Weekend This N That

Wow, where does the time go?

Last week, I was reminded of why I hesitate to bother taking time off from work. While it's nice to get away for a few days, it almost doesn't make up for how much extra work is there waiting for me when I get back. I guess it's maybe a good thing that I get an extra hour next weekend when we turn the clocks back to Standard time.

Mother Nature has just reminded me that November is almost here by dumping 4 inches of snow. I can remember a few years during my childhood when we had to do our Halloween Trick-or-Treating while walking through two feet of snow and wearing snowmobile suits under our costumes. At least I remembered to buy a new snow shovel last weekend.

Speaking of Halloween, I'm guessing that means it'll be a week for all of the scary movies. I'm not a 'scary movie' person. My list is basically limited to movies like Silence of the Lambs, The Shining, or Amityville Horror. That's as 'scary' as I can usually get.

I will confess - season 13 of CSI is starting out pretty darn good. I think it's because they have more than one thing in each episode to capture my attention. In the last episode, they spotlighted Greg (FINALLY) and the continuity of his book on Old Vegas.  It was really touching. It was heartwarming to hear a few mentions of Sam Braun, although I was really hoping that they could have included Catherine in there somehow as well. See, now if TPTB would have had Catherine leave CSI to take over Sam Braun's empire (or at least one casino) instead of going to the FBI, this could have been a great tie-in to at least have a mention of her (because I know it's probably way too soon to actually have her return.)

Since the story revolved around a piano, it also garnered my interest. After about 10 years of piano lessons as a kid, I still can't really play worth shit, but love to hear the instrument. It was cute how they had Jim Brass playing 'chopsticks' to begin the episode - in the middle of a field, no less. And then Sara & Brass going to the music store.



  


Okay, let's take a poll - when Sara was in the music store, how many of you were thinking of Jorja & Gary on the CBS Early Show?





And how many of you cringed when DB scratched that vinyl record to get the vinyl shavings like the ones on the body? I hope there was no one who didn't actually know what a vinyl record was. And then there's Jay Acovone as Tommy Grazetti. I know him better as Major Charlie Kawalsky on Stargate SG-1.




While I consider CSI to be pretty good these days, that time slot still belongs to Chicago Fire for me. I like that they're going to have Jason Beghe in a recurring role. He's always such a good baddie.








It's still another month before the return of Rizzoli and Isles for the final five episodes of season 3. As I was watching some reruns of R&I as well as Stargate SG-1 the other night, it hit me how similar Jane & Maura are to Jack & Sam.



Jane Rizzoli and Jack O'Neill are both well-versed in sarcasm. Both have a short tolerance for 'big words' - Jack with Sam's "technobabble" and Jane with Maura's "Google-speak" - yet both indulge their counterparts up to a point. Both Jane & Jack are "Shoot first, send flowers later" people, who are the first to put their lives in the line of fire to save others. I guess that's why I love both of the shows.

This N That Thursday

I’m impressed. I’ll admit it.

Last night’s episode of CSI was actually one of the best they’ve had in a very long time – at least since Marg’s departure. 

Maybe it’s because they started off the episode playing a Patsy Cline song in the diner.

Maybe it’s because there was an actual case (even though I figured it out before the opening credits) without all of the soap opera-ish drama from one of the main characters.

Maybe it’s because Arye Gross returned as another charming baddie like the first time around. (You may remember he was the guy who intentionally left his baby to die in the car on a very hot Vegas day. That was back in season 4’s “Feeling the heat”) 

Maybe it’s because both Officers Akers & Metcalf had speaking parts.

Maybe it’s because we finally got to see the real Sara Sidle back in action (and even with a gun) – compassionate towards the victims in the diner, yet feisty & driven when going against the stalker.

Let’s just say it was “all of the above” – plus more. Such as:
- DB helping Ecklie get dressed, or even seeing Ecklie in ‘normal’ clothes instead of a suit.
- Fin needing an hour of alone time with all of the blood evidence.
- Greg stuck in the freezer (and not admitting it to anyone.)
- Fin & DB’s “Stumped vs thinking” discussion.
- and that Fin/DB ending being such a Cath/Gil moment from the early seasons – right down to the bright red blouse and leather jacket.












Adam Harrington was great as Ronald Basderic in this episode. He was in the pilot ep for Mob Doctor, as well as Stargate SG-1 back in the day. And of course, there’s Del Hunter-White (Connie, the bus driver) who had a small role in season 1’s “Blood Drops” as the Family Services rep that tried to take Brenda, who clung to Sara instead at the hospital. Oh, and just for good measure, she was the 9-1-1 operator at the beginning of the Women’s Murder Club finale. (I really miss WMC)

For the first time in a real long time, I finally saw a CSI episode that seemed to hearken back to the ‘good old days’ (seasons 1-5)


I won’t go so far as to say I was “impressed” with the premiere of Nashville last night, but I will admit that it “didn’t suck” as bad as I was expecting. However, I think I attribute that more to the location than to the content of the show. I loved seeing the aerial views of Nashville, and of course, the Bluebird Café, which I’ve been to, and even sat for one of the performances. Now I understand what some previews meant when they mentioned that the city of Nashville was one of the main stars itself.

As for the story – I’d call it a fictional version of Reba McEntire vs Carrie Underwood. Reba, of course, would be Connie Britton’s character, Rayna Jaymes. Carrie being Hayden Panttiere’s character, Juliette Barnes. I had to laugh at the part where Rayna said “Shut Up” when watching Juliette’s video. And of course Rayna’s comment in the office – “you can kiss ‘my decision’ as it’s walking out the door.” The part that endeared me the most is when the guys in the studio were talking about how Juliette’s singing could easily be fixed with Autotune. I’m glad to see the show is at least keeping things real. I saw a tweet from singer/musician Matraca Berg last night that said they got the music business part of the show pretty close to real. At least they got in snips of a few old country classics, like Tammy Wynette’s “Stand by your man” and John Conlee’s “Rose Colored Glasses”






Was it just me, or did all of the guys seem to look alike? I was having a very hard time trying to keep track of who was who. Deacon, Teddy, Avery… I think they had a specific type in mind when casting. If they were trying to make me sympathetic towards Juliette by showing the druggie mother begging for money, it wasn’t working. It seems that only works on me when it happens on Rizzoli and Isles (when they showed us Lydia’s mother.)


I would actually go as far as saying that I enjoyed the premiere of Arrow more than Nashville. I was pleasantly surprised that Arrow kept me intrigued for the full episode. There was some great action, as well as the duality of toughness vs charm with Oliver Queen. And was it charming or tacky that they even played Queen’s “We are the champions” in the episode? And what better way to start a new series than have Brian Markinson as the evil baddie? Can’t get any better than that. And Oliver’s secret lair actually reminded me of Oracle’s setup in the clocktower in Birds of Prey. And how about the dis on Twilight? “ What’s Twilight?” – “you’re so better off not knowing.” ROFL



 



Of course, Chicago Fire was the big winner for the night, in my book. I gave you my thoughts on that one yesterday. I just need to mention that having a few of the actors live-tweeting during the show helps increase my interest in the show as well. Monica Raymund and Lauren German were both tweeting. I love how Monica & Lauren have already put out a poll for the Gabriella Dawson & Leslie Shay ship name - “Shawson” and “Lesbriela”. It seems that “Shawson” was the one chosen and will be the ship moniker. That was quick. Monica also tweeted “That's a real firehouse we shot in. sometimes the PA goes off for the real fire fighters who are gracious enough to let us film in there.” I love those little tidbits of info.














Last, but not least, I also tuned in to SVU last night as well. It made me smile to see Liv & Amanda getting paired up as partners now. See, I guess miracles do happen and prayers get answered. Well, at least for one episode, I guess. I know that won’t last forever.

Happy 10-11-12 Day!