Joost is now showing the complete run of 'Popetown' episodes, which I think is coming out on DVD (if it's not already). You probably don't remember, but this was an animated series from the UK a couple of years ago, which was about a different take on the Vatican (hence, "Popetown"). It got a lot of pre-broadcast brickbats from the all-powerful publicity department working for the Pontiff, and so it was pulled from the schedule before ever airing.So now you've got a chance to see it here.
But the thing is....as Jay Sherman would say on 'The Critic', it STINKS!
And I'm not saying that because I was offended. Lapsed Catholic that I am, I can enjoy a good laugh at the Church's expense.
No, the cartoon is just bad. Very grade-school humor with no sense of intelligence about it. And it's not like you can't balance both - 'The Simpsons', 'South Park', and 'Family Guy' proved that. This had me checking the counter to see how much longer I had to suffer through it; never a good sign.
And it's a shame too, since so many talented people were involved in making this, and Jerry Hall as well. (Hey, they can take cheap shots, so can I!) Mackenzie Crook, Matt Lucas, Ben Miller for a quick live-action sequence at the beginning.
In fact, I think they missed the mark and should have gone with that for a series, because it did look like it had potential.....
The worst was Ruby Wax as the high-pitched, psychotic, childish Pope. Again, I wasn't offended, it just seemed to be a cheap shot, not based on anything. And it was far too annoying to stay with. I would have preferred the Pope impersonator to have remained with the series!
Your mileage may vary. Maybe it's just me. But if you're so inclined to see it through, that episode does have links for the remaining batch.
BCnU!
Toby O'B
No, the cartoon is just bad. Very grade-school humor with no sense of intelligence about it. And it's not like you can't balance both - 'The Simpsons', 'South Park', and 'Family Guy' proved that. This had me checking the counter to see how much longer I had to suffer through it; never a good sign.
And it's a shame too, since so many talented people were involved in making this, and Jerry Hall as well. (Hey, they can take cheap shots, so can I!) Mackenzie Crook, Matt Lucas, Ben Miller for a quick live-action sequence at the beginning.In fact, I think they missed the mark and should have gone with that for a series, because it did look like it had potential.....
The worst was Ruby Wax as the high-pitched, psychotic, childish Pope. Again, I wasn't offended, it just seemed to be a cheap shot, not based on anything. And it was far too annoying to stay with. I would have preferred the Pope impersonator to have remained with the series!
Your mileage may vary. Maybe it's just me. But if you're so inclined to see it through, that episode does have links for the remaining batch.
BCnU!Toby O'B
For anybody who wanted "This Is Spinal Tap" to be transformed into a TV series, this was the next best thing. A real-life band (ZO2) who "day-light" as a kids' party band try to land a record deal. With lots of great guest stars, mostly playing themselves, 'Z Rock' achieved the near-impossible: it made me laugh out loud many times during each episode.
This will be the show on display when they write about "comedy with heart". Every character had a rich story; even the minor characters had an unexpected depth to them instead of just being one-offs to deliver a joke. Sure, the A storyline about the fast-blooming love story of Gavlar and Stace was supposed to be the primary focus. However, they were soon trumped by the rocky relationship between hard-partying Smithy and Nessa, who may or may not have had a highly adventurous past. Add to that Stacey's mother Gwen, Gavin's parents Mick and Pam, and especially Rob Brydon as Uncle Bryn, and maybe the show should have had a more inclusive title for them all.
Seductive, tawdry, bawdy, funny, disgusting, shocking, and sad. All it needs are flying monkeys and a few song and dance numbers! HBO has probably hit on the perfect successor to 'The Sopranos', smartly avoiding anything of a similar nature. Based on the "Sookie Stackhouse" novels, Alan Ball has given Toobworld not only a town full of interesting characters (as well as the town of Bon Temps), but also a lot of new concepts to work with, including shape-shifters and Tru-Blood. Of course, that does lead to a few problems, as I mentioned in the earlier post.
Tying into an established series helped this to win. Otherwise, I might have gone with one of the other candidates since '24' is delegated to an alternate TV dimension. Still, it gave newbies a chance to sample the series in a bite-size nugget ("bite-size" by the '24' standard).
At times it felt more like we were watching a documentary, especially during the battle scenes. I'm still not sure I have all the characters straight in my head (pun intended for Rudy), but each of them did make an impression on me. And I hope some of those actors won't take too long in bringing more characters to populate Toobworld.
It's a blipvert promo for the Sci-Fi channel, and it's probably the most heart-tugging thing I've seen, outside of the reunion of Desmond and Penny on 'Lost' and the letter from Stacey's dad on 'Gavin & Stacey'. Definitely the most heart-tugging brought in under two minutes!
As I splained earlier, to qualify for 2008, I had to become aware of the show (as well as see it) in that year. Even if it began years earlier, as was the case for 'New Tricks', then that NBC mantra applies: If I haven't seen it, it's new to me.
A combination of factors led this episode to win the honors. First off, the surprise twist near the end involving John Scott. Usually, when you hire a name actor as a guest star in a pilot, it's to help boost viewership, knowing full well that the actor won't be around for the run. Usually that type of character gets killed off.
This is President Rutherford B. Hayes as he appeared in "General Sherman's March Through Dodge City", an episode of 'Bat Masterson'.
Until the humans aboard the Axion actually showed up, this could have been considered a live-action movie; the CGI was that good. And the ending didn't close the door on future adventures for Wall-E and Eve; and since Disney is good for exploiting its product with TV spin-offs, a series may be possible... although I think a movie sequel may get priority.
I know a lot of people are going to argue that this honor should go to 'The Shield'. Bleep them, as Vic Mackey might say. First off, I'm one who wanted Mackey dead, preferably shanked in prison by some skel he busted from an earlier season, brought back in a glorified cameo. And even though I did like the ending - with Mackey trapped in a bureaucratic hell (at least for the next three years... if he doesn't eat his gun) with no hope of ever finding his family again - I didn't get the feeling that it had any major impact on Toobworld. We're all about Toobworld here, remember.
The reason why? Because it ended. This series had potential, looked fairly reasonable to produce (price-wise), and enriched the Toobworld timeline so much.
Being a mini-series, and being presented on HBO where they could show warts (or rather, pustules) and all, we were able to get the most detailed retelling of our own near-mythological history.
Barney had to go back over his romantic history in order to figure out who had been sabotaging his attempts at conquest. We learned about not only a slew of strange ladies he bedded, but also had the greatest hits of those who actually appeared on past episodes.
What was basically a reality-based program entered Toobworld surrealism when one of Great Britain's best-known puppets appeared on an episode. It can be comparable to when Kermit the Frog appeared on 'The Wheel of Fortune' - not exactly a venue where you would expect to see a member of Toobworld's puppet population.
Deceptively, it looks like a retread of the original series - swap out the main character and replace him with a woman, but bring back all the same characters to deal with. But I think the show's creators may be going for something a little more; if not deeper, than at least in a different direction. We'll see when season two kicks off.
I was so prepared to hate this show, even if it had been the original version planned by David E. Kelley. I probably would have hated that version anyway. But aside from one major misfire, this 
Don't get me started......
After such a promising pilot episode, this show quickly fell into a rut. Variations on the same themes, villains, methods of dispatchment. (Looks like I made up a word, according to spell-check!) But then it came back from the writers' strike, and they were somehow revitalized and the show began to explore lots of other topics. I think it all started with the episode "Leon", but from there it introduced us to a demon rebellion, the dangers of love with a succubus, and more mystery involving Sam's parentage.
Because of the major reworking of the Toobworld timeline between the first and second season, 'Primeval' gave us the perfect opportunity to claim that certain shows in the past are now different and more in keeping with the established TV universe. We also have a new splainin for why two different characters in one show might look the same, without resorting to the identical cousin excuse.
In the episode "Comfort Food", Ned and Olive had to once again face one of their eatery nemeses - Marianne Marie Beetle, owner of a home-based operation, "Muffin Buffalo".
Even though the episode never aired, it was included in a boxed set for 'Wonderfalls', and as is the case with online TV content, the Toobworld concept has been expanded beyond what is broadcast to include DVD material.
This happened during the writers' strike, and just carried an air of a smack in the face to the WGA. 
Somebody in that ad agency for Geico is smoking some serious bleep. Inspired!
Except for the fact that Scooby Doo makes me cringe, this was a great choice if you were going the classic TV cartoon route.
When I first saw this commercial, the sound was turned down as we were at the combined birthday party for my sister and her son (both on December 7). And before you ask, we had it on because there was an important football game going on that some at the party couldn't miss!
Do you remember an episode of 'Angel' called "I Fall To Pieces" in which a man was able to separate parts of his body and send them off to do his dirty work? Both of these commercials contained body parts like eyeballs and tongues which did the same thing. For alls I know, as Stuart Best would say on 'Murphy Brown', they belong to the same man. And like many objects in Toobworld, those body parts then took on lives of their own.
Here you can see 
And here's 
The episode in which this website first was mentioned happened in March of 2008, but it's counter says it's been up since 2006. So that's some incredible foresight on the part of the producers! And yes, the website still exists. Check it out!
On this year's Christmas episode, policeman Al Powell from the first two "Die Hard" movies - still played by Reginald Veljohnson and still chowing down on Twinkies! - turned out to be the cousin of the Buy More manager, Big Mike! We can logically assume then that in the TV Universe, John McClaine looks like Bruce Willis. (Unless somebody decides to make a TV show out of the movie franchise.....)
The movies can't be considered part of the TV Universe, like the 1966 'Batman' and the 'Star Trek' franchise can, because of casting changes, especially of Sarah Conner herself. But even with the niggling problem of the "Terminator" references made in other TV shows, this is still a great recreation of some classic kick-ass movies.
Even though the world of Jane Austen's "Pride And Prejudice" was seen on TV, it was still encased in the world of Literature. After Amanda Price rejiggered the events that Austen originally created, it affected every copy of the book but not the story as already told in film and on TV.
In the tradition of 'Extras' and 'The Larry Sanders Show', celebrities appeared on this show and had some fun at their own expense. Dave Navarro was seen as a sex fiend [shown above]; John Popper was a disgusting pig; Dee Snyder was a duplicitous back-stabber; and Joan Rivers gave a blow job to David Lee Roth!
BCnU!
It features Billie Piper as Hannah the morning after she picked up a young shop salesman played by Matt Smith.
That my choice would come from this show was never in doubt, as 'Z Rock' made me laugh out loud with each episode. (Try watching TV alone and see how hard that can be!) But trying to make a choice between Joey, Dave, and Paulie was impossible. And the sum is so much more than the parts anyway. (Although Kitty Braunstein might feel differently about David's parts.....)
I enjoyed the performance by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, but it was more for what he brings to Toobworld that got him the nod in this category. As he's been around for 400 years, and - unlike vampires - able to sire children, John could be a link to other TV shows by the "theory of relateeveety". It's more than just that he could be the father of some established characters; he could be their grandfathers, great-grandfathers, going back who knows how many generations! Add to that all of the famous people and TV characters from the Past with whom he possibly came into contact, and you can see why he'd be an important figure in Toobworld, even if the show only lasted the one season.
At this point in his career, including his supporting turns in the "Harold & Kumar" movies and on stage in various musicals (like "Assassins"), but as far as Toobworld is concerned, for his creation of Barney Stinson on 'How I Met Your Mother', Neil Patrick Harris can do no wrong.
In her very first season, Mary has qualified for induction into the TV Crossover Hall of Fame! She made a guest appearance in a glorified cameo on 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent' (I'm hoping to see her interact with Charlie Crewes of 'Life'!) and provided a copy of Playpen magazine to one of her cases which had been seen "previously... on 'Lost'".
Definitely a high point in the Tele-Folks Directory this year! From one minute to the next you never know what oddity might spill from his lips.
With his sardonic delivery of a line, I'd love to see Marshal Marshall Mann team up with Detective John Munch in a crossover with 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'. It seems like a natural.
COMEDY:
Bernard Cribbins is now officially incorporated into the Toobworld 'Who', after appearing in the movie version with Peter Cushing. And it was a brilliant stroke to bring him back from the one-shot "Voyage Of The Damned" special and to make Wilf the grandfather to Donna. What could have been comic relief turned maudlin by the end was instead handled with the skill of an old pro by Cribbins (seen here with the Doctor). Even though I'm loathe to see Donna ever return to the series, as I think it would violate such a heart-breakingly beautiful farewell with the Doctor, surely there must be some way to bring Wilf Mott back for a visit?
A lot of fans of the show hated her character by the time her story arc finished, but I blame that on the direction taken by the writers, and that was their call. But there's no denying her introduction in "Ten Sessions" (seen here with Ted) was such a breath of fresh air to shake up the ensemble. Based on that alone, I wanted so badly for her to turn out to be the "Mother".
Originally I had Scotty as the "most deserving to be made a regular" winner since early in the year, but then the producers went ahead and did so without my input. Scotty's such a sweet guy and helps modulate the acrimony that so often bubbles up at Walker gatherings. And as one of the top up-and-coming chefs in California, maybe he's met Jack Tripper.....?
I've been a fan of Laurie Holden since I first saw her as Marta Covarrubias on 'The X-Files'. And with the 'Primeval' tweak of the Toobworld timeline, and because both 'The X-Files' and 'The Shiled' are now finished, I'm going to suggest the idea that they are one and the same woman but now with different names and histories, a la Claudia Brown and Jenny Lewis.
BCnU!
BCnU!
Stephen Root can do no wrong anyway, and Eddie was no exception. It was almost as if his character from "Office Space" had been embraced by the Kindred - it would have made him less pathetic, but not by much. There was just something that spoke to me in his "fanger", but not something I'd want to dwell on....
The fact that Greg Giraldo was also a welcome presence in Lewis Black's 'The Root Of All Evil' helped seal the deal for Harry. But at the same time he was such a welcome yet verbally abusive addition to the Tele-Folks Directory.
Ah, the lovely, aforementioned Georgia Moffett as "The Doctor's Daughter"! I'm sure we'll be seeing her again, especially since Steven Moffat requested that her character survive the episode. Blessed with the ability to regenerate without losing her original form, we could posit that certain guest star roles which she might play in the future could also be Jenny under an alias. (Although I'm not sure where she might find a time machine....)
Sweet, lovely and so sad. Perhaps in some future incarnation of the Sing-Along Blog, Dr. Horrible might invent a time machine and go back to save her, even if it does mean screwing up the time-space continuum.
It was certainly an interesting take on the scientist: practically immortal, vampiric, and best of all because of his accomplishments, he had powers based on bio-electrical energy. And there was just this attitude that put me in mind of the legendary movie villain Waldo Lydecker of "Laura".
Sure, the dialects were all over the map, but I could really accept that they all lived together in Bon Temps, Louisiana.
They blended together so well, sometimes I had a hard time figuring out exactly whose storyline I was following.
I bought into the whole dynamic of 'Gav and Stace', accepting that these people could all be related to each other; well-cast on that! As for 'Supernova', with each episode it was just so much fun to go back and hang out in the Outback with these Bruces and Sheilas.
A little something for everyone on the team, and now with an interesting adversary in Jim Sherman, Nate's former rival as insurance investigators.
She even has a great line delivery, punctuating certain conversations with a pitch-perfect "Moo"!
Nuff Said. And it looks like he's set himself on a road to salvation that will keep him stumbling along stupidly as well.
Later in that 'Chuck' episode, Morgan had another shot at a famous car; this time it was the "General Lee" of 'The Dukes Of Hazzard' fame.
Ryan Robbins was only listed as a guest star throughout the series, but he's a vital member of the team, made even more so with the revelation that he's a lycanthrope, a werewolf. Since the back-story of 'True Blood' includes werewolves, we could make a legitimate, if still theoretical crossover between both shows - if only they shared the same TV dimension. (Based on the first part of the 'Sanctuary' season finale, I've got to let it go and send it off to the Evil Mirror Dimension with my blessing. Hrmm... they wouldn't like blessings, would they?)
If I had "Best Comedic Villain" as a category, I think there's no question John Popper would win. He may never be considered a good actor, but you could tell he was having fun playing himself as a total sleazebag pig. And Joan Rivers upped her ante for consideration for membership in the TV Crossover Hall Of Fame, especially because her televersioin is now considered to be Dina's aunt. Toobworld Central LOVES when fictional characters are related to real people! (Megan and Tim Russert, Vera and Art Carney as examples) 
The action director spoofed his own image as a blow-em-up-real-good guy, and Brooke showed her dark side as she ridiculed pregnant women for the reason they wanted to own a piece of German engineering. She also supplied the best line of dialogue from all the commercials shown this year: "Please.... Don't be like Becky."
This is what Toobworld is all about - living, walking gas cans! Inanimate objects that come alive are a staple in blipverts; but even without CGI-added faces or cutesy voices, these gas cans had what the Tin Man was lacking - heart.
I will freely admit that I had major doubts about the return of Donna Noble's character to the series, and on a regular basis at that! Not after "The Christmas Invasion", even if there had been growth in her character by the end of that episode. But with Catherine Tate's talent and excellent scripts to showcase her further develoopment, Donna became one of the greatest of the Companions and the one with the most powerful story arc. (And that's Donna on the left, wiseguy!)
As with the departure of Detective Ed Green in the same episode ("Burn Card"), Bernard's first appearance was low-key and didn't trumpet the fact that Anthony Anderson would be coming on board as Detective Lupo's new partner. If you hadn't been reading the press releases, you might have accepted him as a one-off guest star, as he was from a different department and specifically introduced just for that case.
Never once while I was watching Bill Irwin's chilling "DJK" serial killer in the episode "19 Down" did I once think about Mr. Noodle of 'Sesame Street' or any number of other characters that he's played. He truly embodied this creepy monster and owned his scenes - and that was even after being twice removed from the viewer by being seen on a video screen.
Once the Toobworld timeline was tweaked by Nick Cutter's trip into the past at the end of Season One, the life of Claudia Brown was erased. But instead of being erased completely, she was still around - in almost the exact same circumstances (as a PR spokesperson) - but with a new name, Jenny Lewis.
BCnU!
