherine Ramsland

This Week's New Releases: Books

2010-10-05T17:42:00.000-07:00

Fiction
The Reversal -- Michael Connelly
Book, Kindle
Nemesis -- Philip Roth
Book, Kindle
Painted Ladies -- Robert B Parker
Book, Kindle
Sugar and Spice -- Lauren Conrad
Book, Kindle
Promise Me -- Richard Paul Evans
Book, Kindle
Crave -- JR Ward
Book, Kindle
Gauntlgrym -- RA Salvatore
Book, Kindle
Rose in a Storm -- Jon Katz
Book, Kindle

Non Fiction
Trickle Up Poverty -- Michael Savage
Book, Kindle
At Home -- Bill Bryson
Book, Kindle
Moral Landscape -- Sam Harris
Book, Kindle
Washington A Life -- Ron Chernow
Book, Kindle
Is It Just Me? -- Whoopi Goldberg
Book, Kindle
Where Good Ideas Come From -- Steven Johnson
Book, Kindle
Southern Plate -- Christy Jordan
Book, Kindle
Style -- Lauren Conrad
Book
You: Raising Your Child -- Roizen and Oz
Book, Kindle
Games that Changed the Game
Book, Kindle

This Week's New Releases: Music

2010-10-05T17:07:00.000-07:00

Music
Toby Keith -- Bullets in the Gun
iTunes, CD
Bruno Mars -- Doo-Wops & Hooligans
iTunes, CD
Guster -- Easy Wonderful
iTunes, CD
Joe Satriani -- Black Swans & Wormhole Wizards
iTunes, CD
KT Tunstall-- Tiger Suit
iTunes, CD
Down -- Diary of a Mad Band
iTunes, CD
David Archuleta -- The Other Side of Down
iTunes, CD
Supernatural TV Soundtrack
iTunes, CD
Emily Osment -- Fight of Flight
iTunes, CD
John Mayer -- Battle Studies
iTunes, CD

This Week's New Releases: Movies and TV

2010-10-05T14:01:00.000-07:00

Movies

Disney's Beauty and the Beast

iTunes, Combo

Karate Kid

iTunes, DVD

Nightmare on Elm Street

iTunes, DVD

Last of the Mohicans

The Exorcist (Extended Cut)

Grindhouse Spec Edition

The Maltese Falcon

Splice

Combo

The Secret of the Kells

30 Days of Night: Dark Days

Combo

Hard Candy

Television

Bones Season 5

Mary Tyler Moore Season 7

Caprica Season 1

All in the Family Season 7

Medium Season 6

Stargate Universe Season 1

Doctor Who: Dreamland

Ugly Americans Season 1

Blue Mountain State Season 1

This Week's New Music and Books

2010-09-28T23:09:00.000-07:00

A few more goodies to enjoy

Music
Clapton by Eric Clapton
iTunes, CD
Le Noise by Neil Young
iTunes, CD
Hemingway's Whiskey by Kenny Chesney
iTunes, CD
Telephantasm by Soundgarden
iTunes, CD
Invented by Jimmy Eat World
iTunes, CD
Going Back by Phil Collins
iTunes, CD
Commitment by Seal
iTunes, CD
Lonely Avenue by Ben Folds
iTunes, CD
Station to Station by David Bowie
iTunes, CD
La Cage Aux Folles: New Broadway Cast
iTunes, CD
Dissent of Man by Bad Religion
iTunes, CD
No Chocolate Cake by Gin Blossoms
iTunes, CD
History of Modern by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
iTunes, CD

Books
Fall of Giants
Book, Audiobook, Kindle
Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk
Book, Audiobook, Kindle
Naked Heat by Richard Castle
Book, Audiobook, Kindle
Torment by Lauren Kate
Book, Audiobook, Kindle
I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett
Book, Kindle
Don't Blink
Book, Audiobook, Kindle
Jedi Path by Daniel Wallace
Book

This Week's New Releases: Movies and TV

2010-09-27T12:17:00.000-07:00

Some more lovely goodies this week.

Movies

Iron Man 2

iTunes, Combo

Get Him to the Greek

iTunes, DVD

Superman/Batman Apocalypse

Thin Red Live

iTunes, DVD, Blu-ray

Babies

The Killer Inside Me

Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence

Frozen

Good

The Private Eyes

Television

Ellery Queen Mysteries

Midsomer Murders Set 16

Legend of the Seeker Season 2

iTunes, DVD

Family Guy: Partial Terms of Endearment

iTunes, DVD

Scrubs Season 9

Top Gear Season 13

South Park: A Little Box of Butters

CSI Season 10

Party Down Season 2

Secret Agent AKA Danger Man

This Week's New Releases

2010-09-20T19:24:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone has been saving up the tips and such cause it's serious TV time this week with lots of box sets to enjoy.
Movies
Robin Hood
iTunes, Combo
Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue
iTunes, DVD, Blu-ray
American Beauty
Blu-ray
Charade
Blu-ray
Ondine
iTunes, DVD, Blu-ray
Peacemaker
Blu-ray
Secret of Moonacre
iTunes, DVD, Blu-ray
The Experiment
iTunes, DVD, Blu-ray
Stomp the Yard: Homecoming
Combo

Television
Community Season 1
DVD, Blu-ray
Spartacus Season 1
DVD, Blu-ray
How I Met Your Mother Season 5
DVD, Blu-ray
Modern Family Season 1
DVD, Blu-ray
Castle Season 2
DVD, Blu-ray
Desperate Housewives Season 6
DVD
30 Rock Season 4
DVD, Blu-ray
Two and a Half Men Season 7
DVD, Blu-ray
Mentalist Season 2
DVD, Blu-ray
Law and Order SVU Season 11
DVD, Blu-ray
Human Target Season 1
DVD, Blu-ray
Bored to Death Season 1
DVD, Blu-ray
Being Human Season 2
DVD, Blu-ray

Music
Hands All Over by Maroon 5
iTunes, CD
Guitar Heaven by Santana
iTunes, CD
You Get What You Give by Zac Brown Band
iTunes, CD
Wake Up by John Legend & the Roots
iTunes, CD
Sound of Sunshine by Michael Franti & Spearhead
iTunes, CD
Enjoy Yourself by Billy Currington
iTunes, CD
Home by Jane Monheit
iTunes, CD
My Darkest Days by My Darkest Days
iTunes, CD
Ithaca by Paula Cole
iTunes, CD
It Takes a Thief by Thievery Corporation
iTunes, CD

Books
Earth (The Book) by Jon Stewart
Book
Operation Dark Heart by Anthony Shaffer
Book, Kindle
Even Silence Has an End by Ingrid Betancourt
Book, Kindle
To the End of the Land by David Grossman
Book, Kindle
Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
Book, Audiobook, Kindle
Bad Blood by John Sandford
Book, Audiobook, Kindle
The Exile by Diana Gabaldon
Book
The Fall by Guillermo Del Toro
Book, Kindle
Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Twelfth Grade Kills by Heather Brewer
Book, Audiobook, Kindle

Rumor: Lost gents to star in new show

2010-09-20T10:45:00.000-07:00

Hollywood reporter has posted a very intriguing rumor. Time will tell if the rumor is true.

J.J. Abrams pitching show with 'Lost' stars?

Linus and Locke could play black-ops agents

By Lindsay Powers

Sept 20, 2010, 12:24 PM ET

Still reeling from May's "Lost" finale?

Looks like Michael Emerson and Terry O'Quinn -- otherwise known as Benjamin Linus and John Locke/Smokey from the ABC hit -- are coming back to the small screen.

J.J. Abrams, Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec ("Alias," "Mission: Impossible 4") -- who work together under production company Bad Robot -- have been pitching a comedic drama to networks in which Emerson and O'Quinn play former black-ops agents, according to New York Magazine's Vulture.

Not that this should come as a complete surprise. In February, Emerson and O'Quinn told TV Guide they wanted to work together. Emerson also spoke about a potential collaboration while promoting "Lost's" DVD collection release. But this is the first time the project looks to have legs.

While there aren't many details, Vulture says the working title is "Odd Jobs," and it will have elements of comedy. Emerson mentioned earlier this year that he'd want to star as a suburban hit man, a la "Mr. and Mrs. Smith."

Warner Bros., the studio where Bad Robot is based, had no comment when asked by Vulture.

Source: HR

Eye Candy: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

2010-09-19T17:54:00.000-07:00

More screencaps are in the wild. I'm not sure I can stand the wait. This movie looks superb.

In Production: One for the Money

2010-09-17T17:54:00.000-07:00

Okay so anyone that knows me well knows that I'm a diehard fan of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books. I have been anxiously awaiting someone adapting this awesome series for ages. Several years ago I thought I was going to get my wish when I heard talk of a Stephanie Plum tv series. Alas it did not bear fruit.

Now we have a movie version in the works. Unfortunately I'm not really feeling this one. The more news I hear the more my excitement wanes.

First we have the director. Julie Anne Robinson has been around for a while but this is only her second movie, the rest are all tv episodes. On the plus side she's worked on some well known shows known for their quirkiness like Weeds, Grey's Anatomy and even the Fan Girl fav Pushing Daisies. So perhaps I can put aside the detail that her feature debut was a Miley Cyrus film and give her a fair shot.

There are three writers credited on this film: Lix Brixius, Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith. Brixius has only two writing credits to her name and both are from television. That said, one of them is two seasons of Nurse Jackie which she also helped create. The show's dark and quirky dramedy style is fitting with Stephanie's wacked out adventures. Lutz and Smith (who work as a team) are a bit more of a mixed bag having done both tv and film, however one of those more recent credits was The Ugly Truth, a movie best described as a disaster. Add to this The House Bunny and She's the Man and it's not a point of excitement.

Toss in an inexplicable decision to change the setting from New Jersey to Pittsburgh and on the production side, well there better be a totally awesome cast.

Problem is, there's not. There are no 'oh my gawd, awesome' names on this list. They are basically a collection of 'okay that might work' with some 'what were they thinking' tossed in.

It starts at the top.

Stephanie will be played by Katherine Heigl. She's just to put together and pretty. It's hard to buy her as a generic department store underwear buyer who couldn't find a job somewhere else. Not to mention that her last couple of roles haven't really inspired confidence on the acting side

Morelli will be played by Jason O'Mara. He's reasonably attractive and he has experience playing a cop. So maybe he won't be so bad.

Sherri Shepherd will be Lula. She certainly looks the part of a plus size hooker with a half crazed personality.

Patrick Fischler has the face of a guy sleezy enough to skim off the top and possibly fornicate with barnyard animals. Pity Vinnie is barely a part of the story.

But then comes the WTFs.

Daniel Sunjata as Ranger just doesn't inspire. Ranger is supposed to be bad ass, scary and sexy at the same time. And I'm not getting that vibe off Sunjata. The sexy sure, but not the scary.

And I'm seriously hoping that Debbie Reynolds as Grandma is just a rumor because I am so not feeling it. Grandma is supposed to be a total flake, the walking embodiment of the insanity in Stephanie's life. I just can not look at Reynolds and see a woman that tries to dress like a teenybopper, shoots dinner in the 'goods' or has to be (or could be) bodily yanked away from a closed casket. She doesn't even look the part age wise. I look at her and I see Stephanie's mother, not grandmother. For years the blogosphere was demanding the part go to Estelle Getty, who couldn't have been more perfect. With her passing, Betty White comes to mind as a possible contender. Or how about Kathryn Joosten. Joosten is an Emmy winning actress with age appropriate looks and her roles in Desperate Housewives and My Name is Earl prove she's got the zany down.

I'll likely see this because of my love for the Janet, but it is going to take a lot for me to shed $20 for a theatre seat instead of waiting for the DVD

Hellcats "A World Full of Strangers" (101)

2010-09-08T22:40:00.000-07:00

Hellcats

“A World Full of Strangers” (Ep 101)
Marti Perkins is forced to take drastic steps when her scholarship is revoked.Original Air Date: Wednesday, Sept 8, 2010

Hellcats is a tale of a girl from the wrong side of the tracks joining a competitive cheerleading squad as a desperate measure to stay in college so she can eventually get out town and to a better life. Sounds great right. Very inspiring, very drama yet chocked full of quippy comedy moments. Perfect fare for the CW, a network known for their 90210 remake, Smallville and before the rebranding Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Heck it is even executive produced by Tom Welling (who also apparently created the show). It seems like it would be a show full of awesome moves, killer music, some college love etc.

And it probably will be. But if this pilot is any sign it will also be a hopeless disaster of a show chocked full of bad writing etc. After enduring this episode, lets just say that I"m not feeling the spirit.

Let's break it down and count it out as they say.

We open with a reasonably cheeseless voice over about wonder Memphis and what a mecca Lancer University is (think Harvard level school but in Tenessee). We see our heroine Marti riding her bike, because 'times are tough' and she can't afford to be driving a car. Okay fair enough. She meets up with her buddy Dan, who apparently is some kind of blue collar dock worker and not a college student. They rift some disdain about how dumb cheerleaders are while watching the team practicing. Marti makes some silly move of fake shooting one of the girls who then falls and hurts herself (Don't get me started on how awful the editing in that moment was).

Later that night we see Marti biking home to a loft style apartment that even with the lower cost of living in Memphis screams more money than she and her single mother supposedly have. Without bothering to even remove her bike gloves, Marti starts writing checks for the bills (a sign she's the real 'parent' in the house I suppose) and finds a letter saying her scholarship has been pulled and her tuition is seriously past due. She think rides off to the campus bar her mother works at where Mom poo-poo's the whole thing saying the Union rep told her they can't legally cut her scholarship and it will all blow over. Which is right there totally ridiculous. First off, unless Mommy has another on campus job we are supposed to believe that Lancer owns and operates a bar. Alright fine for the sake of suspension of disbelief we'll go with it. But then there's the scholarship bit. Last I checked universities don't give the staff's kids scholarships, they waive fees and give them reduced tuition. So wouldn't it have made more sense if the scholarship was from other group. Maybe even forget the university employee nonsense. But okay fine whatever, I'll excuse that also.

Unfortunately things don't get much better. We move onto Marti getting into a verbal spat with one of the cheerleaders (actually the captain) right before she finds out that the squad is having tryouts because they need to replace the injured girl. Oh and cheerleading, as a sport, comes with a scholarship. Apparently a full one.

Or at least I think the tryouts were just for a replacement. It's hard to tell when Marti makes reference to be 'one of the new girls'. This is one of the sloppy details in the show. Others include Marti being called hopeless for one misstep when everything else she did was spot on (mind you it was Alice the injuried girl who is clearly being set up as enemy number one). Then there is Coach Vanessa telling them to toss the rulebook and go have fun but we cut to them doing a typical routine (mind you to some pretty hot and hip music). Plus somehow they all have the skills for Marti's superfly dance moves but nobody thought to actually use them before she shows up. Double shocking when the routine during the auditions only lacked a little hip shaking to be right where Marti was dancing. Marti did years of competitive gymnastics and doesn't recognize the move term. Not buying it. Then there's barely seen buddy Dan supposedly being Mr Blue Collar but he has access to a superfly professional looking video camera. Not to mention him not making a single snarky comment about their disdain for cheerleaders at the auditions. Where's the fun moment of Marti trying to defend her desperation while Dan snarks it up but in the end gets the notion that she's got to do something NOW and supports her because that's what friends do.

And the biggest sloppiness is the total missed opportunities. Marti goes from anti-cheerleader to 'go team' girl in about five seconds. So much conflict lost. There's all this talk about training and such but we never see Marti struggling with a second of it. She's supposed to be a flyer and yet we never see her learning the moves. And the whole 'spice it up' is so glossed over when it was a prime chance for a turf war just by having it Marti try to suggest some new moves with Alice trying to diss and veto them. Plus how about stiff hips Savannah and Marti sharing some quality time with some mutual training tips and actually becoming friends. Toss in Alice actually seeing some flirting between Louis and Marti to make her jealousy make sense. They cover a week in less than an hour and it shows. They could have made the big event 'in a month' and mined a ton of awesome stuff. Heck they could have mined the whole 'trying to find money' a lot more and ended this hour with Marti finding out about the tryouts, although that would mean a lack of flashy moves which is so far about all that is good about the show.

On the character front they do a little bit better but it is still weak. Savannah as the always positive girl with some serious OCD issues is fairly decent but Marti as 'white trash trying to get out' fails when her character is too accepting too fast. And Alice is total cookie cutter as the token bitch. As for Marti's mother, I'm just not buying the whole white trash or needy stuff. She comes off as more over protective than anything else. Certainly she isn't a woman that would fall apart at any moment as is implied. The only really good character moment thus far was the Admin Office verbal throw down when Savannah goes on a tear defending cheerleading as a sport.

I want to give this show the benefit of the doubt and say this is just typical crappy pilot syndrome so I'll watch a couple more eps but I have a feeling that when it comes to the Hellcats, my hands won't be so jazzy.

Episode

itunes

Amazon

Songs
Pump it -- Black Eyed Peas
Broken Heels -- Alexandra Burke
Ghost Town -- Shiny Toy Guns
Hey Soul Sister -- Train
I Like to Dance -- Hot Chelle Rae
I Want Candy-- Bow Wow Wow
Need You Now -- Lady Antebellum
Nobody -- Kate Earl
Rockstar -- Fefe Dobson
The Perfect Mistake -- Cartel
Till I Get to You -- Nikka Costa
We are Golden -- Mika
1901 -- Phoenix

Official Site

Season Sets

Season One DVD, Blu-ray, iTunes

Books
Cheer! by Kate Torgovnick

This Week's New Releases

2010-09-07T15:52:00.000-07:00

Movies
Killers
iTunes, DVD, Blu-ray,

Solitary Man

iTunes, DVD, Blu-ray

MacGruber

iTunes, DVD, Blu-ray

That Evening Sun

Phantom (2009)

Loss of a Teardrop Diamond

iTunes, DVD, Blu-ray

Tommy the movie

iTunes, Blu-ray

THX 1138 (Director's Cut)

Stardust

Best Little Whorehouse in Texas

It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown

Blu-ray Combo

Television
Supernatural Season 5

The Office Season 6

Smallville Season 9

Criminal Minds Season 5

DVD, Blu-ray

Chuck Season 3

The Guardian Season 2

Persons Unknown Season 1

Prime Suspect Complete Series

Pie in the Sky Series 3

The Norm Show Complete Series

Less Than Perfect Season 1