Gratuitous bouncing for a Sunday morning

"Eliza Dushku Show" premieres tonight

Joss Whedon's new sci-fi TV series The Eliza Dushku Show (aka Dollhouse) debuts on Fox tonight. It's his first series since Firefly in 2002-2003. Reviews so far are mixed. They say it's missing the customary Whedon humor. Regardless, I will definitely be watching.

Did I mention that it stars Eliza Dushku?

Never a number (1928-2009)

RIP Majel Barrett Roddenberry (1932-2008)

Will DOLLHOUSE be a stinker?

Word on the Internet is that Joss Whedon's new sci-fi TV series Dollhouse, set to debut on Fox next month, has "bad vibes" written all over it. But it looked good to me when I saw trailers at the Whedon/cast panel last July at Comic-Con. Besides, it stars Eliza Dushku, so how bad could it possibly be?

Wolf Blitzer visits Tatooine

As I watched Wolf Blitzer on CNN last night, I kept thinking, "Help me, Obiwan Kenobi, you're my only hope..." Besides the showy "Wow!" Factor, what function did this new election coverage technology serve?

PRIMEVAL has dinosaurs, sex appeal

Comic-Con last month was pretty much nonstop 24/7. So to rest my throbbing feet, I’d often slip into the nearest panel, not really caring what it was about.

One was for Primeval, the British time warp, dinosaurs-in-the-bedroom series that debuted on BBC America just two weeks ago. My interest was piqued enough to take a look. The show’s worth pursuing if you haven’t already. The special effects are excellent, the characters are likeable (with the exception of those who aren’t intended to be likeable), and the writers have done a good job of holding back just enough info to keep me tuning in each Saturday.

To be completely honest, one reason I keep tuning in Primeval is 27-year-old Hannah Spearritt, who plays Abby, the jaw-droppingly adorable reptile expert. So far, Hannah hasn’t fallen too deeply into a damsel-in-distress routine, but she has mastered The Scream. And the show’s producers have already had her do a dance in her underwear.

You’ll know where to find me tomorrow night at 9:00.

Prunes march into the future

A TV commercial classic...

If you can't get enough of the Dark Knight...

To coincide with The Dark Knight, which opens tomorrow, a lot of new Batman merchandise, both good and bad, has been released to stores over the past couple of weeks. Here’s what I think is the Good Stuff.

The first nine issues of Frank Miller’s All-Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder have been collected into a nice, hardcover “Volume 1.” This “monthly” comic launched in 2005 and has been plagued by constant delays (only a single issue was released in 2006) and miserable reviews. Just about everybody seems to hate it, complaining that Miller’s portrayal of Batman is too hard, unflattering, and inappropriate. Personally, I see the series as a natural fit with other entries in Miller’s alternative Dark Knight Universe (Batman: Year One, The Dark Knight Returns, and The Dark Knight Strikes Again). Sure, this comic is tough. It’s shocking. It’s uncomfortable. But I’ve never expected anything less from Frank Miller. And Jim Lee’s artwork is exquisite. I just hope another three years don’t pass before we see Volume 2.

On the DVD front, DC Comics’ third direct-to-DVD entry is Batman: Gotham Knight. It’s an interesting though very disjointed 75-minute, anime-style movie made up of six separate episodes by three screenwriters and a half-dozen Japanese animators. It’s supposed to fall into Christopher Nolan’s Batman movie universe, somewhere between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. But even with two viewings under my belt (admittedly, I was listening to the feature-length commentary when I watched it the second time), I don’t really “get it.” The six episodes are too loosely linked for my taste, and the film meanders in all directions. And none of this is helped by the fact that Batman and other recurring characters are drawn differently in each chapter. The only element that really ties everything together is Kevin Conroy, who reprises his voiceover role as Batman from the old Bruce Timm cartoon series. Despite all this, the movie looks cool, it’s never boring, and the two-disc DVD set includes a very nice, 45-minute documentary about Batman creator Bob Kane. Batman: Gotham Knight isn’t essential for fans, but it’s worth checking out if you’re among the hardest of hardcore Batman fanatics, like me.

Also available is the fifth complete season (13 episodes) of The Batman from the Kids’ WB. Again, this is something a lot of Batman fans seem to dislike. But I’ve enjoyed the series from its debut in 2004, even though it’s never reached the heights of Bruce Timm’s cartoons from the 1990s. Just as Batgirl was introduced in the third season and Robin in the fourth, this fifth bunch of shows is highlighted by the appearance of other DC heroes, including Superman, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Hawkman, and the Flash — in other words, the Justice League. My only reservation about this particular string of episodes is that Batman, notoriously the grim loner, is presented as the great team-builder. But that’s not too big a deal. This is a fun set of cartoons.

Finally, much to my delight, the WB’s short-lived revisionist TV take on the Batman mythos from 2002, Birds of Prey, has finally made it to DVD — all 13 episodes, plus the unaired pilot (really just another version of the first episode, with alternative footage and some different casting). This show was a wonderful bit of kickbutt superhero eye-candy, starring Ashley Scott (who later starred in the Jericho TV series), Dina Meyer (the best thing about the original Starship Troopers movie), and Rachel Skarsten. I was a diehard fan of this show when it first aired, and it’s terrific to be able to revisit it. My only disappointment with this DVD set is that a lot of the original music from the program has been replaced due to licensing problems. This includes Aimee Allen’s memorable title theme, “Revolution.” Regardless, I highly recommend Birds of Prey.

DVD review: JOHN, PAUL, TOM & RINGO

I figger just about anything related to the Beatles is worth watching, so this week I Netflixed the two-disc DVD John, Paul, Tom & Ringo: The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder. The set includes a program aired the evening after John Lennon’s murder in December 1980, which rebroadcast a 1975 interview with John (perhaps his last for TV), a 1979 interview with Paul and Linda McCartney, and an interview with Ringo Starr and spouse Barbara Bach from 1981. Almost three decades later, none of these shows reveal anything we Beatlemaniacs haven’t heard before. But it’s good to see the boys from back then and, naturally, the Lennon interview is especially bittersweet. The biggest problem with this set, of course, is the late Tom Snyder himself. His questions were usually vacuous and embarrassing, and it’s hard to watch these shows without thinking about Dan Aykroyd’s sidesplitting Snyder bits on SNL many years ago. Ah well. The set is only worth renting. On the other hand, the DVD sets of The Dick Cavett Show (from the early 1970s) that include an interview with George Harrison and extensive interviews with John and Yoko are worth adding to your home video library, if you love the Beatles as much as I do.

Sarah Jane comes of age

The Sarah Jane Adventures is the second Doctor Who spin-off series in as many years and it debuted on SciFi Channel last night. I’ve been enamored with its star, Elisabeth Sladen, since the 1970s, when she originally played the Doctor’s companion Sarah Jane Smith opposite both Jon Pertwee (Doc #3) and Tom Baker (Doc #4). Two years ago, Sladen reprised the role in the charming Who episode “School Reunion.” And now she’s got this series of her own. After watching the 90-minute premiere, which I think was made up of three half-hour episodes, I’ve signed on. And I’m probably here for the duration. Sarah Jane skews to a younger audience than Doctor Who, which skews to a younger audience than Torchwood, the other Who spin-off. However, it’s charming, it’s fun, and it’s got a good sense of humor about itself. Sure, Sarah’s three sidekicks will take some getting used to — one of the kids is particularly annoying — but Sladen plays her role with all the enthusiasm she used to give it three decades ago. And you know what? At age 60, she’s every bit as adorable as she was in 1975.

The fourth season of the “modern” Doctor Who premieres on SciFi next Friday night. Sarah Jane Adventures is anchored in the slot preceding it. That’s an especially family-friendly block of sci-fi viewing.

Friday housekeeping

I’m playing catch-up this morning.

* Browncoats should know that Dark Horse Comics’ second three-issue Firefly miniseries, Serenity: Better Days, launched last month. And after reading the first two installments, I’m thinking it’s better than 2005’s Those Left Behind. The story, sandwiched between the TV series and movie, is by Firefly/Serenity creator Joss Whedon; art is by Will Conrad. And by gorram, the characters look and actually talk like the actors we know and love. The third and final issue has a May 14 release date. This series is worth checking out.

* There Will Be Blood is a stunning, absolutely engrossing movie, and one of the very best of last year. So why the shitty DVD packaging? While most DVDs are issued in hard plastic cases that keep the discs safe and unscratched, TWBB comes in a cheap cardboard sleeve. This kind of packaging may be “environmentally responsible,” but these discs can only be removed for viewing by getting your fingerprints all over them. Actually, the discs usually flip out of the sleeves, fall on the floor, and roll under the sofa. My recommendation: Netflix There Will Be Blood for the time being and only buy a copy after Paramount resolves this problem. The film deserves better treatment than it’s getting.

* Starbuck's new signature blend Pike Place Roast makes the best cup of coffee I've had in years. And I drink a lot of coffee. Try it.

When failed sci-fi TV pilots attack!

"Birds of Prey" finally comes to DVD

Most people, even diehard comics fans, are unfamiliar with the Birds of Prey TV series, which ran just 13 weeks on the old WB back in 2002-2003. But I remember it very fondly. Three reasons why are pictured at left. But the show was more than eye candy; it was a clever spin on the Batman legend that pulled ideas directly from the comics and added a few unique ones of its own. Each episode began with this narration by actor Ian Abercrombie, who played Bruce Wayne’s famous butler on the series:

“Legend tells of a caped crusader, Batman, guardian of New Gotham, and his one true love, Catwoman, the queen of the criminal underworld. Their passion left behind something extraordinary…a daughter, Huntress. Half meta-human, she has taken up her father’s mantle, and under the cover of night fights to protect the innocent and helpless. Joining her in this struggle…Oracle, who was once Batman’s protégé, Batgirl. She was caught in the crossfire of the war between Batman and Joker. Now she fights crime a different way — master of the cyber realms, a mentor and trainer to heroes. Together, they have taken in a young runaway…Dinah, a meta-human herself, with powers to open hidden doors to the mind, powers that she is only beginning to explore. Together, these are the protectors of New Gotham…the Birds of Prey. My name is Alfred Pennyworth, and this is their story.”

Birds of Prey had a terrific, noir look and feel, and there were some very neat nods to past interpretations of the Dark Knight saga. Psychiatrist Harleen Quinzel (aka Harley Quinn), played venomously by Mia Sera, was a series regular. The Joker’s crippling of Barbara Gordon/Batgirl, played by Dina Meyer, was pulled directly from Alan Moore’s groundbreaking Killing Joke graphic novel and shockingly replayed every week in the series prologue. All three Robins — Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, and Tim Drake — were mentioned during the course of the series. Batman’s “retirement/disappearance” was obviously inspired by Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns. Some nice, if macabre, series touches: the whole meta-human business; Selina Kyle (aka Catwoman) is said to have been killed by the Joker; Huntress is heir to the Wayne fortune; Dinah Redmond, played by Rachel Skarsten, is the daughter of Black Canary, who makes an effective series appearance. The cast was great, particularly Ashley Scott’s turn as Helena Kyle, aka Huntress, which made me a big fan and is just one reason I was so faithful to Jericho this past year.

Well, after five years, Birds of Prey: The Complete Series is finally being issued on DVD July 29. Hooray! I’m dying to see this series again.

Update: Warners has just announced that the DVD set will be released July 15, two weeks earlier than first planned, to coincide more closely with the theatrical release of The Dark Knight this summer. Very cool.

Farewell to "Jericho"

Jericho finished its second and final season on CBS Tuesday night. It was a darn good show while it lasted, and it was getting better all the time. I stayed faithful through its run and was delighted that the network gave the program another shot with a seven-episode mini-season after first canceling it last year. And kudos to the creators and producers, who, anticipating a second cancellation, filmed a dandy concluding episode that pretty satisfactorily tied up most of the story threads. Now those of us who give a damn can treasure all 29 shows as a complete Jericho saga; I’m assuming the short second season will arrive on DVD eventually.

By the way, for those unfamiliar with the program, Jericho’s first season detailed a massive nuclear attack on the U.S. and the painful rebuilding of Jericho, Kansas; this last run of the series focused on the town’s occupation by the “new” federal government’s military forces. And Tuesday’s episode closed with the nation on the brink of a New American Revolution, with one of its final images being the good old Gadsden flag (“Don’t Tread On Me”) flying over city hall. Stirring stuff. If you haven’t seen Jericho yet, rent or even buy the DVDs. It’s a damn fine yarn.

Space: 1899!

Mooning for MOONLIGHTING

I’m reminded by the folks at AOL that on this very day in March, 23 years ago, Glenn Gordon Caron’s Moonlighting made its TV debut. That was the show that rekindled Cybil Shepherd’s fading career and launched Bruce Willis to stardom, and I, like many people back then, was captivated by it. The show had the trappings of cutie detective shows so prevalent in the 1980s (Remington Steele, Hart to Hart), but it broke so much new ground, or reinvigorated old ground, that it was irresistible. For one thing, not since the old Hope and Crosby films had the “fourth wall” between actors and viewers been so thoroughly shattered. This was a TV series where the stars knew they were just actors in a TV series. And then there were the allusions to old movies and TV shows, the constant, rapid-fire, overlapping dialogue, and, of course, there was Willis. He was a star being born. His line delivery was unforgettable, and usually quotable. And his chemistry with Shepherd was magic; who knew at the time, or cared, that the two never really got along?

After four — or was it five? — seasons (or fragments thereof), Moonlighting died a pitiful death due to production troubles, missed script deadlines, temperamental performers, and a plotline that tanked once Maddy (Shepherd) and David (Willis) finally did the naughty. Ah well. It was a terrific show for a good while, and every one of those episodes from the first two or three years is rewatchable.

Happy anniversary, Dave and Maddy!

The HD war is over. Whew.

So Blu-ray has won the big high-def DVD war.

Thank gawd that's over.

Here's where I stand on HD. It can be cool, I'll admit. I don't own an HD player, but I do get HD with my digital cable service, and I've watched some extraordinary science and nature documentaries in high-definition on my 46-inch Samsung. They're gorgeous. But honestly, friends, my plain old DVDs look pretty good, even on a large screen, and I just don't see the big deal about watching Rush Hour 3 or Balls of Fury in higher definition. My poor old peepers really can't make out that big a difference anyway.

How I'm surviving the WGA strike

A recent poll indicates that more than 60 percent of people don’t feel bothered or inconvenienced at all by the writers’ strike. I don’t quite fall into that camp, because pop TV, which I unashamedly adore, is now increasingly a cesspool of annoying reality shows (including Election 2008 nonsense). I’m missing Heroes in particular, and shortly, I’ll be missing The Sarah Connor Chronicles. But regardless, Deb and I are surviving nicely, thank you very much, on older TV series available on DVD. Right now, we’re plowing through all three seasons of Veronica Mars, which I enjoyed first run but Deb somehow missed; tonight, we’ll watch the seventh episode of season two. And on my own, I’ve been re-experiencing Babylon 5, slowly sipping at its first season and anticipating the wonders of seasons two through five. Coming up: revisits to Nowhere Man, La Femme Nikita, The Prisoner, the Emma Peel Avengers, and Firefly.

TV review: SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES

OK, for the time being at least, I’m hooked on Fox’s new Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Gee, for a fan of the first two Terminator movies, who’s seen each of those flicks two dozen times apiece, what’s not to like? Really?

What Sarah Connor’s got going for it big time is its faithfulness to those first two films. It plays The Game set up by James Cameron two decades ago, and that’s really a good thing. This isn’t a “reboot.” Rather, it’s a nice, smooth continuation of the original idea and story, ignoring the questionable third movie of a few years ago. There’s a lot to like here. Lena Headey (300) picks up the role of Sarah from the great Linda Hamilton quite nicely. I believe her in every scene. She may not be as frantic as Hamilton was, but then, do we honestly want to watch that much angst week after week? The kid who plays future freedom-fighter John Connor is fine. Summer Glau, “good terminator” Cameron (a tribute to John Cameron?), builds on her soft-but-deadly image from Firefly/Serenity. In this series, she’s River Tam with gears and bolts. I like it.

Of course, it’s the writing that always counts. And God willing, the writers’ strike will be over by the time this show reaches its ninth and end-of-season episode. This is good stuff. The characters are well drawn. The plot arcs are in place. And I’m curious where we’re headed with The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

It’s always nice to see good sci-fi on TV.