One of my Canadian cousins contacted me via Facebook today to say that he was watching the Biography Channel’s Stephen King episode that I was interviewed for earlier this year. It’s an update to the previous biography, which was about a decade old, and only produced for the international market, which means it won’t air in the US. However, you might find it cropping up from time to time on the Canadian Biography Channel and elsewhere.
I know people aren’t big fans of embedded YouTube videos, so I won’t do that. But here’s a link to Woodland Press’s book trailer for Specters in Coal Dust. It’s very effective, with lots of mood music and live action video clips.
I saw a news headline announcing MySpace’s change in direction so I did something I’ve been tempted to do for several months: I deleted my MySpace account. That means I’ll never be put in the situation of having to utter the clumsy words “my MySpace” again.
Last night’s NCIS was an episode that seemed like it was trying hard to be a profound character episode for Abby, but she just came off as nuttier than usual, I’m afraid. Usually likable but over the top this time. I did like Michael Weatherly’s Saturday Night Fever schtick. As goofy and unlikely as his Tony DiNozzo is, I think Weatherly’s underappreciated as an actor. He’s a very good mimic.
The Event had moments of pure melodrama (the scenes at Leila’s house) and dramatic special effects. If the Others, for lack of a better word, can move an airplane and all of its passengers thousands of miles, wasn’t imploding a building a bit of overkill. A deliberate display of power? To what end? Simon’s maneuver with the radioactive material was much more subtle, even though it left him exposed. I noticed a commonality between this show and Fringe: both have interlopers who get emotionally attached to the innocent people forming their cover stories and resist change. And that nutty reporter that came in at the end spouting all kinds of crap about aliens…oh, wait, she’s absolutely right. But who’s going to believe her?
I also caught up on Law & Order: UK. Episode four was very creepy, dealing with a sociopath who was also a brilliant businessman. Mr. Slade vs. Mr. Steele. Everything was a game to Slade, and he played with skill and panache. He was charismatic and menacing, sometimes simultaneously. Seemingly unstoppable. But then when Steele refused to play his game any more he was undone. Lots of tense scenes when Slade showed up where he wasn’t wanted.
SAMCRO finally made it to Ireland on Sons of Anarchy. Going on a cargo plane meant that they got to take their motorcycles along with them, which I didn’t expect, not to mention their guns. I like the re-imagined theme song, which had an Irish lilt to it. They weren’t exactly met by the Irish Tourism Board, but we all knew that was coming. Gemma saves the day, once again. Good thing she came along instead of Tig. Bobby gets off the first zinger of the episode, looking at the beaten Garda: “We gotta do something about all this cuz I don’t think we’re going to get them through duty free.” And then there’s a Godfather-like near hit on the way to the rectory. Typical vacation, Bobby says in response to Gemma’s comment that forms today’s subject line.
Gemma and Maureen Ashby approached each other like two people about to duel. It wouldn’t have been a far stretch to see them duking it out in the parking lot instead of Jax and Liam. I do think that Gemma needs to consider bringing Jax up to speed about Trinity. Otherwise I see a Greek tragedy coming down the pipeline. And poor Triny already has her hands full taking care of drunk adults. And people kept offering Gemma tea, and she finally capitulated for Bobby.
Though Father Ashby is telling Jax the superficial truth, every word he says is a lie. Poor Abel keeps getting farther and farther away.
Back in the USA, Tig’s lost his license for two years for leading three arms of law enforcement on a 100 mph wild goose chase. Looks like he’s going to be riding bitch with someone for a while—but not, I guess, for the prospect left behind to look after the boxing club. Raise your hand if you thought leaving him alone for the night with a gun was a bad idea. Looks like Jacob Hale will do business with anyone, even though Darby wasn’t willing to lower himself to Hale’s level. Looks like he’s developing something of a conscience. “How dirty do I need to get to be as clean as you,” he asks.
And we finally get a little more insight into Tig’s issue with the guy from Tacoma. As Chucky so succinctly put it: There’s got to be at least one vagina involved. Too bad they didn’t have time to show us the gory details of their Fight Club rendition. And LOL at Opie’s girlfriend for checking in at the abortion clinic as Sarah Palin.
