“We’ve gotta crack open your head and scoop out those DVDs.” So, I picked up the Simpsons Season Six set today (along with Farscape Starburst 5, Sin City, and Layer Cake), and while normally I’m obliged to speak ill of Fox, I must admit they’ve done an admirable job in keeping the Simpsons fanboys (such as myself) happy with their Alternative Packaging Program. For only $2.95, they’ll mail you a standard Season Six box to replace the plastic Homer Head it currently comes in.
Category: Television
Gold Stryker.
Will Al Swearingen meet his match in Hannibal Lecter? Proving once again that quality character actors love them some Sioux country, Brian Cox joins Deadwood Season Three as “Jack Langrishe, an eccentric producer and theater owner who strives to introduce a modicum of culture to the mean streets of the South Dakota town.” (He’s likely the earlier rumored openly gay character in love with a male ingenue — Garret Dillahunt, perhaps?) (Also posted at Quiddity.) In other HBO news, memo to myself: The Wire Season 3 hits On Demand on Sept. 12, meaning I should probably pick up the service sometime before then.
Signing off.
Just Let it Go.
Hey…still busy over on this end with the textbook project. At this point, I’m about ready to up and pull a Novak, but, fortunately, the end is in sight.
Longtime Companion.
Sarah Jane (Elisabeth Sladen), one of the Doctor’s most memorable companions from the Pertwee-Baker years, will return in Season 2 of the Who revival (along with the Cybermen.) How ’bout Harry and the Brigadier while we’re at it?
Little House in the City.
“Sure, ‘Tiny House’ is indebted to the low-ceilinged office spaces of Being John Malkovich, but it’s still top-notch stuff. It may be the funniest ad of the past year.” While ascertaining just why there are so many Geico ads on TV, Seth Stevenson sings the praises of Tiny House.
Beam Him Up.
R.I.P. James “Scotty” Doohan 1920-2005. From the beaches at Normandy to the Enterprise engine room, he was a good man in a pinch.
Sippin’ on Gin and Ingsoc.
“Just what does Tanqueray have in mind here? How is this foppish hipster supposed to sell gin?” Old friend Seth Stevenson assesses Tanqueray’s new spokesman, Tony Sinclair, who has come to grace a number of bus stops and billboards in my area. For the most part, I think gin is pretty vile — When it comes to the spirits, I’m a Jameson man. That being said, I did enjoy a glass of Victory Gin while re-watching Michael Radford’s powerful version of Nineteen Eighty-Four over the weekend. Winston Smith…now there’s a spokesman Tanqueray should get behind. Doubleplusgood.
Finding Naziland.
“That’s why I’m doing it. Schindler’s bloody List, The Pianist…Oscars coming out their ass.” Kate Winslet bucks for an award (by way of Godwin’s Law) in a new clip from Extras, the forthcoming show by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant of The Office. (More clips here.)
Muppet Eberts.
As seen on CNN, Statler and Waldorf, the cantankerous and curmudgeonly duo in the upper balcony of The Muppet Show, now review movie trailers each week. While we’re at it, can we get political commentary by Sam the Eagle?