Best 2018 Oscar movies: Which are worth your valuable time to watch?

As you may know, Oscar nominations for the 90th annual awards were recently announced. But (like almost every year), you hardly know anything about these movies. So here is a summary of each of the Best Picture nominees for 2018’s Academy Awards, and why it’s worth your valuable time to see it). Hope you get a chance to see some of these entertaining films!

• GET OUT (Rated R; 99% RottenTomatoes) – It’s not just a horror movie, it’s a social critique on racism weaved into an entertaining horror/comedy thrill ride. A MUST-SEE for even non-horror movie fans. It’s about a young African-American meeting with his white girlfriend’s parents for a weekend in their secluded estate in the woods that turns into a nightmare.
  • Why you should see it:  One of the best horror movies of all time! Nominated for 4 Oscars.
  • Watch for:  After you watch this movie, check out the alternative ending online, some actually prefer that ending. Also, listen for: “A mind is a terrible thing to waste”, which is actually director Jordan Peele’s voice.

• DUNKIRK (Rated PG-13; 92% RottenTomatoes) – Another epic by acclaimed director Christopher Nolan, based on the WWII evacuation of soldiers from Britain and France, who were hopelessly cut off and surrounded by the German army from Dunkirk, France in 1940.
  • Why you should see it:  The amazing musical score by legendary Hans Zimmer and the great cinematography by Hoyte van Hoytema; Movie has received 8 total Oscar nominations.
  • Watch for:  The Germans – Despite the fact they are shooting at and bombing the allied forces throughout the film, no German troops are actually visible until one of the very last shots in the movie. Also, ex-One Direction’s Harry Styles’ acting debut.

• THE SHAPE OF WATER (Rated R; 92% RottenTomatoes) – Written & directed by Guillermo del Toro (Pacific Rim, Hellboy), a lonely janitor at a secret research facility in the 1950s forms a unique relationship with a creature that is being held captive.
  • Why you should see it:  Nominated for 13 Oscars, arguably director del Toro’s best film, and a tribute to old monster movies.
  • Watch for:  The creature – It took over nine months to get the perfect look.

• LADY BIRD (Rated R; 99% RottenTomatoes) – A heartfelt coming-of-age story about the bittersweet transition from adolescence to adulthood. This is a love it or hate it movie, emotionally harsh and often funny dialogue.
  • Why you should see it:  Nominated for 5 Oscars including Best Original Screenplay.
  • Watch for:  Saoirse Ronan’s performance of Lady Bird which got her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.

• THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE OF EBBING, MISSOURI (Rated R; 93% RottenTomatoes) – A dark comedy about a mother who in an effort to track down who raped and murdered her daughter has three billboards erected outside her town in a call-to-action for the local law enforcement.
  • Why you should see it:  Nominated for 7 Oscars, including screenplay which has some hilarious one-liners.
  • Watch for:  Frances McDormand’s Oscar-nominated performance as the grieving mother & Sam Rockwell as the deputy officer which also earned him an Oscar nomination.

• PHANTOM THREAD (Rated R; 90% RottenTomatoes) – Set in 1950s London, Daniel Day-Lewis is a renowned dressmaker whose life is disrupted by a young strong-willed woman in this suspenseful romance.
  • Why you should see it:  Nominated for 6 Oscars, including Daniel Day-Lewis as Best Actor; The legendary actor has announced this will be his final acting role.
  • Watch for:  Daniel Day-Lewis in his final acting performance, ’nuff said.

• THE POST (Rated PG-13; 88% RottenTomatoes) – Nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture & Best Actress, this film is a newspaper drama set in the early 1970s during the leaking of the Pentagon Papers, documents that proved the U.S. government was lying to the American public and Congress about the Vietnam War for years .
  • Why you should see it:  Nominated for 2 Oscars, this film was directed by Steven Spielberg.
  • Watch for:  Meryl Streep adds yet another Oscar nomination (Best Actress) to her long list of Academy Award nominations (now a record 21 in her amazing career).

• DARKEST HOUR (Rated PG-13; 86% RottenTomatoes) – A stirring retelling of Winston Churchill’s fight during WWII to protect Britain and Europe from Hitler’s army.
  • Why you should see it:  Nominated for 6 Oscars, Gary Oldman’s superb portrayal of Prime Minister Winston Churchill gaining him a Best Actor nomination; You can tell Oldman did his research on the role.
  • Watch for:  Beautiful camera shooting garnering a Best Cinematography nomination.

• CALL ME BY YOUR NAME (Rated R; 96% RottenTomatoes) – A melancholy, powerfully-affecting portrait of first love between two men.
  • Why you should see it:  One movie-goer: “The kind of movie that makes you sit through the credits with tears rolling down your face, staring blankly at the screen with a lump in your throat and tightness in your chest.”
  • Watch for:  Timothée Chalamet performance (young 17 year old Elio), which led to him being nominated for Best Actor.

 

2016-2017 TV Season has several interesting new shows! EXCITED!?

Hmm… Anyone excited?? This year, there are a few noteworthy new TV shows that I will be lending my precious time, this 2016 fall season. Oh, so precious my time is, as there are far too many great TV shows that I am already following (see further below). I just can’t keep up! lol…

How much of your valuable TV time do you spend on a new show? Tell me how many episodes should I commit to a brand new show until I should make the decision that it is worthy or not? One episode is definitely too short, just two maybe, if it is really horrible. Perhaps three is a good number? What do you do?

After perusing my choices, let me know in the comments if you will be watching something that I may have passed on (& why)!

Wed-9/21/2016 @10pm: Designated Survivor (ABC) – Starring Kiefer Sutherland, a lower cabinet member who becomes president after an attack on Washington kills everyone ahead of him in the line of succession. Keifer’s a keeper!

Wed-9/21/2016 @8pm: Lethal Weapon (Fox) – A remake of the movies, Damon Wayans is the LAPD detective and Clayne Crawford is the former Navy SEAL who lost his wife and child. I liked the movies, ok?

Thu-9/22/2016 @9pm: Pitch (Fox) – Ginny Baker becomes the first woman to play in Major League Baseball when she joins the San Diego Padres as its pitcher. Love sports!

Fri-9/23/2016 @8pm: MacGyver (CBS) – Lucas Till is the new MacGyver, with a genious talent to solve major problems with a combination of science and improvisational skills. He creates a distinctly clandestine organization that operates within the US government. THIS WILL BE GOOD!!! **onomeister’s pick**

Sun-10/02/2016: Westworld (HBO) – Anthony Hopkins, James Marsden and Evan Rachel Wood star in the sci-fi show about a robot uprising at a western theme park, which was written by Jonathan Nolan and produced by JJ Abrams. Wow! Talk about star-studded!! ‘Nuff said!

Mon-10/03/2016 @10pm: Timeless (NBC) – A trio travels through time to catch a criminal who stole a time machine that could catastrophically alter history. Hey, I’m a fan of anything time-travel!

Wed-10/05/2016 @9pm: Frequency (CW) – A remake of the 2000 film starring Dennis Quaid, a detective in 2016 discovers she can speak via a ham radio to her estranged father, who died in 1996 and was also a detective. Loved the movie, crossing my fingers.

January 2017: Star Trek: Discovery (CBS-All Access) – This is the show that I am most excited for! Recent rumors say that the setting of the first season will be set ten years before the start of the original Star Trek television series, and occur in the “Prime” universe (as opposed to the recently rebooted Star Trek movie universe). I’ve been a fan of anything Star Trek since the TNG days! (Even the criticized ‘Star Trek Enterprise‘ show!)

Midseason: Mondays @10pm: Taken (NBC) – This is a prequel to the movies, a younger version of Liam Neeson’s CIA agent Bryan Mills. Luv’ed the movies & hoping the “Luc Besson” magic will help the show!

Midseason: Mondays @8pm: 24: Legacy (FOX) – Former Army Ranger Eric Carter is the the new ‘Jack Bauer’ who tries to stop a terrorist attack. The series will do the same real-time format as the original series, consisting of only 12 episodes.

Midseason: The Blacklist: Redemption (NBC) – This spin-off of The Blacklist follows Tom Keen who teams up with Susan “Scottie” Hargrave, who he learns is his mother. Scottie is the head of Grey Matters, a covert mercenary task force that handles cases the government won’t touch. No James Spader? I dunno…

Midseason: Sundays @8:30pm: Making History – Three friends travel through time while trying to get through their everyday lives in the present. BTTF rip-off? Please don’t be horrible, please don’t be horrible.

Midseason: Training Day (CBS): Based on the 2001 movie, the reboot picks up 15 years later and revolves around a young idealistic LAPD police officer who is partnered with a morally questionable detective (Bill Paxton). Luv’ed the movie!

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Here is a list of the season premieres of shows that I am currently watching. If you have not yet watched these, they are highly recommended viewing, if you give them a chance:

Wed 9/14/2016: 10pm (NBC) Blindspot (time change: Wed 9/21: 8pm)

Fri 9/16/2016: 8pm (SyFy) Z Nation

Mon 9/19/2016: 8pm (Fox) Gotham

8pm (CBS) Big Bang Theory

Tue 9/20/2016: 8pm (Fox) Brooklyn Nine-Nine

10pm (ABC) Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Thu 9/22/2016: 10pm (NBC) Blacklist

Sun 9/25/2016: 9:30pm (Fox) The Last Man On Earth

10pm (ABC) Quantico (guilty pleasure)

Sat 10/01/2016: 11:30pm (NBC) Saturday Night Live

Sun 10/02/2016: 8pm (Starz) Ash vs Evil Dead

Mon 10/03/2016: 9pm (CBS) Scorpion (2-hr episode), (time change 10/10: 10pm)

Tue 10/04/2016: 8pm (CW) Flash

Wed 10/05/2016: 8pm (CW) Arrow

Mon 10/10/2016: 8pm (CW) Supergirl

Tue 10/11/2016: 9pm (ABC) Fresh Off The Boat

Thu 10/13/2016: 8pm (CW) DC’s Legends of Tomorrow

Sun 10/23/2016: 9pm (AMC) Walking Dead

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So sad to see go in 2016, goodbye to: American Idol, Castle, Continuum, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation , Downton Abbey, Heroes Reborn, Limitless (I’m so disappointed!!), Marvel’s Agent Carter, Minority Report, Person of Interest (noooo!), Rush Hour, You Me And The Apocalypse (I really liked this one!)

 

OMG! 2015-2016 TV Season is Packed Full of Gems!!

OMG, get your PVR’s ready cuz there are 45 new shows for 2015-2016 season! Let me help you filter out a few of them. Here are my picks for noteworthies of this year:

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS) 9/08
This sure-fire hit starring Colbert who took over for David Letterman has already proven his popularity with “The Colbert Report” and “The Late Show,”. Here’s a few of the A-list caliber first week of guests: George Clooney, Scarlett Johansson, Kendrick Lamar, Vice President Joe Biden.

Minority Report (Fox) 9/21 Mon 9pm
Ten years after Steven Spielberg’s movie that starred Tom Cruise, a “pre-cog” named Dash (Stark Sand) struggles to live a normal life but gets help from a detective (Meagan Good) and finds a purpose for his powers, by stopping crimes.

Heroes Reborn (NBC) 9/24 Thu 8pm
From original creator Tim Kring (it’s been five years since Heroes!), the 13-episode miniseries begins again with new heroes struggling with extraordinary abilities. New adventures await as they cross paths with some of the original characters like the beloved “Horned Rimmed Glasses” and fan-favorite time-traveler Hiro Nakamura.

Scream Queens (Fox) 9/22 Tue 8pm
This one is being heralded as the one to watch for in 2015. This first installment in an anthology series from Ryan Murphy (Glee, American Horror Story) is set in a campus sorority that’s rocked by several murders. Jamie Lee Curtis, Nick Jonas, Ariana Grande are showing up in this horror-comedy.

Supergirl (CBS) 10/26 Mon 8pm
Melissa Benoist is Kara Zor-El, cousin of Superman, who escaped her home planet Krypton during its destruction. After 24 years of hiding her powers, she finally decides to embrace her abilities and be a hero. Greg Berlanti (Arrow, The Flash) is executive producer.

Limitless (CBS) 9/22 Tue 10pm
Based on the 2011 film, this drama stars Jake McDorman as Brian Sinclair, who, after discovering the power of a mysterious intelligence-enhancing drug, is coerced into using his new abilities to solve weekly cases for the FBI.  Executive producer Bradley Cooper will turn up in a recurring role as a senator who also uses the drug.

The Player (NBC) 9/24 Thu 10pm
Set in Las Vegas, this drama stars Philip Winchester as a sniper-turned-security expert who has to perform “a series of heroic challenges” in order to save innocent lives. Wesley Snipes also stars as the “pit boss”.

Quantico (ABC)  9/27 Tue 10pm
Quantico is where the FBI trains its most valuable employees. But in this freshman class, among the best and brightest is a suspected terrorist mastermind who is plotting the biggest attack since 9/11.

The Muppets (ABC) 9/22 Tue 8pm
Kermit and Ms. Piggy return to prime time with a contemporary, documentary-style show. For the first time ever, the series will explore the Muppets’ personal lives and relationships, both at home and at work. This show is meant for adults as well as kids.

Blindspot (NBC) 9/21 Mon 10pm
From Greg Berlanti (the Flash, Arrow), this one is about a beautiful Jane Doe (Jaimie Alexander), who is discovered naked in a duffle bag in Times Square, covered in mysterious tattoos with no memory of who she is. Each tattoo has a meaning and a connection to a crime.

Ash vs Evil Dead (Starz) 10/31 Sat 9pm
This show has the legendary Ash, who returns 28 years after “Evil Dead II,” and yes, Bruce Campbell is back! Sam Raimi (Spartacus, Xena: Warrior Princess) is behind this, so it looks to be a winner!

Childhood’s End (Syfy) 12/14 Mon 8pm
Based on Arthur C. Clarke’s classic novel, an alien spacecraft appears in Earth’s skies, but then takes a very different direction. The six-hour miniseries airs across three consecutive nights, short and sweet.

The Expanse (Syfy) 12/14 Mon 10pm (premiere), then 12/15 Tue 10pm
They say it’s the “most ambitious” series in Syfy’s history, a thriller that takes place 200 years in the future about a detective (Thomas Jane) and a spaceship captain (Steven Strait) who come across a huge conspiracy. Oscar-nominated screenwriters Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby and Breaking Bad’s Terry McDonough, one of the directors are in on this one.

The X-Files (Fox) 1/24/2016 Sun 10pm (premiere), then 1/25 Mon 8pm
Mulder and Scully are back for a re-boot!! Only six episodes are currently slated. According to star David Duchovny, it will be a mixture of stand-alone episodes along with the classic “mythology” of the show. I can’t wait!

Rush Hour (CBS) midseason
Based on the Chris Tucker-Jackie Chan films], the drama features the same characters: a by-the-books Hong Kong police officer (Jon Foo) who unwillingly has to work with a cocky African-American LAPD officer (Justin Hires).

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (CW) midseason
A spinoff from the Arrow and the Flash universe, it’s about a time-traveler named Rip Hunter (Arthur Darvill), who saw a future he is trying to prevent from happening, and assembles a group of misfit heroes and villains.

The Frankenstein Code (Fox) midseason
True Blood’s Rob Kazinsky is Jimmy Pritchard, a corrupt retired cop who’s given a second chance at life when he is brought back from the dead. This time, he is younger and stronger, and while he is tempted from his old life, he also has a new sense of purpose.

Lucifer (Fox) midseason
Based on the DC Comics character, the Lord of Hell (Tom Ellis) gets bored and moves to Los Angeles, where he helps the LAPD punish criminals.

Superstore (NBC) midseason
America Ferrera and Ben Feldman star in this workplace comedy about a unique family of employees at a megastore. Of course there are the newbies, veteran staff, the strict managers, together have to hilariously tackle the day-to-day grind of the crazy shoppers and workplace issues of the Superstore.

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Here is a list of the season premieres of other shows that I am currently watching:
Scorpion (CBS, Season 2) 9/21 Mon 9pm
Gotham (Fox, Season 2) 9/21 Mon 8pm
Fresh Off the Boat (ABC, Season 2) 9/22 Tue 8:30pm
The Blacklist (NBC, Season 3) 9/24 Thu 9pm
The Amazing Race (CBS) 9/25 Fri 8pm
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Fox, Season 3) 9/27 Sun 8:30pm
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC, Season 3) 9/29 Tue 9pm
Saturday Night Live (NBC) 10/3 Sat 11:30pm
The Flash (CW, Season 2) 10/6 Tue 8pm
America’s Funniest Home Videos (ABC) 10/11 Sun 7pm

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Sad to see go; Goodbye to: State of Affairs, Forever, Boardwalk Empire, the original CSI,  Glee, Constantine, Hannibal, Helix, Ressurection, Revenge, Parks & Recreation, The Following, Sons of Anarchy, the Mentalist, True Blood, Two and a Half Men

 

OMG!! 2014-2015 TV season looks very cool!

Hey people, have you noticed? The TV networks are trying very hard (again) to capture your valuable TV viewing time! Ugh, my PVR will be working overtime yet again! I love watching new shows that have a great premise (see my preview of last year’s new shows (click here).  Out of the 24 new shows this fall, here are my recommendations of 2014-2015 TV season that you should sacrifice your valuable time to:

• Z Nation – ZOMG, watch the trailer now! No, it’s not a Walking Dead ripoff, really! A band of survivors try to transport a man who has been bitten eight times by zombies but remains alive.  He is the only hope for a cure but has to be transported from New York to California   (Fri Sep-12, 10:00pm, SyFy, see the awesome trailer) – onomeister says “MUST-SEE”
• Madam Secretary – Tea Leoni is the new Secretary of State who is a former CIA analyst that cannot be micro-managed by all the White House aides but does well to juggle her job and personal life (Sun Sep-21, 8:00pm, CBS, see trailer) – onomeister says “BORDERLINE”
• Gotham – Based in the early years before Batman, this is about pre-Commissioner Jim Gordon who is a detective fighting crime. He will also be crossing paths with the people who will eventually become Batman, Catwoman, the Riddler, Poison Ivy and the Penguin (Mon Sep-22, 8:00pm FOX, see trailer) – onomeister says “MUST-SEE”
• Scorpion – This is cool: A procedural based on a true story of a group of eccentric, poorly socialized geniuses who band together to fight high-tech criminals (Mon Sep-22, 9:00pm, CBS, see trailer) onomeister says “MAYBE A WINNER”
• Forever – A detective story of a medical examiner who has been around for over 200 years but keeps dying and coming back to life naked. Yes, naked (Mon Sep-22, 10:00pm, ABC, see trailer) onomeister says “BORDERLINE”
• Gracepoint – Doctor Who‘s David Tennant stars in this highly anticipated murder mystery mini-series (filmed in Victoria, BC!) and features 2 Oscar-nominated actors Nick Nolte and Jackie Weaver as well as Emmy winner Anna Gunn (Breaking Bad)  (Oct-2, 9:00pm FOX, see trailer) onomeister says “MAYBE A WINNER”
• Star Wars Rebels – Did you know that the Rebels team is in close contact with Abrams’ Episode VII crew? Meaning that this animated show could provide a sneak peek at the future Star Wars films! The premise is a sidestory revolving around the events that lead up to Star Wars IV: A New Hope where Darth Vader assigns the “Inquisitor” to hunt down the last remaining Jedi (Features the original voices of “Lando” – Billy Dee Williams and “C-3PO” – Anthony Daniels) (Fri Oct-03, 9:00pm, Disney X.D, see trailer) onomeister says “MUST-SEE”
• The Flash – A spinoff from The Arrow, based on the DC comic, the pilot has already been highly touted as the season’s best new drama. Wow! (Tue Oct-07, 8:00pm, CW, see trailer) onomeister says “MAYBE A WINNER”
• Constantine – Inspired by the DC comic book, the hero is fighting to save the world from demons and rescue his own lost soul from a hellish homeland (Fri Oct-24, 10:00pm, NBC, see trailer) onomeister says “BORDERLINE”
• State of Affairs – After a four year absence from TV, Emmy award winner Katherine Heigl returns as a CIA briefer for a black female president in this spy-drama (Mon Nov-17, 10:00pm, NBC, see trailer) onomeister says “BORDERLINE”
• Ascension – Wow, this trailer is amazing! Slated as a 6-hour miniseries, this sci-fi is about a 1963 covert space mission sending hundreds of men, women and children on a century-long voyage aboard a starship to populate a new world (stars Battlestar Galactica‘s Tricia Helfer, ie. “Six”) (Nov-24, 9:00pm, SyFy, see trailer) onomeister says “MAYBE A WINNER”
• Fresh Off the Boat – It’s the ’90s and 12 year old, hip-hop loving Eddie just moved to suburban Orlando from DC’s Chinatown with his Asian parents. It’s culture shock for his immigrant family in this sitcom about pursuing the American Dream. This is the first network sitcom in 20 years to feature an Asian American family (2015, ABC, see trailer) onomeister says “MAYBE A WINNER” (but a “MUST-SEE” if you’re Asian like me!)
• Wayward Pines – A mystery drama with 4 Oscar-nominated actors: Matt Dillon,  Juliette Lewis and Terrence Howard, and Oscar-winner Melissa Leo, it feels like Twin Peaks, but different. The trailer is very intriguing! (2015, FOX, see trailer) onomeister says “MAYBE A WINNER”)
• Agent Carter – Set in the Marvel comic world of Captain America in the 1940’s, Agent Peggy Carter is trying to balance administrative work with going on secret missions for Howard Stark (Iron Man’s father) in the wake of losing her love, Steve Rogers, aka Captain America (2015, ABC, see trailer) onomeister says “BORDERLINE”)

onomeister’s 2013-2014 sophmore Must-sees: The Blacklist 9/22, Brooklyn Nine-Nine 9/28, Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD 9/23, MasterChef Junior 11/07.

Other airing Must-sees:  Person of Interest, Arrow, Walking Dead, The Last Ship, Sons of Anarchy, Bones, Game of Thrones, Parks & Recreation, Modern Family, Grey’s Anatomy, Big Bang Theory, Once Upon A Time, Boardwalk Empire, House of Cards, Vikings, Fargo, Helix.

So many awesome shows, so little time…

 

This trailer looks scary-amazing! Helix (Syfy) – coming Jan-2014

Here’s hoping a Canadian broadcaster picks this up, or we’ll have to go online

Do you love Sci-fi??? Me too! You may want to check out the trailer below, and catch this new TV series on the Sy-fy channel coming out Friday Jan-10-2014 at 10:00pm. Scripted by Ron Moore of Battlestar Galactica, and produced by the people behind Lost and X-Files.

Sy-fy describes it as “an intense thriller” about a team of scientists from the Center for Disease Control. After being sent to the Arctic to investigate a possible disease outbreak, they soon become entangled in a far more apocalyptic affair, facing “a terrifying life-and-death struggle that holds the key to mankind’s salvation or total annihilation.”

Japanese fans will know of Hiroyuki Sanada, who will be one of the stars. He’s in charge of the top-secret research.

Will you tune in to watch some scary black slime??

 

A new TV show on the horizon about PIRATES!! (coming Jan-2014)

Anyone hear about BLACK SAILS ??? Brought to you from the channel that produced Spartacus, this could be a possible hit in the making, especially as it’s being produced by Michael Bay.

Watching the trailer, it looks to be a really interesting premise! Are you a Pirates of the Caribbean fan? Who wants to see more pirates!!?? This is definitely on my radar! How about you?

For more details, here’s the show’s website: http://www.starz.com/originals/blacksails

And this is the recently released trailer:

 

OMG!! 2013-2014 TV season looks VERY interesting!

Hey people, have you noticed?? The networks are trying very hard (again) to capture your valuable viewing time! I don’t know about you, but I have taken notice, and my PVR will be working overtime! This fall, there are some new sure-fire must-watch shows, a few interesting borderline wait-&-see shows, and many dead-on-arrival filler shows (which I won’t talk about). So, here are my recommendations of 2013-2014 TV season that you should sacrifice your valuable time to:

• Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – Ohhhh yeah! I can hardly wait for this spinoff of the blockbuster  movie smash hit the Avengers by none other than the genius and my hero Joss Whedon. Whaat? You haven’t watched the Avengers yet? No worries, Whedon’s talented team should keep all action fans coming back for more. Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg from the movie) assembles a team of top-secret agents who investigate threats to humanity (Crossing my fingers to see the occasional guest star / cameo appearance by a few superheroes!) (Tue Sep-24, 8:00pm, ABC, see trailer) – onomeister says “MUST-SEE”
• The Crazy Ones – Wow, has it really been THIRTY-TWO years since Robin Williams starred in a TV show?? 32 years since Mork & Mindy, the comedy that made Robin Williams a household name! Man, I feel old… And Sarah Michelle Gellar, star of the cult-hit Buffy the Vampire Slayer will also be starring in this sitcom as a father and daughter team?  Just watch the 2-min trailer (click here), and you will have a brief taste of the comedic genius of Robin Williams (FYI this is from the same creator as Ally McBeal) (Thu Sep-26, 9:00pm, CBS, see trailer) – onomeister says “MAYBE A WINNER”
• The Michael J. Fox Show – OMG! Michael J. Fox is back??? NBC is so banking on the success of this sitcom that they have already bought 22 episodes of this new series, a rarity in the TV industry these days. Michael J. Fox is executive producer and plays a family man who happens to have Parkinson’s disease, a condition that the actor has had since the 1990s (Thu Sep-26, 9:30pm NBC, but pilot airs 9:00pm-10:00pm, see trailer) – onomeister says “MUST-SEE”
• The Blacklist – James Spader is a 3-time Emmy award winner who is now  in this thriller  that screams Silence of the Lambs: an international criminal who sells out his contacts in exchange for immunity but will only deal with one particular female FBI agent – no her name is not Clarisse. The trailer has me hooked! (Mon Sep-23, 10:00pm, CBS, see trailer) onomeister says “MAYBE A WINNER”
• Hostages – Another producer that never sleeps: Jerry Bruckheimer’s political thriller starring Dylan McDermott (The Practice) is about a surgeon who is blackmailed to botch the U.S. president’s operation. Like Missing (with Ashley Judd), the premise makes this thriller seems better off as a mini-series, Will Hostages‘ McDermott or Blacklist‘s Spader win this time slot? Thank God for PVR’s! (Mon Sep-23, 10:00pm, NBC, see trailer) onomeister says “GIVE IT A CHANCE”
• Brooklyn Nine-Nine – SNL‘s Andy Samberg is hilarious in everything he does, and is paired with veteran Andre Braugher (Homocide) as the straight man by-the-books captain. Many are saying this will be the best new comedy of the season. (Tue Sep-17, 8:30pm, FOX, see trailer) onomeister says “MAYBE A WINNER”
• MasterChef Junior – OMG! Potty-mouthed Gordon Ramsey is going to be teamed up with kids between 8 to 13 years old?? Could this be a recipe for disaster or a genius idea for a ratings winfall? This could teach kids who tune in that cooking is actually cool! I’m making my kids watch this one!! (Fri Sep-27, 8:00pm, FOX, see trailer) onomeister says “MAYBE A WINNER”
• Once Upon a Time in Wonderland – I saw the commercial for this and thought the trailer was very well done. It adds new details to a familiar story but tells a completely different one (Just like Once Upon a Time). The producers have said that you don’t have to have watched Once to get it. (Thu Oct-10, 8:00pm, ABC, see trailer) onomeister says “GIVE IT A CHANCE”
• The Tomorrow People – If you like Heroes and X-Men, then you’ve seen the Tomorrow People, and you may want to tune in. About teens with hidden superpowers that are being chased by a group of scientists who want to exterminate them. (Wed Oct-9, 9:00pm, CW, see trailer) onomeister says “GIVE IT A CHANCE”
• Almost Human – This futuristic crime drama borrows from Robocop. It may be worth a look as it comes from J.J. Abrams and J.H. Wyman (Fringe). It’s about a cop who gets a new android partner who’s too human, but loathes it as he lost his previous partner due to a less compassionate android model. (Mon Nov-4, 8:00pm, FOX, see trailer) onomeister says “GIVE IT A CHANCE”
• Believe – Yet another TV show produced by the genius of J. J. Abrams (Does this guy ever take a break?). About a young girl that has hidden powers that many bad people are chasing after (in the vein of Touch) and a man who was removed from a prison hired to protect her (mid-season, TBA, NBC, see trailer) – onomeister says “MUST-SEE”
• The 100 – Out of 4000 survivors of a nuclear holocaust living on space stations in the distant future, 100 juvenile delinquents are sent down to test if Earth is habitable, as they are running out of resources. There are familiar undertones of Hunger Games, Lost, Battlestar Galactica, and Lord of the Flies. I feel that this could be an interesting sci-fi drama! PS. there are going to be deaths (mid-season, TBA, CW, see trailer) onomeister says “GIVE IT A CHANCE”

 

Aw jeez… Alcatraz, Missing cancelled, Terra Nova before that… I hate network TV

Why do I bother watching new shows? You watch a few episodes, you find that it has an interesting plot/storyline, so you start watching a few more episodes, and then you get hooked. Then all of a sudden, CANCELLED! Grrr… Who else hates it when that happens??

Yes, I know the ratings make the networks’ decisions. What I ask is for some courtesy to the loyal viewers that gave up their valuable tv time to try out their new shows. I propose this. When the net-exec’s decide to axe a show, give the show’s producers 2 or 3 episodes to create a proper Series Finale. I can’t stand it when a show is cancelled and you’re left hanging on what the ending would have been if they had a chance to finish it.

Other great shows that deserved a proper ending before getting cancelled: The River, V, Human Target, No Ordinary Family, Mr. Sunshine, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Does anyone remember the hilarious Reaper? All these shows were dropped too soon.

Did you miss these shows when they aired? Watch them online if you get a chance!

• Alcatraz: A show from Lost and Fringe mastermind J.J. Abrams. The mystery-thriller stars beautiful Sarah Jones as detective Rebecca Madsen, Comic book lover Dr. Diego Soto (played by Lost‘s Jorge Garcia) and government agent Emerson Hause (Sam Neil). This show is about Alcatraz inmates that were thought to be dead for years are roaming the streets of San Francisco, continuing their crimes from fifty years ago.
• Missing: In this high-flying action thriller, a mother who is an ex-CIA agent (sexy Ashley Judd) travels to Europe in search of her son who disappeared in Italy while he was studying abroad. Also stars Sean Bean from Game of Thrones. I really enjoyed Judd’s character and acting.
• The River: “Paranormal Activity” writer-director Oren Peli and “Paranormal 2” screenwriter Michael R. Perry are coming together to create a series that involves a search for someone who went missing on the Amazon river. This show is creepy and thrilling; nothing like it is on tv right now.
• Terra Nova: Steven Spielberg brings a story set in the year 2149, where the planet Earth is a disaster, and most of the plant and animal life has become extinct. Scientists can’t reverse the damage, but have found a way to travel back to prehistoric times to save the human race. This show has everything for the family. And the characters are great; you will find yourself rooting for the Shannon family! It also stars Stephen Lang, from the movie Avatar, the douchebag Col. Miles Quaritch – you wonder if he’s really good or bad in Terra Nova.
• Human Target: This show by WB, DC Comics and McG’s Wonderland was based on the DC Comics title. Christopher Chance is the mysterious security-for-hire protecting his clients by becoming the Human Target. This show reminds me of Person of Interest, but Chance was more human and shows more emotion than John Reese.

Just one more thing, these exec’s should learn how tv networks in Japan do it. In Japan, they guarantee a 11 to 13 episode series for any drama/comedy series. They run it till the end. If a series bombs, then they shorten it up with a quick episode that gives it a proper ending. They don’t leave the show’s viewers hanging with a sudden cancellation, like they do here.

Please give us some proper closure!!

What cancelled tv show do you wish had a proper ending?

 

Who’s going to the Calgary Expo? Star Trek TNG reunion? Comicon??? onomeister is!!!

Any blogosphere fans going to the 2012 Calgary Expo? This year’s Comicon features the entire Star Trek: The Next Generation principle cast reuniting for the very first time since the TV series went off the air. Also, many celebrities will be coming:  legendary comic artist Stan Lee, the original Batman Adam West, Fringe’s Dr. Bishop & Astrid, Nightmare on Elm Street’s Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund), Amanda Tapping from Stargate: SG-1, Hayden Panettiere from Heroes, Lance Henriksen (from Millennium & Aliens – he was awesome in Aliens), the Battlestar Galactica actors Captain Kara Thrace / Starbuck, Chief Galen Tyrol and Tom Zarek (who was also Cpt. Apollo of the original B.G.).

I had to purchase a separate ticket for the special reunion, as I was a huge fan of Star Trek: TNG, as I grew up watching them when it first aired waaay back in 1987 – 1994. Wow, I have nostalgic memories of each of these characters on the show. Not all episodes were great, but you know, there were many outstanding well-written ones that I can still remember clearly to this day.

The original cast of ST:TNG that will be there at this historic event are Sir Patrick Stewart (Jean Luc Picard), Jonathan Frakes (Will Riker), Marina Sirtis (Deanna Troi), Brent Spiner (Data), Michael Dorn (Worf), LeVar Burton (Geordi LaForge), Gates McFadden (Beverly Crusher), Wil Wheaton (Wesley Crusher) and Denise Crosby (Tasha Yar).

Tickets were $35 – $140, and they sold out in one day! I got the $80 price range so I could at least see their faces (lol).

I’ll let you know later how it went! (AND WAIT FOR MY COSPLAY PHOTOS – hint: video game character)