SONG WRITING

Well, what have I done tonight — gotten my character killed three times in World of Warcraft because I have ABSOLUTELY no idea what to do — the highly amusing part of that is that I got talked into it by my 7 year old nephew and presumably he’s managed to survive. My mistake was not scheduling an in-game family meetup so that someone with actual experience/weapons/healing spells would have my back. Then there’s the listening to last.fm, reading the twitterific window when it pops up, trying to animate a new Christmas themed cartoon in both ToonBoom Studio Express and FlipBoom and not having any luck at either — although I love the crispness of the colors and lines in Studio Express and should probably sit through the tutorials…but I’m best at the apprentice approach, following someone around and learning by doing, then diving off the deep end before I’m totally comfortable and going from there. What else, pre WOW, there was the researching Quebec History in 1889 — Bulldogs (the Hockey Team that apparently invented the net(hockey, not inter, although it was in French so no guarantees), landslides and “warehouse stores” in Montreal.

And then there was the Lisa Loeb song that made me think writing a country song was the solution to my possibly late night rain induced mood so I caught up on my other blog and am here admitting that writing not drawing is what calls to me tonight…maybe haikuing

How in the heart does a song start
Take the heat meets the beat
Then the beat meets street
And the street rides the heat
While the beat pounds on
A song jaunts
to the street heartbeat
turn the heat on
riding the beat
while the heart street
hums

Not a haiku and no one could turn that into a country song; last.fm’s gone Blossom Dearie, which is the best name for a lounge singer ever…close race with Eartha Kitt, which is the best name for a Catwoman ever.

Anything else tonight — one of my twitter peeps is fascinated by parallel universes which will probably lead to strange dreams, watched Big Bang Theory on DVD — had a marathon over Thanksgiving — Beau had never really seen a full episode. As I was trying to sleep Thursday night the soundtrack in my head was a combination of the Friends’ (Beau’s a big fan) theme song, the BBT theme and the Northwestern (we’re going to a bowl game, baby) fight song, so I think he watched them long into the morning.

Googlequested for ToonBoom Animate reviews (couldn’t make the launch party), clicked back through blog trackbacks and ended up with speculation — last.fm pause RODRIGIO y GABRIELA are amazing; see them and be awed — that there might be a Wizards of Waverly Place movie; Disney’s setting their New Year’s Eve party on the Wizards set, advertising started tonight. I want Disney to have a special holiday treat of showing High School Musical 3 on TV so Flash will stop wandering sadly with her tail in its melancholy pose whenever they play a Zac Efron video bit from the current movie. Also spent some time on the iCarly website looking for news of new episode as I suffered iCarly withdrawal on Saturday, but only read Freddy’s not terribly convincing Black Friday tale and couldn’t text a “shirt suggestion.”

So, is that everything or at least 2:36 a.m.’s worth. I suppose so. Now I’m off to find something to read. Have to dig out a Ngaio Marsh book — I suddenly remembered that the Roderick Alleyn/Agatha Troy courtship was one of the things that inspired In The Bleak December. But now is not the time to start reading a mystery. They keep me awake. There’s a song thought: The mystery of you sneaks through my night and steals my sleep away. So sneak quieter or be less mysterious. Your choice.

Good night all. (Lenny Welch “Since I Fell For You” — I love the way the song swings through sadness and madness — hey, he’s a Jersey guy…so many of the cool cats are. Did I just write cool cats — alas that’s what’s you get at this turn o’ the hour. So I’ll be turning myself in.)

LOIS, CUFFLINKS AND CARLY(PLUS MIDDLENEWS)

Right, quick insomniac stream of conciousness TV and multi media notes:

SMALLVILLE: still not great Lois writing, but some great Lois and Clark moments in the Doomsday meets Chloe wedding disaster. Great use of limited special effects, much heightening of drama. Erica Durance and Tom Welling do good work and fit in well together at the farm, there’s a nice feel. The return of Kristin Kreuk as Lana Lang got me in trouble — if you’re going to come back, come back in style — and she did. Wow. And with the “Did the Archer believe you?” message, the intrigue vibe came with her. Some beautiful moments — excellent visuals by the director — and the last sequence was breathtaking and beautiful and actually made me want to watch the next episode (but no joy there ’til Jan. 15th); don’t take any kryptonite cookies and avoid Kristin Kreuk in black leather or anything resembling it, that’s my advice.

iCarly — downloaded iWin a Date, which is another of my favorite episodes…Gibby’s great fun. Also watched iWon’t Tell (I think that’s the title) and realized that Miranda Cosgrove is a master of the comic meltdown rant, a core iCarly concept. Between iCarly’s “Random Dancing” segments and True Jackson’s “Dance Party” have decided I need an actual stereo with speakers I can control remotely from any room downstairs. More dancing always good. True Jackson continues funny, but they keep throwing in these “I’m only a teen in way over my head moments” and I just don’t like them.

Disney: Bolt’s getting good and neutral tweets on Twitter; the “Harper Knows” Wizards of Waverly Place(Flash does not approve of Wizards; for her Selena Gomez is always the villanous Mikayla, we think) episode was actually fun — between that show and the Big Bang Theory there will be so much embrace your inner and outer geek going on that I dread to see what shows filter out of the next iteration of inspiration based on that premise.

Anything else? Hmmm, have Spirited Away on loan, must watch sometime this week and see if anime love lingers post Howl’s Moving Castle.

All right, I’m done and too tired to link. Google, Ask or Yahoo…you’ll find it. Good night all. Enjoy your Monday(yes, even if it requires large amounts of lasagna).

Oh, A Middleman update(I’ll link for fellow Middleman lovers) — apparently Natalie Morales has been signed for a pilot of something scifi Star trek spoofy and here’s a blog containing interviews about the future (or not) of the Middleman. Kevin Sorbo’s in there too –oddly, I just iPwatched the episode he appeared in…tomorrow, maybe episode 11????? The DVD set should come with a bonus CD of the show’s music to soothe the no season 2 heartbreak.

iHATCH LIZARD SPOCKS WITH KRYPTONITE

Well, watched the iPie episode of iCarly again and it wasn’t as funny as it was in my cream and custard flinging dreams. But it was bundled together with iHatch Chicks and iPromote Techfoots, two of my favorite episodes (I came upstairs to blog during iLike Him — close to my least favorite episode so far)…chick names are great: Shelly, Heuvo, Benedict, Omelet, Yoko and Poachy; good Freddy lines — “Sam ate them” for example — well, I guess it’s better if you watch the episode. The Freddie’s baby cousin storyline was one of the funnier things in the pie episode; Freddie’s mom is so funny with the deadpan “she does hate you.” Anyway, I could quote iCarly for awhile longer but that would make me hungry for “blubbery” muffins. If you’re not watching it yet and you can stand screaming and mania and running around and actors who can both physical and verbal comedy, well, why aren’t you watching it? The iGo Japan ratings were very respectable, highest for a Nick movie, so maybe they’ll make an iGo London soon.

What else? Big Bang Theory survived fairly funny without direct Sheldon-Penny confrontation so points for that. Rotate the talent a little. Mix up your pitches. It’s the way to make it to the big game. Liked the Mars Rover in a ditch bit, especially the call AA exchange. Nice to see Leonard and Penny as friends; glad there’s no lingering dating awkwardness; the Spock thing went on a bit too long but Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock is one of those phrases that gets funnier every time you say it.

Did I mention I was looking forward to Lana’s appearance on Smallville. That’s very strange for me and an indication that things are not well in the Superverse. More fun, more banter, more Lois, more heroics, a more cheerful and more often seen Green Arrow, and less of the moody lip pursing paramedic/supervillian in training. Kind of sad to see Kara go off, but she doesn’t really fit into to the Metropolis centric storyline. I would like to see Maggie Sawyer back, though.

Oh, for any fans of Flash, she’s off the new Hannah theme song but seems to like The Suite Life on Deck; no comment on iCarly. Patton likes watching basketball with Gayle. Pongo’s solid on Smallville, sports talk in the morning and Home Improvement — he likes guys; my little brother was his best friend when Beau and Pongo were growing up.

ADVENTURES IN WEEKEND WATCHING

Did not crack open the minty fresh Kung Fu Panda DVDm but did “Rip The Wrap*” on Adventures in Babysitting. We kept wandering by the $5.50 movie mini wall at Target and Gayle would go “oohhh Sabrina” and I would say “must get Adventures in Babysitting” and never be exactly sure why. The weeke before it went down to $4.75, I acquired my copy and we watched it on Friday — Saturday being reserved for the pie episode of iCarly –more on that further down. Well, I thought the main role was played by Kristy Swanson when it was actually Elisabeth Shue but once that was sorted out, the fun began.

It was a riot — a fun visit to both Chicago and the hairstyles of the late 80’s. Great soundtrack…plus the scene that embedded itself in my deep deep memory — “Babysittin’ Blues” — a tour de force of panic and performance. The heroine, of course, chooses the wrong guy(I call it the Ivanhoe effect, although with Ivanhoe, it was the wrong girl) — George Newbern’s frat boy beats out the classy but felonius Joe Gipp (Calvin Levels). Great adventure, solid performances. Good comic turn as the runaway, totally spooked best friend by Penelope Ann Miller. Now my soon to see again list of movie favorites includes The Shadow, Year of the Comet (can’t find on DVD) and The Saint.

Opening sequence where Elisabeth Shue dresses for a date and sings along to “Then He Kissed Me” (I believe) made the Lizzie McGuire Movie and Camp Rock openings look derivative (although Hilary Duff falls funnier than nearly anyone else currently in the business) — but it’s not derivative if it’s an homage to a classic, right. Anyway, pick up “Adventures in Babysitting” for $5.50 or $4.75. It is a classic — and if you don’t want to admit that sometimes you like movies without explicit sex and gore and very serious drama, then save it for some time when you’re feeling under the weather and want coddling. You’ll laugh and that’s always good medicine.

Oddly enough, the new Hannah Montana anticipated my call for the flinging of food with Miley tossing cooked chickens around, always fun, although Miley Cyrus isn’t my first choice for a physical comedian. Jason Earles ducks funny though.(NOTE TO DISNEY: Flash misses the old theme song) iCarly vs. pie wasn’t the physical pie flinging fest I had expected — Sam was reliably hungry and caustic (“wake me at quarter to pie”), Spencer was reliably over the top, and Freddy did a very good pie nirvana face while Miranda Cosgrove kept the craziness centered as usual. But considering how well all the actors do physical comedy and that they had 40 plus pies sitting around the apartment, too little craziness…and the last pie never got flung like a frisbee…ah well, that’s what anticipation and a vivid imagination’ll do for you. Still a solid episode.

True Jackson not quite so funny as the pilot, but that’s to be expected. Now we have to get to know the characters a little…I like Lulu better and Max is great, but Cricket was funny and I think the fanatasy sequence went on a little long and made me long for Wendie Malick’s fashion diva spoofing (Just Shoot Me.)

O.K., now I must write an article about walking tours and figure out dinner. Good night.

*Rip That Wrap –maybe the economy is now ready for this. The idea is instead of going out on a Friday night, you pull an unopened DVD(gift, impulse purchase, fell off a shelf and followed you home, 2 for 1 sale, spontaneously generated) off the top of the DVD pile and try to remember why you wanted it, accompanied by some form of comfort food — we opted for home made fajitas. Originally, I was pushing for a regular once a week event, but once a month seems more likely. Try it this weekend; drop off a review in the comment box.

PIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The iCarly next episode blurb involves “pie” which causes me to think, gee there should be pie on all of the shows I watch (and in my icebox). Pies that then develop into that beloved standard of comedy, the pie fight. And yes, The Great Race hard to beat, but wouldn’t it be fun to see Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco and the science gang try over at The Big Bang Theory or mix a little red kryptonite into the whipped cream on Smallville or — let’s go for a stretch here — well, wizard sized walking pies on Waverly Place or pies plus Muppets plus Cheetah Girls on Studio DC Almost Live or the pie episode of Ace of Cakes — they’ve done cupcakes and cookies, why not — or RayLo versus Kordell and Jamal(their tailors would weep) on the First Take First Annual Super Pie Bowl. And why don’t food fights factor in the Bond films — haven’t they seen Tom Jones?

Pick your flavor, turn your back, take ten paces and…

PIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I’m packing butterscotch.

iGo CRAZY, TRULY

Well, Gayle’s putting the finishing touches on dinner (I chopped garlic and zucchini and made my marvelous secret recipe cheese mashup), my interviews are done so I have time for a quick iGo Japan review and you have a chance to see it tonight if you missed it — 7 p.m. on Nick, 10 on the 3 hour plus digital cable channel version of Nick).

Started off funny, but a bit brutal — Sam throwing things at Freddie again; good showcase for Spencer, learning Japanese via the electroshock method. Freddie’s mom once again proved she can be quite funny.

They spent their movie budget on stunts, I think. Lots of falls, lots of fights, lots of funny. 1st half hour B+ for funny, second half hour a little slow, last half hour rocked — the Japanese comedy duo does better at evil than funny and I think the iCarly creative team missed a HUGE opportunity by not translating their talking/fighting into English subtitles — just imagine, massive and angry words back and forth, with English subtitles saying : I like your new tatoo; these Americans are so clueless; blah, blah, blah; should my hair be mauve, I think my hair should be mauve; will the blonde eat the seat covers if we keep driving; Will she eat her shoes? Comic opportunity missed and slow half hour as a result.

However, when Freddie’s mom reveals how they can find Freddie, iGo Japan swings into top gear in its last half hour, and we get A+ interaction with Japanese security guards, more fighting, more falling and Carly and Sam reenacting their adventure in an attempt to overcome the language barrier. Funny funny funny. So watch at least part, just not the middle part.

The True Jackson preview started off falling funny and apparently that’s going to be a motif. Good. Everyone in the cast seems to be able to manage that test of a physical comedian’s skills. Good to see Keke Palmer, she did seem to have more mischief in her makeup than Jump In allowed — funny flashes in music videos — she managed the sharp fast talking humor well. The only drag was when they stopped for a serious moment — just skip those; it doesn’t seem to be what Nick Teen shows do. And why waste a minute you could spend being truly funny. I hope they bring the Cricket character back — a good bad secretary/assistant is a great thing.

And now, to spend fifteen minutes on my article before dinner. Cheers.

WEEKEND!!!!!!!!!!

Things I am looking forward to this weekend:

iGo Japan (actually on On Demand, but decided since I put it in my iPod for Sat., I’m watching it then)

Renting a new and unpredictable movie (suggestions?)

Being able to buy KungFu Panda(Hellboy 2 also available)

Cooking in — fajitas, maybe butternut squash and apples, maybe beet risotto — tastes good and cool color

No political ads

Long walks with leaves both colorful and fallen

Tea

Cider

Cookies — hmmmmm, maybe I can get Gayle to try out a molasses cookie recipe

Taking Pongo out for a walk — he’s been in his sick room for too long and everyone should enjoy the weather

Seeing my little brother (come on Beau, visit)

Reading a Sunday paper

Having NOTHING — I REPEAT NOTHING — scheduled for Sunday (can you tell I have too many things loaded in my iPod’s calendar function)

Downloading De Blob for my iPod (as soon as I track down free WiFi — will also probably qualify under tea) or playing Tony Hawk on the Wii

Watching another Middleman with Gayle (she slept through half so they’re new to her)

Leaving my computer off for at least 24 hours (you know you’ll miss me)

SLEEPING