When should we watch TV?

If you want to know when the last few episodes of your favorite shows are going to air -- check out The Futon Critic. Remember - the strike won't end until the studios give the writers a fair deal. (Yes, I'm a little biased. So?)

If you want to get information from the source - check out United Hollywood. Another spot for information on Hollywood issues is Nikki Finke's blog for LA Weekly, Deadline Hollywood Daily. Remember, if you are hearing any information about the strike at all from network news -- for all practical purposes the networks are the studios. If you want your voice to be heard --- Fans 4 Writers has some good ideas.

Most of the scripted TV shows have between one and three episodes before they are out of new episodes. (Lost is an exception; it has eight episodes to air.) There are a few mid-season replacements that will be shown. Terminator: the Sarah Conner Chronicles and New Amsterdam are two I am looking forward to. Unfortunately, most shows are about to be SOL. I've heard a lot of buzz that the back end of this season is a lost cause. I really hope that isn't true!

This should also be the beginning of pilot season, when the networks green-light scripts that they would like to see produced for the 2008-09 TV season. There were a lot of interesting possibilities that I will be disappointed not to see. Particularly, a new show from my favorite writer/creator of all time - Mr. Joss Whedon. Yes - he has a proposal for a new show starring Eliza Dushku (Faith from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.) It's a sad day for TV if "the master" doesn't return next season! (In my opinion, he shares that title with the great Aaron Sorkin. I re-watched the pilot of Sports Night this afternoon. Good stuff.)

In other strike news, David Letterman's company, World Wide Pants, has negotiated a deal with the WGA on its own. So - The Late Show with David Letterman and The Late Late Show with Craig Furguson will both return with writers. It will be interesting to see how those shows do compared with Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel, etc - who will be coming back sans writers. Jay, Jimmy, and Dave have all been paying their staff out of their own pockets. (Dave pays Craig's staff as well.) It is rumored that Jimmy Kimmel, in particular, could not afford to continue doing that for much longer. They are all under contract with the networks and are returning due to threats of lawsuits. It will be interesting to see what they have to say about the strike! (Not that I'll start watching late night TV. I'm in bed by then! I'll catch it on YouTube the next day.) :-) :-)

Anyway - the strike continues. Yuck. If only the studios listened to literature teachers from Kansas...

Computer adventure

Hello All - I just had to share a victory I had today. Some of you might know that I am one of those DVR people. I have a Replay machine (sort of like a TiVo) and it has completely changed the way that I watch television. I honestly can't imagine going back to the old "program the VCR and channel surf" way I used to be. I watch far less TV than I used to, and I'm much more intentional about it.

Anyway - a few days ago, my Replay broke. It kept showing the same screen and after much research on the Internet, I discovered that the hard drive was toast. It needed to be completely replaced. So - adventure girl that I am, I decided to attempt this on my own. I am completely intimidated by computer hardware. Software, no problem - I love figuring out computers and programs -- but hardware is another story. If it's not a USB cable, I don't know what to do with it! But, how hard can it be, right? (Famous last words...)

Well, I did some more research and found a guy who would sell me a new hard drive for my Replay. All I'd have to do is open up the machine, remove 16 screws from various places, unplug a few things, replug the things, replace the screws, and then I'd be in business! Uh huh, okay...

The new drive came today. After a few tense moments wrestling with a stubborn IDE cable, the new drive was in! As recommended, I tightened all the screws on the motherboard and power source, replaced the rest of the screws, and put the top back on the machine.

After a few minutes of set up, my machine is working perfectly! (As a bonus, the cheapest drive I could find took me from 40 hours of recording space to 120 hours of recording space.) Now, if only the studios would settle with the Writers' Guild so that we could have the rest of our TV season!! (Not to mention the pilots for next season's new shows...)

Batman: The Dark Knight

If you are looking forward to the new Batman movie, here is the trailer --
The Dark Knight
I'm definitely sold on Heath Ledger's Joker. Scary. I hope that there is character development in this film. It really irritates me when a wonderful and complex character like Bruce Wayne is used as a vehicle for flashy action sequences and nothing else. Hopefully, this will follow in the footsteps on Batman Begins and engage the audience in Bruce's story.

Last update for now...

It's Friday at 5:30, and my family just left. The power came back on over on Stagg Hill some time this afternoon, so life is somewhat back to normal. It sure is quiet over here without all the extra people! The dryer is sort of echoing in the stillness...

I miss my little niece already! It was so fun to get quality time with her. (Not mention the rest of the family -- of course!!) :-) I'm sure that everyone is glad to sleep in their own beds (including me,) but it really was a fun adventure while it lasted.

Still together!

The latest update -- It's Friday. Still no power at Mom and Dad's, still no school. (Apparently, this is the longest school has been canceled in Manhattan since 1973.) We are still all camping at my house. Good times!!

Huh.

So, a phrase I never expected to hear my mother say, "We played Twister." It was then followed by, "It was better than Jello wrestling." Yep. Those words actually left her mouth. Crazy. (Turns out the Twister was at a staff Christmas party. The things people get up to these days...)

Update

As of noon on Thursday - still no power at Mom and Dad's house. Their house is 43 degrees (and the plumber said to open the water lines and turn off the water so the pipes don't freeze. Good tip...) So -- we are still camping out at my house. School is still cancelled, and although most of the buildings in the district have power, the building I teach in doesn't. So - I'll find out this afternoon if I have to go to school tomorrow. Hope you all are warm and dry!

Ice Storm 2007

As many of you know, Manhattan was hit with quite the ice storm this on Monday and Tuesday. I only lost power for about five minutes on Tuesday, but much of the town is going on the second day without heat. My mom, dad, sister, bro-in-law, and niece have joined me and my roommate at our house. It's been quite the party! :-) Of course, we are having fun holding the baby, but I'm sure they will be happy to go back to their house. I thought I'd share a picture from my backyard. Remember - this is a house with no loss of power, internet, or cable!
Yep - those are all limbs from one tree. Shelley and I kept hearing limbs breaking all night Monday. (Several hit the roof!) I started hauling them out to the curb this afternoon, but didn't get very far. My cable line is tangled up in one limb, so that one is staying where it is! (I still have cable and don't want to mess it up!) :-)

The Office is Closed

Those "Office" writers -- so funny. :-)

My niece...so cute!!

Isn't she lovely?

That's Papa in the background... (and my hand.)

The family on day 4.

Happy, happy day!!

I have a niece!! She's so, so cute! She was born yesterday, and she is just adorable! Okay, so I'm a little gushy over her, but hey--I'm allowed. I'm the aunt! :-)

Woo Hoo!

I'm looking forward to this one!
Prince Caspian
Although, I'm anticipating The Voyage of the Dawn Treader even more...

Books for Mom