The Michael Canfield Channel

TV Squad

Catch my posts on Blade: The Series

and Showtime's Brotherhood now at TV Squad.

 

Stephen King TV

I am definitely looking forward to the new Stephen King anthology series on TNT (I think) starting tonight (?) after this write up on the opening episode: Nightmares & Dreamscapes: Battleground - An early look - TV Squad.
Evidently this opener stars William Hurt as is told completely without dialog.

I have high hope, but then I had high hopes for Showtime's "Masters of Horror" last season what a load of tedium and almost comically criminal ineptness that turned out to be...

Frais!

"Tough day at Le Bureau?"
French TV to make its own version of "The Office".

Storytelling in Another Form

I rented "Project Runway" after seeing  Heather Shaw listed it on her "Four Things Meme" as one of the four shows she loves to watch. I confess I would never have expected this particular reality show to appeal to me, but Shaw's other TV and film picks all appeal to me.

What a great show ...

In Stephen King's On Writing, he mentions that (here, I paraphrase) for whatever reason, people like to read about other people's work. A particular pleasure of Project Runway for me (as also found in Jerry Seinfeld documentary "Comedian, of my favorites) comes from the parallels I find in it (the work of designing women's clothing in this case, just as that of honing a stand-up act in the case of Seinfeld) to writing prose fiction.
Each episode the competing fashion amateur fashion designers must complete a piece using some (often bizarre) set of materials and a basic concept or theme, such as 'envy' in one early episode. I find watching the contestants attempts to transform the initial concept into  clothing fascinating. They focus their thinking. Though some of the best designers hone the concept as they work and others clarify their vision before they begin each of the designers arrives eventually to an understanding of what they want. As they work, pieces come together, or they do not. Strikingly, some of the creators of weaker designs might have great concepts as well, concepts that they can explain very well to the jury, but when you look at the dress itself -- what the hell happened? I find it hard to explain, because I don't have the fashion vocabulary, but I, at least, can't help but feel the difference. A green dress is expected for envy, so holds little interest. A dress with fake blood on it to show that (as the designer had to explain) "all the other models are jealous of her in this dress so they killed her" leaves me scratching my head. But a good dress, no matter the initial concept, I kinda' get it, without being an expert. Just as in fiction, show don't tell.

All that and the colorful personalities, of heroes and villians - the staple of any good reality shows. But most of all I find watching the good players get into the "zone," putting their sweat  and their passion into their creations, endlessly inspiring.  Recommended.

Tags: Television Writing fiction.

43 Folders, Modest Changes, Cancelling Something, Netflix, and Me.

I rarely visit 43 Folders  without finding some little trick to try to make life a little easier - as easy as canceling something, in this case. The Cancel something entry suggests examining services to eliminate from your life. I happened to eliminate Netflix several months ago, and have experienced only bliss and tranquility since ...

The Cult of Mac Blog

Cult of Mac Blogger is upset that iTunes has next to nothing on that he wants to watch.
Ohhhhkkkaaayyyy... So therefore ... what? I don't know.

Funny Show

Superhero Cartoons

To coincide with the publication of my story Super-Villains, Son&Foe has linked to a a couple public domain cartoons: A Max Fleischer Superman, and a Mighty Mouse.

Tags:  Writing Comics Superhero

Review: Captain's Glory (Star Trek)

Shatner stumbles in Captain's Glory, print media's 920th attempt to adapt Denny Crane's previous incarnation from the screen. I have not read the book, for to do so would only influence my opinion and therefore pollute the journalistic integrity of this review. I am more interested in knowing who does read these books, as I have never met anyone who has, nor have I met anyone who has met anyone who has. And to what end are they read? Other questions, just as frightening, come to mind. Why are there no T.J. Hooker novels? There are Diagnosis Murder novels, there are Murder, She Wrote novels, as a child my nephew owned not one, but two Man from U.N.C.L.E. novels - both in German. Or, more provocatively yet, what if there are T.J. Hooker novels, only to be systematically hidden from me? The implications are mind-boggling. I have not been paid yet for my previous review so the conscience of capitalism compels I cut this one to the quick. - Garland D'Warhoone

The Right Reverend Deacon Dr. D'Warhoone asks that copies of T.J. Hooker novels to be considered for review be sent to: The-Narrows-off-Old-Bottom-Farm Road, Blueville,  Pancake Dinner Mountain, Oklahoma. 

Tag: Books Television Denny Crane William Shatner

No Episode of "Lost" Tonight

10-26-2005 Dateline: USA - Today a consortium of geeks, nerds, and hipsters called for a national day of mourning to mark the first Wednesday of the fall season without a fresh episode of Lost.

"There will be a repeat of episode 02.02 tonight, and 02.03 will air again next week" said Colin Glip of Portland Oregon, who moonlights from his day job as a software engineer to act as spokesman for the consortium, "but as each of us should have had ample time for repeated viewings of 'Man of Science, Man of Faith' and 'Orientation' via Tivo, Bit Torrent, and iTunes, we encourage all true Losties to spend the day in silent prayer and meditation. Of course, repeated additional viewings of 'The Dharma Initiative Orientation Film for Station 3' are always recommended and we encourage fans facing significant personal challenges or withdrawal symptoms to view this film as often as needed. We require that everyone stay strong for the hurdles ahead during sweeps," Glip continued, referring to the reported impending death of a major female character during the November period when TV networks report their viewership numbers to advertisers.

Many sources point toward Shannon as the likeliest victim. But among Losties there is a clear division of opinion over who should die. "Women hate Kate, so they want it to be her. Men are still clinging to the hope that it'll be the French lady," said Glip. "There are those few who don't care who it is," he said, with a slight curl of the lip. "But those are mostly Tailies. You know ... Ana-Lucia fans. We don't talk to them. They simply aren't like us, when all is said and done."

"Lost" returns with new episodes November 9th. -- Garland D'Warhoone

Tags:   Television Lost