Supernatural @ MindSay 
ghosts
Television.
Yep, I sure do love tv. Movies, beh, but a good tv show--yep, I'm in heaven. With the advent of cable tv creating their own original series', the traditional "wait till fall" feeling has pretty much been eclipsed. Still, though, I do get excited at the thought of all the new shows that are going to start, because you never know, one of them might be the best show you've ever seen. It has certainly happened to me before.
I figured today (as it is pretty slow at work...have you SEEN the weather outside--gorgeous!) would be a good day to check out some new and upcoming shows. Most of what I currently watch (Leverage, Burn Notice, My Boys) are cable shows and they run on a different schedule, so they've all ended their seasons. This means that I am in between shows until the fall season starts. I am looking forward to the only two remaining network shows that I watch, both of which are returning for a 5th season this fall.
Criminal Minds is a drama that deals with the FBI profiling team hunting down serial killers. It is the most interesting crime procedural I've seen, coming at it from a completely different perspective. They deal with the WHY of a crime and leave the rest of it up to the local law enforcement. There was a HUGE cliffhanger at the end of last season and I am worried that one of the main characters may not be coming back.
The other show I watch you've probably heard me mention because it is easily one of the best shows I've ever seen. It has made me laugh hysterically, I get scared, I've cried, I am completely engrossed, it makes me think and on top of all that, the main characters also serve as eye candy. Supernatural is returning from its best season ever to try and top it in season 5. The creator of the show has long said that this would be a 5 year show--so I've been thinking that this is it, the final season. However, I just read that the network is trying to extend the show to at least a sixth season. Here's to hoping and I'll be sure and keep you posted.
Beyond those two, I don't watch anything on the networks. Mostly I think that cable shows are better and they seem to respect the fans a bit more. But still, you never know where that show will crop up, so I keep a lookout.
What I found is that there are lots of upcoming shows that sound good, but until you actually watch an episode or two, you have no idea. I am pretty excited about Three Rivers, a medical drama that deals specifically with patients in need of organ transplants. I'm not a huge fan of medical dramas, but this one stars Alex O'Loughlin (formerly of Moonlight) and he's enough reason for me.
But here's the real reason for this post: I was watching a preview for a new ABC show called Eastwick. It is based on the novel by John Updike and the movie The Witches of Eastwick. Rebecca Romijn is one of the stars and I've always found her to be enjoyable. The preview I watched online is pretty vague but alludes to the three main women each making a wish in a magic fountain. It seems that all of their wishes are about a man. The preview then cuts away to a shadowy shot of "the man" that is going to fulfill their wishes (if I understood the preview correctly). They only show the guy's mouth and chin, but I swear I looked at it...backed up the video to take another look and said to myself "he looks familiar". I know it sounds crazy to recognize someone from a one second glimpse of their mouth, but it definitely rang some bells in the back of my brain.
Not being remotely willing to wait until the premiere on September 23rd to find out who the mystery guy is, I turned to IMDb to see who is playing him. Honestly, when I saw his name you could have knocked me over with a feather. I (no lie) actually gasped.
Paul Gross.
See, I bet no one else reacted to that at all. Maybe my mom, but that's it for sure. Paul Gross is a Canadian actor who very, very rarely appears in American productions. To the best of my knowledge, this will only be the second time. The first was a movie called "Aspen Extreme". He also starred in the Canadian tv series "Slings and Arrows", which was very good, but mostly because of him. The reason I about fainted when I saw his name is due to the role for which he is best known, on the tv series "Due South".
*Brace Yourself*
Due South was a Canadian produced mini-series back in the mid-90s that got picked up by CBS because it was so damn good. They let the Canadian company turn it into a series and aired it on American tv. While I often will refer to a show as "my favorite", that pretty much means favorite in its category. When dealing with overall, number 1, greatest show I have ever seen....I am ALWAYS talking about Due South. It stars Paul Gross as a Canadian Mountie who ends up moving to Chicago and partnering with a wise-cracking detective to solve crimes. I know, I know, it doesn't sound impressive at all--but it is. It premiered in 1994 and was on for two years then it was canceled by CBS. But the Canadian company that produced it kept on making the show. Due to overwhelming fan outcry, after a one year hiatus, CBS actually brought the show back for the third season and then canceled it again. Again, fans were PISSED. The fourth and final season was in production at that time and we wanted to know how it would end. Eventually TNT bought the rights and showed the whole series in reruns so us poor fans could find out how it ended. It was 1999 before I got to see the finale of the series...I hadn't seen the show in two years but I kept on waiting because it is just that good. The show is absolutely brilliant in its execution and firmly cemented Paul Gross in my heart. I now own the entire series on DVD and Thank God for that. Now, 15 YEARS after it first aired I still consider it my favorite show and nearly fainted when I saw its star on a new show. THAT is quite an impact, wouldn't you say?
So be still my heart, Paul Gross is returning to American tv (!) as the mysterious man in Eastwick. I have to say, I wasn't all that impressed with the preview, it made the show look kind of stupid, but there is no way in hell I'm not watching it now. Now I just have to hope it doesn't get canceled so I can see as much of him as possible. Really, really, really can't wait.
I am almost as excited about this as I am about Supernatural and my mom (who watches it as well) hasn't been able to get me to shut up about that since it ended last May.
Yeeikes! I am excited for fall.
Incomplete...still working on pulling the themes and motifs out of my notes in the margins (yeah, I know...sin of sins! I write in my books), and I'm not quite done putting together what I found symbolic and such. But it's something to consider. Oh, and spoiler alert. I'm analyzing this, so I'm going over a lot of important plot points, so if you haven't read it and don't want me to ruin it...don't read any further. Not so much major plot points in this entry, but there will be in the future.
Questions that came up
1.What was Shadow in prison for? (We find out that later in the chapter that it was for aggravated assault and battery, although we don't know why he did it yet.)
2.Why did he feel relief in prison? (He had nowhere to go but up. He'd already been brought down as far as he could go...or so he thought)
3. Recitivism/reoffending after release from prison: Who do we blame? Was the criminal properly prepared for return to society? (Feel free to respond)
4. Why doesn't the lady at the ticket counter ask for his information?
5. Why does the white-suited man care so much about Shadow's presence? (We find out that Mr. Wednesday, as he's known, was waiting for Shadow. We don't know how he knew yet that Shadow would be there--especially given the continually changing plans--but somehow he [Mr. Wednesday] did and wanted/needed to offer Shadow a job)
6.What time of year is this?
7.When does the hooker scene take place in relation to Shadow's story? Does the change in tense have any significance?
Connections
-"It did not matter, Shadow decided, if you had done what you had been convicted of or not." (Gaiman 3) Connected this to Albert Camus, existentialist extraordinaire, and The Stranger. Similar views. Sort of the chaos theory thing going on.
-"Sam Fetisher was one of the blackest men that Shadow had ever seen. He might have been sixty...Then again, Shadow had met thirty-year-old crackheads who looked older than Sam Fetisher." (Gaiman 10) I'm picturing Michael Clarke Duncan of "Armageddon" and "The Green Mile".
-"'Where am I?' Shadow asked...'In the earth and under the earth,' said the buffalo man. 'You are where the forgotten wait...If you are to survive, you must believe.'" (Gaiman 18) Connected this to Plato's cave analogy. Shadow is being educated of the existence of something/someone(s) who have been forgotten or unknown. Similar to the idea of crawling out of the cave. Although the locations seem to be reversed as to which is the place of enlightenment and which is that of ignorance.
-"The world tipped and supon, and Shadow was on the plane once more...The plane shook and shuddered, and Shadow wondered, coldly and idly, if he was going to die." (Gaiman 18-19) Reminded me of the plane episode of "Supernatural." Mostly just the visual I get imagining the tipping plane.
-"Although given the weather, it might as well be Thursday, eh?" (Gaiman 24) A reference to Norse mythology? Thursday comes from Thor's Day, and Thor was the god of thunder. Since the weather's stormy, I think the connection fits.
-"...gives the illusion of motion to the faceless statue beside it, all hips and breasts." (Gaiman 28) A statue similar to the fertility statues of the ancient world? Particularly coming to mind is the Venus of Willendorf.
-Finally, the entire hooker/goddess scene seems to be an allusion to myths of The Great Mother, stories of female power and strength, fertility rites/ceremonies, and the old Matriarchy system. (Gaiman 27-31)
More to come on this chapter when I've more time to rip it apart. :) Lemme know what you think. If you're really awesome, read the book along with me and spout your own theories. I think we get more out of reading when we discuss what we're reading with people who are reading what we're reading. Or even something similar.
Oh, p.s. on a completely unrelated note: I'm getting my hair cut today. I'm psyched. It's been months. Time for some style to be reapplied.
- Kissing Nick while he's still asleep and getting that smile out of him. Why? Because he's unconscious, and that happiness is so genuine.
- Pasta. Big weakness.
- Go Girls with Nattie. It's the ultimate girly bonding experience, and I don't feel cheesy or lame or teeny-bopper for doing it. Our conversations just...put things in perspective. And that wonderfully fruity, >5 calorie drink just brings it all together.
- Supernatural (the tv series).
- Vodka. It's the only alcohol I haven't tired of, and it has so much mixing potential.
- Driving. Anytime I need to let anything out, whether it's happiness or frustration, driving just...puts me in the mood to deal with it.
- Paydays. Best days ever.
- Sex, cuddling, and then a cigarette. The three just...complete one another. Granted, I'm convinced that the person I do that with has a lot to do with it, but...they just...make my night.
- Nick in general. The boy just...knows how to make me smile. Inherently. No effort needed. He's Happiness personified.
If you know me at all, the fact that I am a klutz should hardly come as a raging shock. If you've never met me....well just don't stand too close when we do meet--I'm likely to fall on you.
So you may remember my classic "trip" to the State Fair at the end of summer where I managed a beautiful digger and sprained my ankle. Classic Livlife.
Well, yesterday, I managed to top that. I was at home, between shifts and I was up in the living room; I had to go downstairs to the kitchen....which is when it all went south.
Seriously, I was just walking down the stairs, not hurrying or rushing, just walking normall AND holding on to the railing. I was wearing these wide legged pants and shoes with a heel. Somehow, the heel of my right shoe managed to catch on the left leg of my pants...I felt it catch, I kind of jerked for a moment and then I started to fall. From only halfway down the stairs! My left hand was on the railing, but when I tried to catch myself, I somehow over-compensated and threw my weight left. My hand slipped off the rail and I pitched forward. I thought for certain I was going to end up on the floor on my face, but miraculously, my weight shifted enough left that my body fell on the newel post. Actually, my chest slammed into the pointed newel post (didn't feel good) which slowed my descent enough that I was able to use my hands to grab on and stop the fall. My feet were still tangled under me, and by now, screaming with pain. I sort of grabbed the post and slid down to the ground until I was able to sit on the floor. Then I cried.
It hurt so much. My left foot had twisted, but not really sprained, just sort of strained the muscles. My right foot, not yet fully healed from the State Fair experiment, is newly re-sprained, plus I have this sneaking suspicion that I may have broken one or two toes (the small ones, not the big one). My left arm is bruised and battered from its inability to save me and my chest feels like someone heavy sat on it. All in all I am a mess. Literally, there is not one part of my body that does not hurt today. Plus, I have a cold. So yay me.
Still, after all that, I am not at all feeling sorry for myself. Feeling foolish? Yes. Though even that is tolerable. Given the relative state of my gracelessness, at some point I must have had to build up a tolerance for idiocy, or else I'd be a lump of pathetic just skulking around.
So here is why, after all that, my day yesterday was actually quite wonderful. Behold the power of television.
Last Thursday was an all new episode of my favorite show, Supernatural. If you haven't heard me talk about this show...well, it is probably because I was sparing you. Once I get started it is hard for me to stop. It is one of the best shows I have EVER seen, maybe even THE BEST show, although Due South is still riding that wave. But it's a close one.
(Sidebar: while falling down the stairs I was actually carrying all the first three seasons of Supernatural in my right hand....like it was just destined to be part of my day.)
Anyway, my mom and I watch this show together. I basically tied her to a chair and forced her to start watching it in the second season and she was instantly hooked, now she is almost as much of a fanatic as I am. Well, for various reasons, we couldn't get together to watch it until last night (Monday) even though it was on last Thursday. Usually, we are so eager we watch it immediately after it finishes recording....but this time we had to wait. And what a wait it was!
After the episode concluded (and it was a good one) the credits started to roll. We know that they will always give a preview, so we keep on watching and....yippee!
One of the two stars of the show, Jensen Ackles, (love him love him love him) was featured in a short clip. Here's what happened:
While filming the episode there is a scene where Jensen's character, Dean, is laying on the front seat of his car, eyes closed, air drumming to the opening lick of Eye of the Tiger, by Survivor. His castmate, Jared Padalecki, who plays his brother Sam, approaches the car and knocks on the roof to get his attention. This was the signal to Jensen that he is to open his eyes and say his line. Well, Jared decided to play a little prank on his tv brother and told the crew that he wasn't going to approach the car and knock, just to see what Jensen would do if his cue never came. What he did was start a lipsynching dance routine to the first verse of the song. It is absolutely hysterical. During the video you can actually hear Jared Padalecki laughing as he watches Jensen perform.
This is all very funny, yes? It is the kind of thing you read about (if you read US Weekly or watch Extra) or get to see in the Bonus Features once the dvd comes out. Well, the producers over at the CW decided they would send out a little gift to the fans and they tagged the video on after the closing credits of the episode. Take a look.
So there you have it. You'll notice the moment when he stops air drumming, right before he pops up and starts singing...that is where Jared was supposed to give him his cue. Kudos to the CW and the folks at Supernatural for knowing how much we'd want to see this. And really, special thanks to Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles for making this possible. Not many shows are kooky enough to pull this off, but this one sure is....and it made my night. A fabulous episode and then a little treat? Life is so good sometimes, even for a klutz.
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