Pic of the Week: St Paul's Cathedral

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Joss Whedon's Top Ten Episodes

I love extras on DVDs.

One of the extras on the season 7 DVDs of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is an interview with Joss Whedon where he gives his top 10 list of favorite episodes. I'm sure it's hard for the creator of a great series like Buffy to narrow it down to 10, but it's fun to hear which episodes are on his list.

10. Prophecy Girl (season 1, episode 12)

This is the last episode of season 1, and again, it's up to Buffy save the world. This is the first time Buffy seriously questions if she wants to be the slayer. She just wants to be a normal teenager and go to Spring Fling. She doesn't want to be the only hope of defeating the Master and possibly die. It's interesting to see how she reacts to this, her first "apocolypse," compared to the subsequent threats to the earth's existence.

Buffy grows so much as the slayer through the series. Joss said that he wanted to write about a female hero who didn't need the man to come rescue her. Buffy defeats the Master on her own, but she did need a little help from Xander before she could do it.

My biggest problem with this episode is that there was such a build up for The Anointed One, and what does he do? Nothing really.

Funniest and saddest scene: Xander lying on his bed listening to "I Fall to Pieces" by Patsy Cline.

9. Conversations with Dead People (season 7, episode 7)

The best part of this episode for me was watching Buffy have a therapy session in the cemetery with a vampire she went to high school with. The therapy comes in between moments of Buffy trying to kill the vamp and him trying to kill her. His assessment of Buffy is that she has an "inferiority complex about her superiority complex." This is "Buffyness" humor at its best. Other characters talk to friends or family who have died, and the significance of these conversations comes later in the season.

I really love this episode. The only thing I really don't like about it was giving a plot line to Andrew, Jonathan and Warren. I wanted to see Xander or Anya. All of the plot lines with Andrew, Jonathan and Warren annoyed me.

8. Restless (season 4, episode 22)

Joss deviated from having a huge season finale in season 4. The big battle happens in the penultimate episode of the season instead of the last episode. Joss calls the last episode, Restless, a "grace note." The episode is four character studies of what the main characters are about, what they fear and who they are. Joss wanted the dreams of the characters to be very dream-like, how they transition from one place to another with no structure, how things are not what they seem, and who everything is surreal. He called it a 40 minute tone poem. Great episode.

7. Becoming Part II (season 2, episode 22)

This is one of the saddest episodes. I was shocked at the end when I saw it. This episode shows how Buffy has to make hard choices and great sacrifices to save the world. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a metaphor for growing up, for life. There are so many demons in our lives that we have to battle, and we have to make hard choices and sacrifices to become the person we can be.

6. The Wish (season 3, episode 9)

I love "what if" episodes. This one explores what Sunnydale would be like if Buffy never moved there. If Buffy hadn't come to Sunnydale, the town would be overrun with vampires, the Master would be alive and leading them, Xander and Willow would be vampires, Angel would be in chains, Cordelia would be dead, and Buffy would be like Faith. This is the episode where we first meet Anya, and I love Anya (Emma Caulfield is so good!). And, it's great to see Xander and Willow as vampires. They are bad!

This episode can make you glad that all wishes do not come true.

5. Doppelgangland (season 3, episode 16)

A spell gone wrong brings vampire Willow from the alternate universe face to face with good Willow. It's great fun to watch good Willow pretending to be Vamp Willow to stop the vampires from killing a bunch of students at the Bronze.

4. The Body (season 5, episode 16)

This was a very difficult episode for me to watch. Losing a loved one is not easy, and it hurts, even years later. The episode was so well written and so well acted. This episode showed me that Buffy could be a very dramatic show, not just in a "fighting demons" way, but in a very real way. This episode is about a pain most of us have faced one way or the other. We have either been the one who lost someone, or the one trying to comfort the one who has suffered the loss and not knowing exactly what to do or say.

My only complaint with this episode was that the scene in Willow' dorm room where she is trying to decide what to wear to the hospital went on too long. Small complaint for an excellent episode.

3. Hush (season 4, episode 10)

I think this is one of the scariest episodes, and it has the scariest demons of any on the shows. If you scare easily, watch this in the light of day. And maybe watch a comedy after that. I love this episode. It is so well written, and the dialogue is stellar. *wink*

About this episode, Joss said, "Let's just scare people, let's really scare them." He did.

2. Once More with Feeling (season 6, episode 7)

Joss was scared about failing in this episode. He asked, "Can we do this?" But he succeeded so well.

This episode is on most people's list of favorite Buffy episodes. (Just FYI: It is #15 on TV Guide's top 100 episodes of all time.) And who can blame them? It's a musical. Joss wrote the music and lyrics for the episode, and the songs are really good. The plot was so clever, and many of the actors can actually sing, which is good.

1. Innocence (season 2, episode 14)

My reaction to this episode was "No!!!" I'm sure that was many viewers reaction when they saw this episode for the first time.

Losing your innocence can have dire consequences, especially when the person you love is a vampire. This episode turns the season on its head and takes one character in a totally different direction. It's heartbreaking to see Buffy's response to the appearance of Angelus. Sarah Michelle Gellar is an amazing actress. This is really a great episode.


Regarding the entire series, Joss said, "They left us to our own devices, and we really told the stories we wanted to tell." He says his only regret was that he didn't have the energy for more.

Having just finished watching the last season on DVD, I regret he didn't have the energy too.

Sherlock: Three Word Teaser for Season 3

Prior to season two of Sherlock, Stephen Moffat gave audiences three words as a teaser for the upcoming season. Those three words were: Hound. Woman. Fall.

If I had heard the teaser prior to season two, I’m sure I would have been able to guess which story “hound” was based on. I might possibly have guessed that “woman” was about Irene Adler. However, I wouldn’t have had any idea about “fall.”

Stephen has revealed three words for season three of Sherlock. Rat. Wedding. Bow.

Without looking on the internet, I have no idea what stories the three episodes will be based on, since I've only read two stories.

Are you a Sherlock Holmes fan? Do you have any guesses of what stories they could be based on?

I’m just so glad that there will be a season three, regardless of what stories the episodes are based on. I’m sure that they will be stellar.

Doctor Who: Pond Life

Have you ever wondered what life is like in the Pond home when Amy and Rory aren't traveling with the Doctor. Well, you can find out in a series of stand-alone webisodes while you're waiting for Saturday's season premeire of Doctor Who.

Karen and Arthur can explain it best.



It all starts today.

Go to the Doctor Who website.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 1 ep. 5 Quippy Quotes

In "Never Kill a Boy on the First Date," Buffy's first date with handsome Owen does not go as planned. But things seldom goes as planned for Buffy.

Quippy Quotes:

Buffy: We haven't been properly introduced. I'm Buffy and you're history.

Buffy: Ooh, two points for the slayer while the watcher has yet to score.

Giles: What do you want?
Owen: A book?
Buffy: See, this is a school and we have students and they check out books and they learn things.
Giles: I was beginning to suspect that was a myth.

Owen: I lost my Emily... Dickinson. It's dumb, but I like her around. Kind of a security blanket.
Buffy: I have something like that. Well, it's an actual blanket. Uh, and I don't really carry it around anymore. So, Emily Dickens, huh? She's great!
Owen: Dickinson.
Buffy: She's good also.

Giles: She's quite a good poet. I mean, for a ...
Buffy: Girl?
Giles: For an American.

Giles: Buffy, while the mere fact of you wanting to check out a book would be grounds for a national holiday, I think we should focus on the problem at hand.
Buffy: Right. I'm sorry. You're right. Vampires. Oh, does this outfit make me look fat?

Willow: Owen Thurman was talking to you?
Buffy: It's all true.
Willow: Wow. He hardly talks to anyone. He's solitary, mysterious. He can brood for 40 minutes. I've clocked him.

Giles: All right. I'll just jump into my time machine, go back to the 12th century and ask the vampires to postpone their ancient prophecy for a few days while you take in dinner and a show.
Buffy: Okay, at this point you're abusing sarcasm.

Xander: So, you just went home?
Buffy: What was I supposed to do? Say to Owen, "Sorry I was late. I was sitting in a cemetery with the librarian, waiting for a vampire to rise so I could prevent an evil prophecy from coming to pass"?
Xander: Or flat tire.

Giles: Another date? Don't you do anything else?
Buffy: this is the first date. There's never been a date, okay? This is my maiden voyage.

Buffy: Clark Kent has a job. I just want to go on a date.

Willow: Xander, we should go with Giles. He could get in trouble.
Xander: Oh, he's gone. He's going to be all right. He's like Superlibrarian, you know. Everyone forgets, Willow, that knowledge is the ultimate weapon.

Buffy: You remember when you said I was like two different people? Well, one of them has to go, but the other one is having a really good time and will come back, I promise.
[Buffy kisses Owen and leaves.]
Owen: She is the strangest girl.

Owen: I don't really know how to say this, but about last night --
Buffy: You don't even have to -- I'm sure you were pretty freaked out.
Owen: Totally, and I was wondering when I could see you again.
Buffy: Um, that was my hopeful ear. Could you repeat that.

Giles: I was ten years old when my father told me I was destined to be a Watcher. He was one, and his mother before him. And I was to be next.
Buffy: Were you thrilled beyond all measure?
Giles: No, I had very definite plans about my future. I was going to be a fighter pilot. Or, possibly a grocer.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 1 ep. 4 Quippy Quotes

In episode 4, "Teacher's Pet," Xander falls for the substitute science teacher, who happens to be a giant preying mantis.

Quippy Quotes:

Dr. Gregory: Don't be sorry. Be smart.

Blayne: Girls really got to have something to go out with me.
Xander: Something like a lobotomy?

Giles: Every day here is the same.
Buffy: Bright, sunny, beautiful. However can we escape this torment?

Willow: He's one of the only teachers that doesn't think Buffy's a felon.

Buffy: Hot dog surprise. Be still my heart.
Willow: Call me old-fashioned. I don't want anymore surprises in my hot dogs.

Xander: Those who can, do. Those who can't, laugh at those who can - do.

Blayne: You came in second, I came in first. Guess that's what they call natural selection.
Xander: Guess it's what they call a rehearsal.

Xander: So there's something else out there besides silverware man? Oh, this is fun. We're on Monster Island.
Buffy: Were on a Hellmouth. It's a center of mystical convergence. [pause] I guess it's the same thing.

Giles: You went hunting last night.
Buffy: Yes.
Giles: When you assured me you wouldn't.
Buffy: Yes. I lied. I'm a bad person. Let's move on.

Buffy: Do you know Miss French, the teacher that's subbing for Dr. Gregory?
Giles: Yes. Yes, she's lovely. Well, in a common, extremely well-proportioned way.

Cordelia: When tragedy strikes, we have to look on the bright side, you know? Like how even used Mercedes still have leather seats.

Buffy: No, I'm not saying she craned her neck, we are talking full-on Exorcist twist.
Willow: Ouch.

Miss French: Oh, Xander. I've done something really stupid. I hope you can forgive me.
Xander: Oh, forgiveness is my middle name. Actually, it's LaVelle, and I'd appreciate it if you guard that secret with your life.

Buffy: Factoid three: Her fashion sense screams predator.
Willow: It's the shoulder pads.
Buffy: Exactly.

Giles: This computer invasion that Willow's performing on the coroner's office, one-one assumes it is entirely legal?
Buffy: Of course.
Willow: Entirely.
Giles: Right. Wasn't here. Didn't see it. Couldn't have stopped you.

Xander: What kind of girlie name is Angel, anyway?
Buffy: What does that have anything to do --
Xander: Nothing. It just kind of bugs me.

Blayne: I don't want to die like that.
Xander: Blayne, Blayne, chill. We're getting out of this.
Blayne: You got a plan? What is it?
Xander: Just, uh, let me perfect it.

Giles: You were right all along about everything. Well, no, you weren't right about your mother coming back as a Pekingese.

Giles: Whatever you do, it had better be sudden and swift. This beast is extremely dangerous.
Buffy: Well, your buddy Carlyle faced it and he's still around.
Giles: Yes. In a straitjacket, howling his innards out day and night.
Buffy: Okay, Admiral. Way to inspire the troops.
Giles: Sorry.

Giles: Recording bat sonar is something soothingly akin to having one's teeth drilled.

Pic of the Week: Stonehenge

Doctor Who is Coming Back!

I've been waiting and waiting to hear when season 7 of Doctor Who will start on BBC America. I found out today. Yay!

The first episode of the new season, "Asylum of the Daleks," will air on Saturday, September 1, 2012.

I am more than excited. I am over the moon. I am giddy. I am every adjective and cliche you can think of that describes excitement!

Only 10 more sleeps until the adventure continues.



Go to Blogtor Who if you want to read a spoiler-free review.

Grimm: Bad Teeth

I cannot tell you how excited I am that season 2 of Grimm has started. This was such a great episode, and I'm looking so forward to this season. The only thing that I'm concerned about is that the show will become serial instead of episodic. I hope that each episode will still be based on a fairy tale, and that it won't be just about the mythology of the Grimm and the "royal family" with a little fairy tales on the side.

Observations:

Scary new Wesen. Scariest one we've seen so far.

I love the credits sequence. "There once was a man..."

Last season it seemed like the show's focus was the fairy tale stories. It seems like this season will be more about Nick's life as a Grimm.

Is Kelly really what she seems? I’m sure she’s up to more than she says. Her 18 years in hiding could be its own series. I want to see that!

Great scene with Monroe, Rosalee, and Nick’s mommy.

Not only is Juliette in a coma, but she’s forgetting everything! How could Nick deal with that on top of everything else?

It's convenient that it takes 16 hours for the potion to brew. We can't have them giving her the antidote right away, right? Suspense, suspense, suspense!

I have a feeling that Nick shouldn't give the coins to Kelly. Something has to be up, it can't be that simple. "Give me coins. I'll destroy them. You can trust me, I'm your mother. Although you really don't know me, and don't know what I've really been doing for 18 years."

Renard wants to keep Nick in Portland. I wonder what Renard specifically wants with Nick.

Why doesn't Renard ask Kimura any questions when Kimura tells him there were two Grimms.

Kelly doesn't seem very motherly. But she does try to cook breakfast and she cleans up the house. I love the look of surprise on Nick's face when he sees the clean house.

Kelly went on her first Wesen hunt when she was 18. What an initiation into adulthood.

This reminds me a bit of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (not just because I'm watching a marathon of Buffy episodes). It could be called, Nick the Wesen Killer.

Why is it always about a treasure hides by knights? And about controlling the world. As much as I love this show, I wish it wasn't about ruling the whole world. I just want it to be about fairy tales.

Why wouldn't Nick go straight to the hospital when he gets the call from Monroe and Rosalee? You would think Juliette would be the most important thing to him.

Quotes:

Monroe: Isn't she supposed to be not so alive?

Monroe: Sort of nice to meet you.

Monroe: Family reunions can be brutal. Our last one we lost two cousins - and a sheepdog.

Renard: Where's Adalind?
Catherine: Why would you think I know where she is?
Renard: You're her mother.
Catherine: Well, that's a little old-school, even for you.

Hank: I may not be awake, but I'm right.

Eric: I am on the phone!

Nick: Okay, that was cool.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 1 ep. 3 Quippy Quotes

The third episode, "Witch" is the episode where Buffy tries out for cheerleader at her new school, and a few people don't want her to get the gig.

Quippy Quotes:

Giles: This is madness. What could you be thinking? You are the slayer. Lives depend upon you. I make allowances for your youth, but I expect a certain amount of responsibility. And instead of which you enslave yourself in this - this cult.
Buffy (standing in a cheerleader outfit w/ pom poms): You don't like the color?

Giles: That's the thrill of living on the Hellmouth. There's a a veritable cornucopia of fiends and devils and ghouls to engage. (all look at him quizzitivaly) Pardon me for finding the glass half full.

Buffy: You guys don't have to get involved.
Xander: What do you mean? We're a team. Aren't we a team?
Willow: Yeah, you're the Slayer, and we're, like, the Slayerettes.

Xander: I laugh in the face of danger. Then I hide until it goes away.

Joyce: How was school?
Buffy: A reverent joy.

Xander: For I am Xander, King of cretins. May all lesser cretins bow before me.

Xander: First vampires, now witches. No wonder you can still afford a house in Sunnydale.

Rupert: Why should someone want to harm Cordelia?
Willow: Maybe because they met her? [pause] Did I say that?

Xander Harris: We're right behind you, only further back.

Joyce: I don't get it.
Buffy: What?
Joyce: I've been doing a lot of thinking about where you're coming from, how to relate to you. And I've come to a very simple conclusion. I don't get it.
Buffy: I'm inscrutable, huh?
Joyce: You're 16. I think there's a biological imperative whereby I can't understand you because I'm not 16.
Buffy: Do you ever wish you were 16 again?
Joyce: Oh, that's a frightful notion. Go through all that again? Not even if it helped me understand you.
Buffy: I love you Mom.
[Buffy leaves]
Joyce: I don't get it.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 1 ep. 2 Quippy Quotes

In "The Harvest," the second episode of the first season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Buffy and her group of friends try to stop the end of the world. Something they will find themselves having to do again, and again, and again. And they do it while saying things very clever, as always.

Quippy Quotes:

Willow: Oh, I-I need to sit down.
Buffy: You are sitting down.
Willow: Oh. Good for me.

Giles: As long as there's been vampires there's been the slayer. One girl in all the world.
Buffy: He loves this part.
Giles: A Slayer hunts vampires. Buffy is a Slayer. Don't tell anyone. Well, I think that's all the vampire information you need.
Xander: Except for one thing: how do you kill them?
Buffy: You don't. I do.

Giles: You have no idea where they took Jesse?
Buffy: I looked around, but soon as they got clear of the graveyard, they could have just, voom!
Xander: They can fly?
Buffy: They can drive.

Giles: So, all the city plans are just open to the public?
Willow: Um, well, in a way. I sort of stumbled onto them when I accidentally decrypted the city council's security system.
Xander: Someone's been naughty.

Xander: So, what's the plan? We saddle up, right?
Buffy: There's no "we," okay? I'm the slayer, you're not.
Xander: I knew you'd throw that back in my face.

Principal Flutie: Maybe that's how they do things in Britain. They've got that royal family and all kinds of problems. But not in Sunnydale. Nobody leaves campus while school's in session. Are we clear?
Buffy: We're clear.
Principal Flutie: That's the Buffy Summers I want in my school. Sensible girl with her feet on the ground.

Buffy (to Angel): I have a friend down there, or a potential friend. Do you know what it's like to have a friend? [pause] That wasn't supposed to be a stumper.

Buffy (to Angel): You gonna wish me good luck?
[No answer. Buffy walks away.]
Angel: Good luck.

Buffy: What are you doing here?
Xander: Something stupid. I followed you. I couldn't just sit at home and do nothing.
Buffy: I understand. Now go away.

Buffy: So, Giles, got anything that can make this day any worse?
Giles: How about the end of the world?
Buffy: Knew I could count on you.

Cordelia: Senior boys are the only way to go. The guys from our grade? Forget about it. They're children. You know? Like Jesse. Did you see him last night, following me around like a little puppy dog? You just wanna put him to sleep. But senior boys, they have mystery. They have... What's the word I'm searching for? Cars!

Luke (a vampire): Ladies and gentlemen, there's no cause for alarm. Actually, there is cause for alarm. It just won't do any good.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 1 ep. 1 Quippy Quotes

I just finished season 4 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I've loved the whole series so far, though there were some episodes in season 4 that were not my favorite.

The scripts are so good, with so many great lines. And I've written favorite quotes in my notebook, because that's what I do. So, I'm going back to season 1 with my favorite quotes.

Quippy Quotes from ep. 1 "Welcome to the Hellmouth"

Willow: Do you have Theories in Trig? You should check it out.
Xander: Check it out?
Willow: From the library. Where the books live.

Buffy: Mr. Flutie...
Principal Flutie: All the kids here are free to call me Bob.
Buffy: Bob...
Principal Flutie: But they don't.

Xander: Well, uh, maybe I'll see you around. Maybe at school since we both go there.
Buffy: Great! It was nice to meet you.
Xander: ( to himself) We both go to school. Very suave. Very not pathetic.

Xander: Hey! You forgot you're... stake.

Cordelia: You'll be okay here. If you hang with me and mine, you'll be accepted in no time. Of course, we do have to test your coolness factor. You're from L.A., so you can skip the written, but let's see. Vamp nail polish?
Buffy: Um, over?
Cordelia: So over. James Spader?
Buffy: He needs to call me.
Cordelia: Frappaccinos?
Buffy: Trendy, but tasty.
Cordelia: John Tesh?
Buffy: The Devil.
Cordelia: That was pretty much a gimme, but... you passed.

Cordelia: Willow, nice dress. Good to know you've seen the softer side of Sears.

Buffy: It does involve hanging out with me for a while.
Willow: Aren't you hanging out with Cordelia?
Buffy: I can't do both?
Willow: Not legally.

Buffy (re: the library): That place just kind of gives me the wiggins.

Buffy: It's my first day. I was afraid that I was gonna be behind on all my classes, that I wouldn't make any friends, that I would have last month's hair. I didn't think there'd be vampires on campus.

Buffy: Who are you?
Angel: Let's just say, I'm a friend.
Buffy: Yeah, well maybe I don't want a friend.
Angel: I didn't say I was yours.

Buffy: Are you here with someone?
Willow: No, I'm just here. I thought Xander was gonna show up.
Buffy: Oh! Are you guys going out?
Willow: No, we're just friends. We used to go out, but we broke up.
Buffy: How come?
Willow: He stole my barbie. Oh, we were five.

Downton Abbey: Season 3 Preview

What's in store in season 3 of Downton Abbey? Just watch. The preview is about nine minutes in.



Thanks to Ruth for posting the video on her blog, Booktalk & More .

Sidenote: And for those who aren't yet convinced they should watch Sherlock. There is a there's a season one and two recap of the genius show about three minutes into the video.

Grimm: Season 2 Premiere Tonight!

You know what I'll be watching tonight.

I'm so excited, I'm giddy!

The Strange Connection between Buffy and DS9

Buffy, the Vampire Slayer is my kind of show. And I’ve never watched it until now. I know, I know, how could that happen? How could I go almost 15 years and never watch a show that I was bound to love? I tell you, I don’t know. It just happened. Now, through the magic of Netflix streaming, I am now trying to right this terrible wrong. *wink * I have watched up to episode nine of season one. And yes, I love it. I love the characters, the silly plots, the vampires/demons/witches and such, the writing, and the plain Joss Whedonness of it.

Now, to Deep Space Nine. I started watching reruns of the show in the late nineties. I have never been a big Star Trek fan, but this incarnation of the Star Trek franchise really grabbed me. As with Buffy, I loved the characters, the storylines, the writing, the range of aliens we meet, and the humor. Because it’s been so long since I’ve seen any of the episodes, again I decided to take advantage of its availability on Netflix streaming and watch it from the beginning of season one.

Since it’s sometimes hard for me to decide which series I want to watch, Buffy or DS9, I decided to watch an episode from each series every night. So, I have watched episodes 1 through 9 of both Buffy and DS9. And I found a strange connection to the two series when I got to episode 9 of each series.

Episode 9 (episode 10 if you count the two hour pilot as two episodes) of Deep Space Nine is called “Move Along Home,” and it’s about a new species of alien, the Wadi, that come on to the space station. Quark, the Ferengi, who runs the bar and casino on the promenade of the ship is caught cheating the Wadi at the gaming table. Not too happy about this, the leader of the Wadi asks Quark if he wants to play one of their games. The object of the game is to “move along home” (thus the name of the episode). The game sucks the four highest officers who are onboard the ship (Captain Sisko, Major Kira, Lieutenant Dax, and Doctor Bashir) into the game where Quark’s next move could be a matter of life or death.

In "The Puppet Show," episode 9 of Buffy, the Vampire Slayer (which I watched immediately after “Move Along Home” of DS9) a new character is introduced: Principal Snyder, who is played by none other than Armin Shimerman, who plays Quark in DS9. Interesting connection, but that’s not the only coincidence between the two episodes. When Buffy is walking in the halls of the high school after school hours, the principal tells her to “get along home.” Okay, so he said “get” instead of “move,” but four years after the “Move Along Home” of DS9, Armin Shimerman (who was still playing Quark in DS9 at the time) repeats all but one word of the title of that episode.

That is all.

Doctor Who: Origins Movie

William Hartnell, the First Doctor

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who, BBC has commissioned a film to explore the origins of the series. Mark Gatiss, whose Doctor Who scripts include: "The Unquiet Dead," The Idiot's Lantern," and "Night Terrors," will write the script.

"An Adventure in Space and Time" will "tell the story of the genesis of Doctor Who," the BBC said. "Exploring all aspects of the longest-running science fiction series to date, the special one-off 90-minute drama will also look at the many personalities involved in bringing the series to life."

"This is the story of how an unlikely set of brilliant people created a true television original," Gatiss said. "And how an actor -- [original Doctor] William Hartnell -- stereotyped in hard-man roles became a hero to millions of children. I've wanted to tell this story for more years than I can remember! To make it happen for Doctor Who's 50th birthday is quite simply a dream come true."

No actors have been cast yet for the movie, nor has it been announced when it will air.

I'm excited for the film and to find out what else is planned for the 50th anniversary. Not many other television series have been on the air when their 50th anniversary has been celebrated. In fact, I can't think of any other right now.

Marvin Hamlisch: The Way We Were

The world lost a great songwriter on Monday when Marvin Hamlisch passed away at the age of 68.

Smile, Marvin. (Only two other people will get that reference.)

BatPhone vs. iPhone: You Decide

This is just hi. larry. us.

That is all.

Stage Review: Les Miserables

When The Utah Shakespeare Festival announced their 2012 season last year, their summer musical was going to be The Drowsy Chaperone. I was so excited because I was in it two years ago and I absolutely love the show. I was looking forward to seeing what this company would do with the show. Then, the Festival found out that they could get the rights to do Les Miserables. They couldn't pass up the opportunity because it's such a popular musical, especially in Utah, and they knew they would be able to have sold-out shows, which every theatre company wants. Hardly anyone has heard of The Drowsy Chaperone, even thought its a great show, and they probably wouldn't have made as much money.

I saw Les Mis the first time in Los Angeles in 1988, only three years after it opened in London. I absolutely loved it! I was drawn into the story of Jean Valjean, and the student uprising of 1832 in Paris. I loved the music, and the message of the story. Since that time I've seen it multiple times, including the many versions of the touring production, a regional production, and a high school production. I still love the show.

However...

This version of the musical didn't have any performances that really stood out for me. Usually when I love a show I can see it over and over, but I feel like I've seen this musical enough and I want to see something new in any new production. I am excited to see the film version of Les Mis in December because it's a different medium and so I'll be seeing the show in a new light. Throughout this whole production I just kept thinking "been there, seen that." Yes, it could have to do with the fact that I really wanted to see The Drowsy Chaperone, and maybe I'm a bit bitter about it. *wink*

All in all, the production was good, and if you love Les Miserables, then I'm sure you will not be disappointed by this production. However, there were some choices the director made that I thought were a little strange (which means they are choices I wouldn't make).

Most of the cast was strong. Valjean wasn't as strong vocally as I hoped he would be, until the second act when he sang "Bring Him Home." That was his strongest song, which is good, because it is also the most beautiful song in the show.

I only have one last thing to say, "Please USF, do The Drowsy Chaperone soon."

Grimm: An Inside Look at Season 2

For an inside look at the new season of Grimm, which premiere on August 13 (yay!), click here.

David Giutoli, who plays Nick, says, "If you like season 1, just wait 'til you see season 2."

I can't wait!

Merlin: Season 5 Trailer

I am so excited for season 5 of Merlin.

Colin Morgan, who plays Merlin says about season 5, "The stories are more focused on the legends that we’re going to become.”

I like the rest of the cast, but I love Colin Morgan as Merlin. I love that he's still learning to be a wizard. It makes his character much more interesting.

Stage Review: Titus Andronicus

I have been going to the Utah Shakespeare Festival for 17 years, and i have a list of productions that were unforgettable for me (a few include, King John, 1776, and A Servant of Two Masters). Like me, there are many people who have been going for many years, and there are many productions that patrons continue to talk about, even decades later. The 1990 production of Titus Andronicus is one of those productions. I didn't see it, but many patrons still speak of it years later. I was waiting for the next time the Festival would produce it to see if they could live up to that production.

Titus Andronicus is Shakespeare's bloodiest and most violent play. It was written for a society where the theatre goers were used to seeing public hangings, beheadings, drawing and quartering, and people being burned at the stake. If Elizabethans could see our violent, gory movies today they were be very entertained. I don't like violent, gory movies. If it had been a movie, I'm sure the violence would have been very graphic and I wouldn't have even thought about seeing it; but as a play, with Shakespeare's wonderful words, and great direction and acting, I loved it.

In Titus Andronicus seven people are killed onstage, we hear about four other people's deaths (two of these are beheadings), a man has his hand cut off onstage, a woman is raped offstage, and has her tongue cut out, and her hands cut off. Oh, yes, and two of the young men killed are baked in a pie that is unknowingly eaten by their mother.

Morbid indeed. Still I loved the production.

Trying to depict all of these murders and atrocities could verge on mellow drama, and leave the audience laughing, or trying to contain their laughter, but this production was so well directed and acted that the scenes were very powerful.

Dan Kremer was outstanding as Titus. It is his actions that start the ball of revenge rolling when he sacrifices the son of Tamora, Queen of the Goths. By the end, three of his sons, his daughter, his son-in-law, and he himself are dead, along with others. But he is the tragic character in this play named after him. I was able to meet Dan after the performance at the home of the costume master for the Festival, and I enjoyed talking to him about the themes of the play, mainly the theme of parents and children.

The other stand-out performance for me was Melisa Pereyra as Titus's daughter, Lavinia. This poor girl (the character) sees her husband murdered before her eyes, and then is raped, has her hands cut off and tongue cut off so she can't identify her attackers, and then left to die. (I know you're shocked that I enjoyed this production. I am too. It's amazing what I'll watch, and enjoy, for the love of theatre. The atrocities are very representational, so as to not be gory.) Melisa's performance was incredible. Again, the situation depicted on stage could be comical or simply gross if it weren't for her wonderful performance.

The other cast members were outstanding as well, and I am grateful to actors who give their all to create wonderful live theatre. This is a play I would definitely see again.

Drop Dead Diva: Fred Could Get an Emmy

I was sad when Ben Feldman, who played Fred, left Drop Dead Diva. But it seems like he's done very well for himself since he left. Ben was nominated for an Emmy for his role on AMC's popular series, Man Men.

He will be coming back for the season finale on September 9th and we'll be able to see what Fred has been up to since leaving his post as Jane's guardian angel (other than being nominated for an Emmy).

Once Upon a Time: Casting a Pirate and a Prince

Captain Hook and Sleeping Beauty's true love, Prince Phillip, have been cast for the second season of Once Upon a Time.

Irish actor, Colin O'Donoghue will play the one-handed Captain Hook. He was previously seen in The Tudors. According to Entertainment Weekly's website, "the villain has been described as a confident pirate who never backs down from a fight; a man who seeks to crush and humiliate his enemies. But he also has the meticulous style and manners of a proper gentleman." If Captain Hook is around, can Peter Pan be far behind?

British actor, Julian Mooris, will play Prince Phillip, the prince who’s seeking to awaken Sleeping Beauty (Sarah Bolger). Also according to Entertainment Weekly's website, Phillip is "described as a man who’s traveled from a kingdom that’s in decline. He’s described as a young, skilled warrior and selfless hero who’s the veteran of many tough journeys." Morris plays Wren Kingston on ABC Family’s Pretty Little Liars and he’s also had roles on Fox’s 24 and NBC’s ER.

I am so excited for the next season of Once Upon a Time. If they keep casting good looking men, they'll keep the women watching (including me). I watched the pilot again yesterday. I hadn't seen it since it first aired. It was fun to see it after having seen the whole season, and catching things that made more sense now.

TV Review: All the Right Moves

Travis Wall certainly has made a name for himself as a dancer and choreographer since he was on season 2 of So You Think You Can Dance. So much that Oxygen has given him his own reality TV show.

All the Right Moves follows Travis and three of his friends as they try to start their own dance company, Shaping Sound. I like good dancing. I'm not a great dancer myself, although I like to dance. But I can appreciate talented dancers and good choreography, and Travis and his friends are great dancers and are good choreographers.

The first episode had plenty of drama, which all reality TV shows need. Travis has two friends who he asks to audition for the company, and because of their relationships with Travis and his other friends who are starting the dance company with him, they feel like they shouldn't have to audition, that they should automatically get a spot with the company. Both friends end up auditioning and getting spots in the company.

It's not just a matter of having the desire to start a company, they actually need money. So, they have to seek out potential investors and convince them to invest in their company. Travis's agent thinks that the company should have Travis's name attached to the company because he has a name people will recognize. But Travis's friends aren't happy about that because it isn't only Travis's dance company. This issue isn't resolved in the first episode, so it will continue to cause drama.

Shaping Sound performed a routine for the potential investors, and it was wonderful. Routines like this will be the reason I will continue to watch All the Right Moves. The company has great talent, and of course the choreography was outstanding.

And, here is the routine Shaping Sound performed for investors:



I hope the show will have the performance of more than one routine on each show, and I also wish that the camera would stay still longer than it does. I don't know who decided that when you film a dance routine the camera has to be all over the place. The choreographers choreograph routines like a photographer takes a picture. It's a composition, and I believe you should be able to see the routine as a live audience would see it, with the camera moving to close ups of dancers very seldom.

Doctor Who: Season 7 Trailer

I have no words, except oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!



I wish they would say when the first episode will air. I believe it's sometime in August or September. I can't wait!

Sidenote: This is not the same trailer I posted on July 31st. It's new!

Stage Review: To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic novel that most students have read at least once during their time in school. I have never read it (shocker, I know!), nor have I seen the the classic movie with Gregory Peck, and this is my first experience with the play.

The play is narrated by the grown up Jean Louise (Scout). As the narrator, Monica Bell did a good job of pulling us into the story. She was even drawn into parts of the scenes while still remaining the invisible observer. The first act was slow and a bit disjointed, but as a patron in one of the literary seminars the day after the play said, "it's slow in Alabama in the summer." I know there was so much in the novel that was skipped due to time restraints. The second act, however, consists mostly of the trial of Tom Robinson, and for me, the weaknesses from the first act were soon forgotten. 

The courtroom scene was wonderful. You could feel the tension during the trial, and just like Jem, Scout's older brother, you have to believe that Atticus has convinced the jury of the innocence of Tom Robinson. The lawyers address the audience as if we are the jury, and I think it was a very effective director's choice.

Martin Kildare was good as Atticus Finch. Even though I have not seen the film, I still pictured Gregory Peck in my mind as Atticus, but it didn't take me long to believe Martin Kildare in the role. Martin played Iago at the Festival in 2002, and he was the most charismatic Iago I have ever seen. He made it so you want to like him, but you can't, because he's Iago! So, it was so nice to see him in a part where you could like him with no reservations. 

The child actors were a bit weak. However, it would be hard for any young actor who doesn't have the same experience of the adult actors to give performances at the same level the adults do.

The set was good, and one set piece did double duty as both part of the Finch house and as the balcony in the courtroom. It was a clever use of the set.

After seeing the play I want to read the book and see the movie. So, I have the book coming from amazon and the film is next in my Netflix queue. I'm looking forward to finding out what was left out of the play. I got a glimpse of what the book is about and now I can discover for myself what makes it such a timeless classic.

So You Think You Can Dance: My Favorite Dancer

Matthew and Audrey have been my favorite couple since the beginning of this new season of So You Think You Can Dance, but my single favorite dancer is Will. I'm not as taken with his partner, Amelia, but I like Will's sense of humor, his quirkiness, his originality, and yes, his dancing, more than any other dancer. And he's just adorable.

I think I began to like him on the episode where they announced the top 20, and we first saw them dance. After the routine by Sonya Tayeh that featured only the men, he mentioned that he wasn't as "ripped" as the other men, that he had a bit of a belly. He said it with humor, not self-deprecation, and I liked that.

His routines haven't been my favorite, but I like him, and I hope he stays in the competition for a long time. And if he happens to win the whole thing, I would be happy. So, even though this routine isn't my favorite of last Wednesday's episode, I included this video because I just like Will.



The "Best of the Best" routine is the best ballroom routine I think they've ever had on the show. Of course it's performed by two ballroom dancers, Benji Schwimmer (winner of season 2), and his cousin Heidi Groskreutz. I wish the ballroom routines could be as good as this one.