Long Awaited Television Series Returns in January 2009

Barack Obama's inauguration is not the only exciting thing occurring this January. Three great shows return to TV and hopefully they will bring more excitement to the airwaves than what was seen this past fall.

First up is 24 which returns after a two year absence for its seventh season. The television-movie 24: Redemption filled in some of the time between season six and seven in a story that had Jack Bauer fighting rebels in the fictional African country of Sengala. Previews for the seventh season tease the return off thought to be dead ex-CTU agent Tony Almeida who was not given the silent tick treatment when he "died." While some might have been worried a two year absence from TV could have damaged interest in the series, I believe it will only help the show regain some of its lost glory. The 24 formula was getting tired which is partially why season six felt so off. However, I believe the absence will only make the show seem fresher and perhaps the extra time allowed the writers to perfect the season's story. The two night, four hour season premiere begins on Janurary 11.

Battlestar Galactica returns to TV on January 16 to conclude its final season, but Sci Fi has done a horrible job handling this show. In drawing out the series like they have by breaking up the final season into two parts, they've completely killed its momentum. They probably figure that no one new will watch the season and only loyal BSG viewers will tune in for the conclusion of the human-Cylon conflict. But they are probably right. Part 1 of last season ended with the Planet of the Apes-esque discovery of Earth as a barren wasteland. In Part 2, we will discover the identity of the final Cylon and who will win the battle for what is left of Earth. No doubt the reveal will be a disappointment much like the whole mystery of the final five Cylons. Regardless, Battlestar Galactica has been an amazing show and hopefully the the final episodes will live up to the genius that has been most of the series.

Season five of Lost begins on January 21. Last season, six survivors of Oceanic Airlines Flight 815 made it off the island, but their lives became anything but joyful. The last image we were left with was of John Locke dead in a casket under the assumed name Jeremy Benthem. Season five is about those six returning to the island and hopefully John Locke can come back to life too. Season four was a return to form for what has been an enjoyable, but sometimes uneven series. Jack, the survivors' de facto leader, has quickly become an annoying character and the Han Solo-esque Sawyer was stupidly sidelined for most of last season. The deliciously evil Ben Linus and the time traveling Desmond weren't even in the first season, but have quickly become the most interesting characters with the best episodes featuring them. Hopefully the new season will have plenty of good material for Sawyer, Ben, and Desmond and hopefully some more mysteries of the island will be solved like what's the deal with that giant foot statue?

The Greatest Christmas TV Episode Ever:
"Noël" from The West Wing

Some people regard "In Excelsis Deo" as the series' best Christmas episode, but for me "Noël" remains the standout. It captures the Christmas spirit without being overtly hokey or sentimental. It also showcases the reason why the Jed Bartlet White House such an enjoyable place to visit week-after-week, the fact that these people really care about each other to an unrealistic, but highly entertaining degree.

In the episode, Josh Lyman is suffering for post-traumatic stress disorder from the attack on the President that nearly killed him. He's speaking to a therapist, played by Adam Arkin, recalling the weeks leading up an incident where Josh injures his hand. During that time Josh blows up at the President, a fighter pilot with Josh's birthday crashes his airplane, and the West Wing staff attend a Yo-Yo Ma. After the concert, Josh cuts his hand by breaking his window of his apartment and finally admits after previously saying he cut his hand while breaking a glass. Dr. Stanley Keyworth (Adam Arkin) diagnoses Josh with PTS and determines some music triggers his mind to think of the attack on the President. The episode ends with a great exchange between Josh and Leo. Leo, a recovering alcoholic and pill addict, lets Josh know that he's sympathetic to his problems. In a great West Wing exchange, Leo tells Josh:

This guy's walking down a street when he falls in a hole. The walls are so steep, he can't get out. A doctor passes by, and the guy shouts up, "Hey you, can you help me out?" The doctor writes a prescription, throws it down in the hole and moves on. Then a priest comes along, and the guy shouts up "Father, I'm down in this hole, can you help me out?" The priest writes out a prayer, throws it down in the hole and moves on. Then a friend walks by. "Hey Joe, it's me, can you help me out?" And the friend jumps in the hole. Our guy says, "Are you stupid? Now we're both down here." The friend says, "Yeah, but I've been down here before, and I know the way out." [pause]...Long as I got a job, you got a job, you understand?

If only people at work were really this supportive.

Movie of the Year:
Iron Man

Although the The Dark Knight deservedly received much praise for it's gritty take on the comic genre and for Heath Ledger's stellar portrayal of the Joker, no movie satisfied me more than Jon Favreau's summer blockbuster. There's not much more to say about Robert Downey Jr.'s spot on portrayal of the flawed superhero. The supporting cast was great too from Gwyneth Paltrow's "Girl Friday" character Pepper Potts to Jeff Bridge's villainous Obidiah Stane even though I didn't understand why "the Dude" acted so mean. Most importantly of all, Iron Man holds up even after multiple viewings passing the difficult rewatchability test. Here's hoping Iron Man 2 lives up to the original even though Don Cheadle will be replacing Terrence Howard as the future War Machine.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0371746/

That Guy Hall Fame: In Memoriam
Robert Prosky (1930-2008)

In a television and film career spanning over 30 years, Prosky can be found well known films like The Natural (1984), Broadcast News (1987), and Mrs. Doubtfire (1993). To me, he will be best known as Rebecca Howe's Navy father from Cheers and Coach 'Jake the Snake' Connelly from Coach.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0698764/

COMING SOON: MORE PITHY COMMENTS ABOUT POPULAR CULTURE

The "Never Say Never" Rule

Whenever a character says that he/she will absolutely, never do something, he/she will be doing that exact thing in the very next scene.

The "Pinkie Taste Test" Rule

Whenever a character, almost always a cop, comes a across a bag filled with a mysterious powder, he or she uses a pinkie finger to probe the bag and then taste whatever the finger picks up. The character then can immediately deduce what narcotic is in the bag.

The "That's a Neat Shot" Rule

This rule applies to any shot in a film framed in such a way to elicit a viewer to think or say: "wow, that's an interesting/neat show." Most of the time, these "neat" shots are put into a film to demonstrate the DP or director's "unique vision" or "artistic mind."

"That Guy" Hall of Fame Presents: Philip Baker Hall

You see him everywhere playing judges and politicians, however Philip Baker Hall might be best remembered for playing the hardboiled library cop Lt. Bookman in Seinfeld's 3rd season episode: "The Library."

BOOKMAN: Yeah, '71. That was my first year on the job. Bad year for libraries. Bad year for America. Hippies burning library cards, Abby Hoffman telling everybody to steal books. I don't judge a man by the length of his hair or the kind of music he listens to. Rock was never my bag. But you put on a pair of shoes when you walk into the New York Public Library, fella.

Hall has 136 acting credits to his name, but his greatest visibility came in the late 90s. In 1997, Hall appeared in both Air Force One as the U.S. Attorney General and in P.T. Anderson's Boogie Nights as porn producer Floyd Gondoli. Hall has also shown up in The Insider, Magnolia (playing a sleazy game show host), The Sum of All Fears, and has made numerous TV guest spots. His worn, wrinkled face conveys a certain authority,which is probably why he plays so many authority figures. With several movies in development and some already on the way, Hall does not seem to be in want of acting roles. Nevertheless, Lt. Bookman will always be how I remember him.

BOOKMAN: Let me tell you something, funny boy... You know that little stamp? The one that says New York Public Library? Well, that may not mean anything to you, but that means a lot to me. One whole helluva lot. Sure, go ahead, laugh if you want to. I've seen your type before -- flashy, making the scene, flaunting convention. Yeah, I know what you're thinking... Why's this guy making such a big stink about old library books? Let me give you a hint, junior. Maybe we can live without libraries, people like you and me.... Maybe. Sure, we're too old to change the world. What about that kid, sitting down, opening a book right now in a branch of the local library and finding pictures of pee-pees and wee-wees in The Cat in the Hat and The Five Chinese Brothers. Doesn't he deserve better? Look, if you think this is about overdue fines and missing books, you'd better think again. This is about that kid's right to read a book without getting his mind warped. Or maybe that turns you on, Seinfeld... Maybe that's how you get your kicks... You and your goodtime buddies... I've got a flash for you, joy boy. Partytime is over.


http://imdb.com/name/nm0001311/

How can you not love this? Thanks Steve Jobs.

Did Eugene Levy Lose a Bet?

I couldn't help but notice Eugene Levy once again reprises his "Jim's Dad" character in the next installment of the direct-to-DVD American Pie series entitled: American Pie: Beta House. This make Levy the only actor to appear in every American Pie movie. One has to wonder, what in God's name keeps drawing him back to do these tired, rehashed movies? One word: money.

"Brave Nudity" Rule

It is only brave to do nudity in a film if you're old and sagging like Kathy Bates in About Schmidt or Diane Keaton in Somethings Gotta Give. However, if you're some unknown actress showing your boobies in the twelfth direct-to-DVD American Pie movie, that is not considered brave.

"That Guy" Hall of Fame Presents: Xander Berkeley

Hey, isn't that Eddie Furlong's adoptive father from T2? Or, hey, isn't that the doctor from Gattaca? Or, hey isn't that other bad guy from Air Force One? Yes, yes it is. Xander Berkeley is one of the great prick character actors of the last 20 years and with a list of 146 roles (according to imdb.com) there is a reason why this guy keeps showing up in the places you least expect. His typical role is the insensitive bureaucrat or sniveling weasel type. Only rarely does he play an outright villain as in Air Force One. Usually poor Xander is stuck playing the loser, like in Heat when Al Pacino emasculates him upon discovering his wife's infidelities. He does manage to make his insensitive prick/bureaucratic type character elicit some sympathy like in season 2 of 24 as George Mason. George Mason, terminally stricken with radiation poisoning, heroically flies a terrorist armed nuclear bomb away from Los Angeles and also saves Jack Bauer in the process. His sad departure from CTU even earned him the poignant "silent clock" treatment. Xander Berkeley is married to Sarah Clarke, aka Nina Meyers to you 24 fans. Whenever you need a character who tirelessly follows the rules, always plays by the book, or just plain ol' gets in the hero's way, Xander Berkeley will be there.

http://imdb.com/name/nm0075359