FEEDING MY DVR!

I resisted subscribing to DVR service for a longtime. I only caved in last fall but immediately noticed the improvement in my Television experience. I tend to resist new technology formats. I was very happy with tapes for music and video until I finally embraced CD's & DVD's. I resisted MP3's for a while too. I still prefer to hold the CD of my favorite artist in my hand and explore the art work but for artist I am less enthused about and only want one or a few of their songs the MP3 is fantastic, I can always burn it to a CD if I choose (I still do not own an MP3 player other then my phone). The DVR is easy to program, I can set permanent reminders to record shows based on the title and channel of the show. I can also program it to record first run only or first run and repeats of shows. When I view my shows it is easy to fast forward and rewind them. When I no longer wish to store them on my DVR, the deletion is easy and it frees up additional recording space. Unlike a VHS tape it does not lose quality with multiple recordings and I never have to worry about the tape getting stuck.

I thought this would be a good opportunity to highlight some quality Television programs that I am currently interested in. I have been enthralled with the Starz series Spartacus. It is getting ready to begin its third installment Spartacus: Vengeance

 

Spartacus: Vengeance begins where the story concluded but Liam McIntyre assumes the role of Spartacus from Andy Whitfield. Andy was excellent in the role! He was not replaced because he pulled some Hollywood temper-tantrum and wanted more money but because Andy is battling cancer. I hate cancer! I offer my full prayers and support to Andy and his family. Andy had already been diagnosed with cancer while filming Spartacus and when you see his conditioning, acting, and athleticism you cannot help form being impressed and respecting the man! I lost my dog Dakota who was the best-friend I have ever had to lymphoma, so I am praying for Andy to beat the disease and a cure to be found so no one else has to suffer from it. The above trailer is impressive, its a bit challenging for me watching Liam play Spartacus because I am conditioned to watching Mr. Whitfield in the role but I am sure Liam will do a great job. If you have not watch the series it is worth investing in on Starz or DVD rental. 

TNT pulled off a victory in relaunching the Dallas brand on their network. You'll see in this promotional video that the look, feel, and main characters appear to remain in tact. It has potential but my hope is that the for main characters appearing in this are featured and not secondary performers. The scripts need to be original rather then having JR's and Bobby's sons rehash the same plot lines as their Daddy's. JR Ewing is one of the finest and most interesting and iconic characters in the history of TV. It is worth giving the show a chance just for JR.

Entourage just started its final season, the first episode was alright. It was a catch-up the viewer episode on what has happened to the characters since we last saw them. I wasn't overly impressed, it could have been much better but episode 2 is on my DVR to view on command. Reports have surfaced that a script for an Entourage movie already exist and that Producer Mark Wahlberg may finance it himself (why wouldn't he he'll make a killing with it?). The other HBO show that plays on the same night as Entourage that I watch is, Curb Your Enthusiasm. I didn't like episode one at all but episode two was very funny! I wonder if that chicken place actually exist? HBO is also airing one of my favorite shows of all-time in Game of Thrones. It is as well written and produced as HBO's Rome which was prematurely folded despite high-ratings and strong fan base. Game of Thrones will be discussed in greater detail in a future blog.

The movie I am waiting for in 2012 is The Dark Knight Rises! This is the third installment of the Christopher Nolan series. Speculation is that Nolan will only be involved in these three Batman movies but I think he would be a fool to end his involvement. Perhaps he won't direct future Batman films but his role in shaping the story and producing is vital. Nolan has been involved in great films like American Psycho, The Prestige, etc. but his best work comes from the Batman series. He'll never run out of story lines, the studio will continue to give him complete control, and he earns a massive fortune every few years that enables him to do any other type of film project he desires. The main villains appear to be Bane and Catwoman in this film but there are numerous other actors assigned to the project that have yet to be linked to characters, so it will be interesting to see who else crops up in this. The story appears to at least follow the Batman novel/series Knightfall. I will see it twice on opening day just like I have done with Batman Begins and The Dark Knight.

My DVD player faithfully records the show Sons of Guns for me. I did not believe I would like this show but its fantastic! It features a cast of characters from Southern Louisiana that are expert gun builders. They create, repair, and modify weapons like few can. They have invented a few specialties of their own. This show sucks you in. Discovery Channel has another show entitled Dual Survival that has the same effect of making you watch it after you started. Two very different survival experts, Cody Lundin and Dave Canterbury demonstrate survival techniques in some of the planet's most unforgiving terrains. Why won't Cody wear shoes & long pants anywhere?

I have recently been watching Lion Country. I love this show and I want David Youldon's job! The work they are doing is reminiscent of George Adamson and Tony Fitzjohn's work. They are teaching captive bread lions to be wild but doing it very gradually and in totally fenced in large natural habitats. The descendants of the lions being introduced to these safe but wild places will be released into the wild. I cannot wait to volunteer at Antelope Park one day and get to work with these lions! A similar show and program with the same purpose is Cheetah Kingdom. The Cheetahs and Lions face the same issues for their survival, poaching and loss of habitat. The programs are very similar and run by people with great hearts. These shows are so inspiring. I wish they would have has shows like this when George Adamson was alive and working with lions and other big cats. Perhaps it would have helped fund their efforts and provided the lions and staff alike some protection from the locals that would end up murdering many animals and humans alike.

Spartacus and Batman are two projects I'd love to act in and one day I will!

HOW THE DEATH OF AMY WINEHOUSE REFLECTS ON THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY

It was announced on July 23, 2011 that British singer Amy Winehouse died in her London home. It has created a buzz all around the world but not because it happened but that it finally happened. The world has been expecting Amy's death for several years. Amy was a talented singer and could have had a secure and profitable career for decades to come. She could have done things in her life time with ease that most people dream of doing. She has critical acclaim heaped onto her, she won 5 Grammy Awards,  she won a Brit Award for Best British Female Artist; and she was a three time winner of the Ivor Novello Award. It simply wasn't good enough for her. It wasn't going to make her happy or fulfilled. Amy had dark, dark demons inside of her. She has battled drug & alcohol abuse and several health issues associated with that abuse. What was she hoping to get out of them? Was she trying to mask some pain? Why did Amy begin using drug and alcohol in the first place? Did she do it to fit in or because she was modeling the behavior of famous performers she admired? Was she abusing herself to try to avoid dealing with deep-seeded emotional issues? I do not know and perhaps few others do. I do wonder about those people around Amy who continued to help her use drugs. I know her parents (God Bless them) tried to save her and get her off drugs but there had to be many friends and business associates around her that enabled her. A junkie is much easier to manipulate and control then a person who's mind, body, and soul are sober. I believe some people had an interest in keeping her a drug addict. Could a clean and sober Amy continue to sing her hit Rehab? Did the marketing department help seal her image as Amy the talented druggie who sings Rehab? If you recall how much fame and praise this song earned Amy you'll see that it may have helped seal her identity, self-image, and ultimately her fate. Much of the world's media cheered on Amy's drug addiction and her defiance of a sober life. Perhaps if they had condemned her she would have had more incentive to become clean and sober? How many more artist will fall into the trap of the abuse, manipulation, and exploitation of those in and around the entertainment business?

Amy is already more popular in the hours after her death then she was during her life. Sales of Winehouse's albums increased 37 times between Friday and Saturday, while track sales were up by 23 times according to The Official Charts Co. They are expecting a number one for her shortly. The people purchasing the album now are not fans or lovers of her music, they are those who enjoy the freak show, the rubberneckers slowing down to visit the car wreck, and the Jerry Springer watchers. I often refer to this segment of society as "the sheep". They listen to what the media tells them is good and they embrace it, not because they have made the decision for themselves but because they are going where the largest crowd is. They are often the ones led to slaughter. I remember several people telling me when Britney Spears released her first single they thought it was terrible but they kept hearing it on the radio and seeing the video on TV and eventually thought it was good. It got jammed down their throats enough times by the manipulators in the entertainment business and they accepted it. How sad is it that people are skyrocketing sales of her album after her death when they didn't value it enough to purchase it when she was alive? Amy isn't around to enjoy the increased sales and exposure. I am hoping the money goes to her family but make no mistake, her record company, publishing company, and numerous others are going to profit off of her big time!

Pete Townshend once said that he eventually realized Rock-N-Roll was fueled by bodies. It is true, many musicians die young and most of them do it to themselves. I remember reading other musicians saying they tried various drugs, got a house somewhere, got a certain guitar or car because a musician they admired did so. How stupid and immature is that? However, it fits the emotional profile of many who enter the entertainment business. They want the acceptance and don't realize how expensive the cost is. The musicians I grew up admiring were like De mi-gods to me but the only time they ever looked pathetic in my eyes was when they were talking about drug use. I learned never to use drugs because of the price I observed them paying. Topper Headon was the best drummer in the world until he began abusing heroin. Producer Sandy Pearlman had Topper play the drum tracks once the normal way and then once backwards on every track of The Clash's "Give 'Em Enough Rope".  He could play any style of music expertly, he was a seasoned performer, and was nick-named the "Human Drum Machine". Even when abusing drugs Topper was a great musician, Topper is one of the main writers of Rock The Casbah. The other members of the Clash could no longer tolerate his drug abuse and they fired him from one of the biggest bands in the world. Sadly this was one of the events that led to the premature end of the Clash. This cost all of them in money, fame, emotion, success etc. and it cost their fans dearly. Thankfully after many years of struggle, attempts at rehab and even time in prison for providing the heroin that killed a friend Topper has been clean and sober for many years and still drumming incredibly even if he isn't in a major band. This is what I would have hoped for Amy but I believe Topper had better people around him that put him ahead of money or their own self interest.

I wonder what impact it would have on the world if athletes, artist, entertainers, and politicians actually had to pay severe consequences for their actions? Too often they get away with a slap on the wrist compared to the consequences the average citizen would pay. What message would it send to the next generation that if you do something wrong you pay a severe price? Amy Winehouse paid with her life but the media, those who will profit off her, and others will glorify Amy show much that the only message people will get from it is that Amy's behavior is great and there is a lot of benefits from acting as she did. Amy's body has been tossed onto the fire that is Rock-N-Roll it will help fuel an industry that profits too much of these types of events.

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