Blogcritics The critical lens on today's culture & entertainment
Written by Musgo Del Jefe
MUSGO'S TOP 100 FEATURE OF THE WEEK:
No. 97 – You Only Live Twice (SPIKE) (SAT)
The first Bond film I've included in the list. Will it be the only to make the Top 100? The fifth in the series and next to last for Sean Connery. Here he's a man at the top of his game. Set almost exclusively in Japan, the series has everything we think as "Bond" – a mini-movie beginning, great cars, great gadgets, hot women and a great villain (Donald Pleasence as Blofeld). Oh yeah, and ninjas! The Nancy Sinatra theme and John Barry score is just icing on the tasty cake. Without this film – we wouldn't have such diverse products as Austin Powers and The Incredibles – both of which borrow heavily from this Bond.
SUNDAY
2007 American Music Awards (ABC) No writers means no new jokes. Here's a thought – let the music do the talking. And more Beyonce!
The Simpsons (FOX) New comic book shop opens in Springfield. And it's owner is Jack Black. Best episode ever??? Probably not, but it's promising.
Andrew Jackson (HIST) I like his picture on the $20. Can't tell you much more than he was called "Old Hickory". After these 2 hours, I'll cream you in AJ trivia.
MONDAY
Weeds (SHOW) The pay-cable series that should be populating my Tivo concludes it's season tonight. Every trailer for this looks like gold and yet I haven't made the commitment.
Chuck (NBC) What is it with cute girls on this show? Rachel Bilson guests.
Late Night w/Conan O’Brien (NBC) Frank Caliendo and Galactic.
TUESDAY
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (ABC) I don't believe I've missed an airing in +30 years. Even more of a tradition for me than the Christmas special. Yeah, I said it. Snoopy fighting with the chair? Makes me laugh every single time.
Frank TV (TBS) Caliendo is the second funniest Frank I know, so this could be good.
WEDNESDAY
Pushing Daisies (ABC) I promise to catch up when the DVD set comes out this Summer. In the meantime, it's a Paul Reubens guest alert.
Rise Of The Video Game (DISC) Five-part series starts with an episode entitled "The Thumb". This type of historically important stuff should be in our schools. And it's in HD!
THURSDAY
CSI (CBS) Jorja, I miss you but the competition for your spot's going to be fun.
NFL Football (FOX/CBS) Thanksgiving is about traditions. The Lions/Packers is about as good as it gets. And for dessert? The Cowboys!
FRIDAY
The Next Great American Band (FOX) I'll admit that I knew I'd probably be on board for this. And I am. It's turned out to be quite different than I thought with lots of variety – funk/rock, bluegrass, big band and Yardbird-ish throwbacks all together. And it's on Friday nights, so it feels like my own private show just for me.
Numb3rs (CBS) A valuable comic book goes missing at a comic convention. I can't make this stuff up. Well, I could but why would I bother when it's so easy to just summarize what I just read in TV Guide.
SATURDAY
A Grandpa For Christmas (HALL) Just what we all want under the tree – Ernest Borgnine. With Jamie Farr for good measure. This sweet stuff preys on our weakest emotions and that's why I occasionally have to tune in. Oh yeah, there's singing and dancing and an orphaned little girl to boot!
Battlestar Galactica: Razor (SCI-FI) Now that I watch "Bionic Woman", I'm probably more likely to catch up with this series before the fourth season starts next spring. This two-hour special is just to tide you over.
TV-ON-DVD TO OWN (to be released November 20)
1. Love, American Style (Season 1, Volume 1). True TV greatness. See my review later this week.
2. Little Britain (Complete Collection) Are you up on this UK series? It's a little Kids In The Hall, a bit of Second City, and just a tad Benny Hill. But all fun.
3. Charles In Charge (Complete 2nd Season) This is where it became the show we all remember. Good old, Buddy.
4. Star Trek (Season 1 – HD-DVD) I'll be rockin' a review for this in the next week or so – stay tuned, it's a lot of Star Trek overload in 10 discs.
5. Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist (Complete Series) I spent many a morning eating breakfast while watching this series. Dry humor. But if you like Curb Your Enthusiasm, this is your animated alternative universe.
TV ON DVD NEWS:
El Bicho forwarded the bad news to me earlier this week: Rocket Robin Hood has been canceled. Not delayed. Canceled. That is certainly great news for Comic Con fans of "World's Worst Cartoons." It'll mean a lot to me to just have this next one on my shelf: The Love Boat (Season One, Vol. One) is set to be released on March 4th. My Saturday nights from 1977 through the mid 80s usually started with this show and ended with SNL.
TOP 5 ADDS TO YOUR NETFLIX QUEUE (released November 13)
5. Ocean's Thirteen. It's like Steven Soderbergh is showing off by hanging with his cool pals – Clooney, Pitt, Damon, Pacino while his "real" fans wait for Schizopolis 2.
4. Paris, Je T'aime. Perfect for the ADD in all of us. A collection of five minute films about Paris including Gus Van Sant, The Coen Bros. and oddly, Wes Craven.
3. Killer Of Sheep. I can't tell you how many times this title turned up in 'Zines and Cult Movie books I read through the '80s and '90s. Evocative, low budget piece about LA – Watts in the '70s makes it's DVD debut.
2. Berlin Alexanderplatz. Back in my Liberty Street Video days in 1987, this 16-hour film was our most consistent renter. The movie's about the parallel stories of a man released from prison and driven back to crime by circumstances and the emergence of the Nazi party out of the ashes of WWI. It'll cost you seven disc spots on your queue. I seem to remember this playing in art theaters in the early '80s.
1. Shrek 3. No, I can't do that to you. That #2 selection is really the best thing this week and it's big enough to take up your whole holiday weekend.
