'People Eat So Late' Dr. O'Hara takes Zoey out to dinner - much to Zoey's excitement and O'Hara's embarrassment. (From Episode 5 "Daffodil")
First off, apologies to any/all Nurse Jackiefans for the lack of video sneak peeks or promos. I was diligently scouring my Showtime YouTube subscription which, in the lead-up to series premiere, Showtime was posting video on. Then the videos disappeared and I thought it strange but I did not think that they were instead posting them exclusively at the Showtime website. Now I know and so do you. :)
Above, you'll find a clip from Episode 5, "Daffodil," and below one each from E4 and E5. In characterizing Nurse Jackie, I've seen the phrase "just a summer series" used in a few reviews. I'm not sure what that really means especially in the context of DVRs and DVDs and the fact that the "highly acclaimed" HBO series True Blood is airing in the summer, too. As much as the television landscape has changed perhaps we should chuck the old-school way of judging a series by when it airs?
Regardless, Nurse Jackie is only a half hour show, which come to think of it is why perhaps that critics seem to need to remind us of its summertime status, so even if it is "not perfect" as my least favourite critic called it 30 minutes is not much time spent (or wasted). I like Edie Falco a lot and as expected, as Jackie she is nothing like the character of Carmela in The Sopranos. Jackie is flawed quite badly in a couple of areas except in her nursing abilities. There, she is a star. Audiences that want to make her "St. Jackie" are not going to be able to put her on that pedestal if they have a problem with her ongoing infidelity to her spouse or to her drug addiction to painkillers.
Still, the show has some solid acting, if not always the most original characters. If I do have a criticism, it's that the characters, nurse Jackie excepted, are mostly caricatures. They are paper-thin. I realize that I've only seen two-hours of the show but that's longer than a movie-of-the-week so these things could've been established.
Instead, I fear that the supporting cast are mostly one-note and that we may tire of that tune. Even so, I'm staying tuned to Nurse Jackie and hoping for a bit more depth.
'Not At All Pleased'
One of Coop's elderly patients is admitted, and Zoey asks to treat her.
SCHOOL NURSE (above)
In episode 104, Jackie and Kevin consider enrolling Grace in private school; the stoic Dr. O'Hara must endure the emotional thanks of a boy whose twin brother she saved; Zoey loses her a patient for the first time. Written By: Christine Zander
Directed By: Steve Buscemi TV-MA (D,L) - Adult Content, Graphic Language
S5X5
"Threw Away My Tooth"
Celia, who has been secretly living in the garage, is finally discovered by Nancy.
S5X5
"Stud-Muffin"
Andy has a blast-from-the-past experience when he goes on a date pretending to be his brother Judah in the 1980s.
The premise of Weeds, a Showtime series now in its fifth season, was the story of a upper-middle class MILF suddenly becoming a widow and finding that her deceased spouse Judah, left the family nearly destitute. So in order to maintain her remaining family's lifestyle, Nancy Botwin began selling cannabis.
It's not that she didn't try to get other substantive work; it just happened that she has no job skills that are in demand and that can support her family.
It seemed that the character of Nancy Botwin (the wonderful Mary Louise Parker) had the best intentions of getting out of the pot-selling business just as soon as a better opportunity presented itself but five years in, she has not. Now, here in season 5, we find her having fled Agrestic ("Little Boxes") to live on the Mexico - California border, unemployed and now out of the weed-dealing business having ratted out her supplier. Oh yeah, at the age of forty-something she's pregnant with the drug-kingpin's "boy" (yes, that makes a HUGE difference).
Nancy is back to having no job, she has corrupted both her sons into growing and selling pot or in the case of the younger teenager, simply selling pot.
Her boyfriend Esteban, such as he is, is a ruthless sociopathic killer who has his henchmen do his dirty work with the exception of raping Nancy after she's gotten drunk in defiance of his telling her how to behave.
Nancy appears to harbour no ill-will toward him other than after finding herself spotting and visiting the south-of the border gyno that her boyfriend demanded she see, cracking a joke about rough sex (!)
Weeds was never a show that cried out for respect. It carried no societal messages meant to cause one to ponder the absurdities of the American relationship with marijuana--on any level--though it did make fun of almost every aspect of this. Weeds didn't even glorify pot usage.
It really came down to "weed" being a prop to hold the story up.
Now that Nancy is out of the weed-selling business and her older teenage son is trying to start up his own medical dispensary for marijuana the whole weeds thing has gotten incredibly strained and unfunny.
Even more unfunny is the younger teenager dealing large quantities of pot. If "Weeds" were not a comedy, it would be quite horrifying.
I'm not sure that the show has any redeeming qualities except that there are a good handful of very good actors on it. But does that make a show?
As a viewer, as a woman, I'm extremely angry that "Esteban" raped the pregnant Nancy but now that he knows that she is indeed pregnant with his "boy," he has done a 180 and is treating her like a piece of fine china instead of just a piece--and she's allowing him.
As a viewer I've put years of time into the show and the characters (granted, in 30 minute increments) and it's a little late to stop watching it now.
However, the fact that that Esteban raped Nancy knowing she was pregnant makes him more despicable and the only way I'm going to be able to justify watching Weeds is if he is coming to a very bad end, preferably at Nancy's hand. But therein lies the rub.
As we've been shown time and again Nancy is an eff-up. In last week's eppy when Nancy had a brief intense discussion with her slightly older sister ("bitchface") Nancy herself admitted to always having been an irresponsible eff-up.
One could say that there's always hope for the character to be redeemed but unless she undergoes a personality transplant I don't see it how that is possible. I see her continuing to eff up, dragging the people she "loves" into harm's way, never taking much more than fleeting responsibility for her actions.
Despite the appeal of Mary Louise Parker, Justin Kirk, and Elizabeth Perkins, the show itself really has no reason for being. It's as if the characters are just constantly lurching around--never progressing--never changing or growing. If anything, they are spiralling further down into their own crap.
Since I became an adult I've felt strongly that I don't wish to waste my time and lets face it, money (for cable) on a crap show. Sadly, Weeds is now a crap show with almost nothing to redeem it. Showtime should tear up the contract which takes the show through a sixth season (!) and weed out Weeds from its stash of offerings.
It would be really nice during this long, dry summertime spell for television if the Dexter people would release another promo photo.Loved the first one, and am anxious for a second. I think it makes business sense because it won't get lost in a flood of other series' promotions and therefore would get more exposure and buzz.
On second thought, I'm wondering too if the promotional depts. are cutting back on how much money they can sink into pushing a series? "Dexter" is still on pretty solid footing so perhaps promotional budget dollars are being spent elsewhere? As a from Day One Dex fan, I'm ready to start talking Season 4 now. Showtime, are you listening?
What can you tell us about next season of Dexter and this Trinity Killer played by John Lithgow? Dexter star Jennifer Carpenter, who of course plays Dexter's sister Deb Morgan (and who is Michael C. Hall's real-life wife) just told us, "John Lithgow is a teddy bear. I think that's part of the fun of the story—how well do you know people you spend time with? It's about how we judge people so quickly and don't really know what they're capable of." Kristen
A: In the next episode, Sookie (Anna Paquin), Bill (Stephen Moyer) and Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll) encounter trouble when they arrive in Dallas and find out that someone from the Fellowship of the Sun was sent to abduct Sookie. The plan fails. And believe it or not, Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) invites Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) into his home and feeds off his blood to recover from the wounds suffered when Eric abducted him. Strange bedfellows, indeed.
I've posted some screen caps from this episode where a small person is shown in an airplane hanger grabbing at Sookie. The attempted abduction actually follows the book (Sookie Stackhouse series). Bill and Jessica appear to be in travelling coffins, shown in the background in one promo screen cap:
So it seems she can't just cut and run. In the book she had unexpected assistance.
That tidbit about Lafayette follows what I'd guessed about "why" he injests Eric's blood. I was off on the timing, though. Eric really must see a lot of potential in Lafayette to give of himself in such a literal manner. Should be very intersting to see exactly how Eric convinces Lafayette that he ( Eric) should be invited inside.
With Jessica in tow, Bill and Sookie head to Dallas to carry out Erics vampire-reconnaissance mission but a surprise awaits them at the airport. At the Light of Day Institute, Jason falls victim to a practical joke, but has the last laugh when the Newlins anoint him for a higher calling. Maryann throws Tara a birthday party at Sookie's, attracting much of Bon Temps to its Bacchanalian revelry. Sam postpones his departure from town to attend the bash, connecting with Daphne in the process. Having barely escaped Fangtasia, Lafayette finds himself reluctantly pulled back into Erics orbit.
The publicity department is making it a challenge to coordinate screencaps (most likely they give it no thought other than,"What cool scenes can we splice together for the promo?").
In general, in the Season 2 True Blood promos we see scenes that do not play out "in the next episode" or even sometimes, the one after that. With these caps for the "next new episode" of True Blood,"Shake and Fingerpop," I went weeks back in the promos be they video or stills released from HBO. I'm glad I did because the resolution is way better on the previously released-but-out-of-context photos. I matched them up largely based on what people are wearing--simple but effective though I really hope Jessica starts wearing something other that that yellow sundress. :p
This is a great preview with some awesome screen caps to grab.
There quite a number of really clear, nice ones--plus a few we've seen a couple of times like Sam and Daphne, his new ladyfriend as she whispers in his ear, "I know what you really are."
EDIT/ Help me out here. In the scene with Sookie in the yellow flowered dress in the airplane hangar apparently struggling with a short person, are sleek-looking "coffins" in the background--not coffin-looking but body-sized and sealed-looking?
Looks good!
But we have to wait two whole weeks!
FOR AIRDATE JULY 12TH 2009:
"Shake and Fingerpop"
With Jessica in tow, Bill and Sookie head to Dallas to carry out Erics vampire-reconnaissance mission but a surprise awaits them at the airport. At the Light of Day Institute, Jason falls victim to a practical joke, but has the last laugh when the Newlins anoint him for a higher calling. Maryann throws Tara a birthday party at Sookie's, attracting much of Bon Temps to its Bacchanalian revelry. Sam postpones his departure from town to attend the bash, connecting with Daphne in the process. Having barely escaped Fangtasia, Lafayette finds himself reluctantly pulled back into Erics orbit.
Teaser for the G. I. Joe Resolute Show by Titmouse Inc. Watch now in high quality on http://www.adultswim.com (US denizens only) or check youtube.comicchaser
Last line uttered by one of two Joes that had been outnumbered and was pinned down upon finding that the entire threat was neutralized--by one man: "Ninja? I didn't know we had a ninja."
The promos then ends with "NOW YOU KNOW" flashing forward before the clip ends.
It's pretty fun and I love how the show looks (animated sort of like a video game).
GI Joe in full movie house form is about to be released. I've seen the GI Joe trailer–twice. The first time was about a week ago and then again tonight at my first Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen, viewing. I've seen a couple GI Joe the movie promos online as well.
I watched quite a bit of GI Joe over the years– the more recent (last 90's/early aughts), and older (late 80's/eraly 90's) and the original old-time cartoon GI Joe (early 70's; probably reruns from the later 60's as well) by the happenstance that I grew up with a brother and a father who liked cartoons. Then married I had teo kids–boys and I made it a point to sit down for a part of every time they watched television because they didn't watch a lot–and I like cartoons, too.
My youngest son, age almost-17, remarked tonight after seeing the trailer for GI Joe,"That's not anything like the GI Joe I remember."
I did not recognize it as a GI Joe movie until it was really obvious upon first viewing–I was just thinking "what a cheesy movie–wonder what it is…" On tonight's second viewing of the GI Joe trailer of theatrical release, I thought "cheesy" and, "they are trying too hard with too little pay-off."
It's hard to bring a television doll/action figure or toy to life on the big screen. It doesn't work more often than it does.
To be fair, here's the latest Trailer for the 2009 movie version of GI Joe.
G.I. Joe - In theaters: August 7, 2009 - A live-action film based on the action figure G.I. Joe, an American soldier. Starring: Channing Tatum, Dennis Quaid, Arnold Vosloo, Sienna Miller, Ray Park, Rachel Nichols, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Marlon Wayans
'Sookie' (Anna Paquin) and "Vampire Bill" Compton (Stephen Moyer) - Early Season One:
True Blood could and maybe should be subtitled:TheAdventures of Sookie Stackhouse...which is actually a good thing, at least for now. Anna Paquin rocks as the mind-reading ("Not psychic!") 20-something waitress/barmaid stuck in the northern Louisiana town of Bon Temps. Paquin plays Sookie Stackhouse, who happens to be quite a virginal character. And her new friend Bill (Stephen Moyer) is actually dead. He's 173 years-old so he's not really chipper and seems even a bit glum. But as the show played out you saw that he started to appreciate Sookie's guileless interest in him. At the least she'll make his life such as it is, interesting. Isn't that the beginning of what I'm guessing will become intense attraction? True Blood's Southern Gothic setting is probably necessary as this show features melodramatic vampires. I orderedthe bookand it should be here in a week maybe less with any luck, as I find the story quite compelling and want to read it while I'm watching the show (not literally, of course). :p
UPDATE 06.29.09/Caught up as of a week or so ago w/the Sookie Stackhouse series, finishing Book #9, "Dead and Gone". It is one of my favourites. In the top four. Read it in a few days (I was in no rush--some folks could easily read it in an evening or two) liked it a lot--would make a good season of True Blood. It'll be interesting to see if Alan Ball takes the True Blood characters in the direction Charlaine Harris does in her 9th Sookie book, Dead and Gone.". I wouldn't be surprised if he did--at least for maybe a season or so.
Across the country, vampires have “come out of the coffin” following the invention of mass-produced synthetic blood. In Louisiana, Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin), a waitress with telepathic abilities, falls under the spell of sexy, 173-year-old vampire Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer) – whose thoughts she can’t read. After saving Bill from the Rattrays (James Parks, Karina Logue), a pair of ruthless “vampire drainers,” Sookie tests the limits of Bill’s gratitude when the two are left alone in the dark. Meanwhile, Sookie’s best friend Tara (Rutina Wesley) goes to work for Sam Merlotte (Sam Trammell) at his bar and grill, while Sookie’s roguish brother Jason (Ryan Kwanten) finds himself in hot water when a “fangbanger” with whom he’s been intimate meets a tragic end.
Screen shot at right: From SciFi (SyFy) Edward James Olmos (Cmr. Adama) Mary McDonnell (Pres.Laura Roslin)
Battlestar Galactica. I would have appreciated a 5-year run, instead of the 4 it got.
Watch for Tricia Helfer (Six), Michael Hogan (Saul Tigh) and Mary McDonnell (Laura Roslin) in whatever they do now. Also Mark Sheppard (Romo Lampkin) and James Callis (Gaius Baltar), if you can find him on this side of the pond. I had a big crush on Tahmoh Pennikett (Helo) who currently has a lead role on Joss Whedon's Dollhouse on Fox. He is still very cute. And cut. ;)
And you already know how great EJO (Eddie Olmos) is.
I'm going to review the 4 year-of-BSG soundtrack and I can't wait. The music with Bear McCreary at the helm, helped make the show and the show was outstanding--often.
Above: Official logo for Alice in Wonderland: Very Burton-esque
Earlier this week I posted about Tim Burton's upcoming Walt Disney Studios release, a sequel to Lewis Carroll's Alice In Wonderland. Several photos of the main characters including Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen and Anne Hathaway as The White Queen were released by Walt Disney, but not much else. Today via SlashFilm.comcomes hi res versions of the three images plus high resolution studio photos of Matt Lucas as Tweedledee and Tweedledum and Mia Wasikowska as Alice. In addition, there are several concept art scenes. Included too in this release was the logo to the film which reminds the audience by its style that this is a Tim Burton film.
This version of Alice is ten years older than her prior incarnation. She seems just as impulsive however and as in the original, she follows the White Rabbit down the hole and into Wonderland.
Alice has come at a time when Wonderland-ites are about to revolt and they wish for her to assist them.
Alice in Wonderland will be in U.S. theatres March 5, 2010.
Enjoy viewing the high resolution studio photos after the jump. Don't forget to click on the images to embiggen them.
[caption id="attachment_223" align="aligncenter" width="378" caption="Sookie and Bill at Fangtasia S2E3 scratches"][/caption]
[caption id="attachment_224" align="aligncenter" width="378" caption="Jason and Sarah S2E3 Scratches"][/caption]
These caps are delightful but they really don't tell us anything. I'd still watch if they showed say maybe, Lafayette! In other "news," Tara and Eggs make a cute couple, don't you think? I have no idea what's to become of them but I can't help but wonder just how much Eggs is keeping from Tara and how much about Marianne he's got figured out or even is a part of.
I wasn't a big fan of Tara last year but she's in a place now (as her character) where the bluster is gone and I think we see more of the real Tara and she's pretty likeable and funny.
OTOH, I really do not like the whole Jason/ Newlin thing. We know Jason is a lovable loser. We know the Newlins are using him. And the stereotypes that are being hammered home with the Church of Lightness (or whatever)--I could just do without them as I want to get back to the good parts of the show!
Scrounging around for promo/preview videos for next week's...anything and I came across Kristen spoilers which are welcome, too. Still want videos,tho'.
The first question, what happens to Lafayette is not really answered completely. Sookie finds out that he's in's Eric basement. I think these caps may be a part of that scene:
Eric looks a bit dejected and Bill looks pleased. Generally it's the other way around. ;)
CLICK to embiggen.
My guess it comes down to Sookie leaping into rescue mode though the spoiler says she agrees to go to Dallas to help find the great and powerful Godric so I'm not really sure why she needs the gun. Nelsan Ellis has indicated that he isn't turned vampire but I think by now we have to keep in mind that the True Blood team is sort of quirky about what they want known (giving some critics one-third of Season 2 to watch before Season 2 premiered resulting in many of them carelessly spoiling major plot points) and what they don't (Lafayette, much to my surprise survived Season 1).
What happens with Lafayette on True Blood? This Sunday, Sookie (Anna Paquin) discovers that Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) has been keeping Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) in his basement and freaks out on him. Naturally. In exchange for Lafayette's release, Sookie agrees to head to Dallas to find some missing vampires. She doesn't end up going alone: Bill and Jessica accompany her.
What else can you tell us about the new supernatural creature that appears on True Blood this season? We can tell you that the creature appears in the June 28 episode and brutally attacks Sookie (Anna Paquin). It's got a bull head, a half animal, half human body, gnarly claws and is poisonous like a Komodo dragon. And it almost kills Sookie. But Eric and Bill (Stephen Moyer) team to help make her as good as new. Oh, and we soon find out the murdered voodoo lady from the first episode of the season was a victim of this same creature.
OK. If this creature is _not_ Maryann I'm going to be surprised. She's obviously got a mean streak, we just don't yet know how wide it is. And she's not fully human, if at all. I think in "Scratches" we'll find out more about her though it probably won't be put together that neatly for the audience.
This is Sookie being attacked:
...and Sookie post-attack in need of some quick intervention.
When does Evan Rachel Wood show up as the queen on True Blood? We have to wait a bit to see Evan Rachel Wood as True Blood's 400-year-old lesbian vampire Queen of Louisiana, Sophie-Anne. She's slated to appear in episodes 11 and 12 on Aug. 30 and Sept. 6, respectively, and sources tell us, "She may appear in future episodes next season." Source: E!Online
Yes. We've been told this a few times. No Evan Rachel Wood until the end of Season 2. In case you are curious, she's changed a lot since "Once and Again" and "13."
Evan Rachel Wood. No longer dating Marilyn Manson but rumoured to be dating her "brother" from "Once and Again."
Scrounging around for promo/preview videos for next week's...anything and I came across Kristen spoilers which are welcome, too. Still want videos, tho'.
The first question, what happens to Lafayette is not really answered completely. Sookie finds out that he's in's Eric basement. I think these caps may be a part of that scene:
Eric looks a bit dejected and Bill looks pleased. Generally it's the other way around. ;)
CLICK to embiggen.
My guess it comes down to Sookie leaping into rescue mode though the spoiler says she agrees to go to Dallas to help find the great and powerful Godric so I'm not really sure why she needs the gun. Nelsan Ellis has indicated that he isn't turned vampire but I think by now we have to keep in mind that the True Blood team is sort of quirky about what they want known (giving some critics one-third of Season 2 to watch before Season 2 premiered resulting in many of them carelessly spoiling major plot points) and what they don't (Lafayette, much to my surprise survived Season 1).
What happens with Lafayette on True Blood?
This Sunday, Sookie (Anna Paquin) discovers that Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) has been keeping Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) in his basement and freaks out on him. Naturally. In exchange for Lafayette's release, Sookie agrees to head to Dallas to find some missing vampires. She doesn't end up going alone: Bill and Jessica accompany her.
What else can you tell us about the new supernatural creature that appears on True Blood this season? We can tell you that the creature appears in the June 28 episode and brutally attacks Sookie (Anna Paquin). It's got a bull head, a half animal, half human body, gnarly claws and is poisonous like a Komodo dragon. And it almost kills Sookie. But Eric and Bill (Stephen Moyer) team to help make her as good as new. Oh, and we soon find out the murdered voodoo lady from the first episode of the season was a victim of this same creature.
OK. If this creature is _not_ Maryann I'm going to be surprised. She's obviously got a mean streak, we just don't yet know how wide it is. And she's not fully human, if at all. I think in "Scratches" we'll find out more about her though it probably won't be put together that neatly for the audience.
This is Sookie being attacked:
...and Sookie post-attack in need of some quick intervention.
When does Evan Rachel Wood show up as the queen on True Blood? We have to wait a bit to see Evan Rachel Wood as True Blood's 400-year-old lesbian vampire Queen of Louisiana, Sophie-Anne. She's slated to appear in episodes 11 and 12 on Aug. 30 and Sept. 6, respectively, and sources tell us, "She may appear in future episodes next season." Source: E!Online
Yes. We've been told this a few times. No Evan Rachel Wood until the end of Season 2. In case you are curious, she's changed a lot since "Once and Again" and "13."
Evan Rachel Wood. No longer dating Marilyn Manson but rumoured to be dating her "brother" from "Once and Again."
I'm not sure that I ever shared "why" I changed the name of this blog from "Cyn City" to "Forever A Fangirl." I promise I'll try make it short.
Almost six years ago, after getting kicked off a forum where I'd been using a journal-like feature for about a year, because of SixApart's great reputation, I started a blog here. I had no idea what to call it though 6A helpfully suggested that the blog reflect an aspect of me. Frankly, it was a pretty tumultuous time and I was not quite sure "who" I was. I'd been grappling with a serious chronic health condition and the forum where I'd met some really great people and was a support system had been pulled out from under me. On a whim I went with, because my name is in fact Cyn, "Cyn City."
After Battlestar Galactica came along (A friend from the forum introduced me to it about halfway into the first season. I'm forever in his debt.) and I became a huge fan and started writing about it and eventually, other things that I got excited about--because I really do get really excited about things I dig--behaving if you will, like a fangirl, I realized that "Cyn City" no longer really reflected what this blog was about. I was amazed that the url Forever A Fangirl (dot) com was still available so I snapped it up. I doubt that this moniker will ever need a change because I don't plan to stop loving the things that I do. I'll just keep adding on more.
So Battlestar Galctica fans--are you missing the show much yet? I think I'd be OK because this would be a normal hiatus period but the knowledge that the show as we enjoyed it is gone forever does make me miss it intensely. There are several actors on BSG that I simply fell in love with and as it happens three of them will be on the up-and-coming SciFi (Syfy) network's Warehouse 13. (Tthere are three photos above of Tricia Helfer ("Six") as she appears in Warehouse 13). Michael Hogan, one of Canada's premiere telvision actors has taken the role of Warehouse 13 heroine's dad--and his real-life wife will play his wife. How cool is that? Also, Mark Sheppard, who knocked the ball out of the park as Romo Lampkin in BSG appears to have a recurring role on the new series. I love Tricia Helfer to bits and I wish she had a starring role but I'll be happy to watch her in what I hope is a recurring role as a Chicago-based FBI agent. Read on to get the full details.
Former Battlestar Galactica toasters Tricia Helfer and Michael Hogan are staying in Sci Fi's orbit, signing on to guest star on the net's new paranormal dramedy Warehouse 13 (premiering July 7). Helfer will play a Chicago-based FBI agent, while Hogan has been cast as the father of Warehouse heroine Myka (Joanne Kelly). In a fun little twist, Hogan's real-life wife, Susan, will play the role of Myka's mom. And if that's not enough BSG for you, Mark Sheppard (who portrayed the Fleet's morally flexible lawyer, Romo Lampkin) will appear as enigmatic figure who represents the organization that controls the Warehouse.
After Sookie is savagely attacked by a mysterious creature, Bill enlists Eric's help to save her life. Sam decides to hit the road after snapping at Tara and Daphne, the new Merlotte's waitress. Maryanne continues to work her magic on the locals, Hoyt in particular, Jason has his doubts about the Fellowship of the Sun's anti-vampire views and Tara's attraction to Eggs is disrupted by a mysterious fog at one of Maryann's parties.
US AIRDATE JUNE 28TH 2009: When Sookie is attacked by a mysterious creature, Bill must enlist Eric's help to save her. At the Light of Day retreat, Jason has second thoughts about the sect's anti-vampire agenda, but Sarah and Steve counter his doubts with flattery and promises. After snapping at Tara and new employee Daphne, Sam decides to cut and run. A bored Jessica heads over to Merlotte's, where a smitten Hoyt falls under her spell. At another Maryann hosted party, Tara finds her attraction to Eggs interrupted by a swirling, aphrodisiac fog.
Eric & Bill Talk Sookie (2 x 03 - Scratches) (True Blood)
New photos from the set of Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland were just released! Check out Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, Anne Hathaway as the White Queen, Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen and Mia Wasikowska as Alice.
I see many silly comments at YouTube. I don't mean to read them but they are right there under a video I'm interested in and inevitably I read one or two, can't believe people are saying such idiotic things and then read a couple more hoping to find an intelligent or simply not-moronic statement of some sort. It rarely happens.
Today as I was happily nicking code for Tim Burton's latest effort-in-the-works, Alice In Wonderland, which so far, based on these publicity stills, I know stars Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway and Helena Bonham Carter, when I saw a question/comment that I almost answered and then came to my senses realizing that I'd probably just get flamed.
The question was, "Why does Tim Burton repeatedly cast (the words were "always cast") Depp and Bonham Carter in his films?"
Hmm. That's a toughie. Johnny Depp is one of the hottest male movie stars in the world. Burton is very familiar with him. They like and respect one another as people and for their work ( they both stated this when queried by a reporter when they were doing publicity for their last collaboration, Sweeney Todd). Why wouldn't Burton cast Depp as the Mad Hatter?
As for Ms.Bonham Carter, who is one of my favourites as well, she's versatile, seems up for anything, does quirky or just plain odd really well and oh, she's borne several of Burton's children. Maybe he likes her work and enjoys working with her? Just a guess.
This scene is a good example of True Blood's knack for combining "harrowing" and terrifying with hilarious. Eric, foils in his hair, apologizes to Pam (usually acting as his subordinate, in this instance fully in change--of colouring and cutting Eric's hair) explaining that a now-dismembered prisoner "did silver to (him)" and the resultant blood in his hair was accidental. He asks the terrified Lafayette to vouch for him but Layfayette is much more interested in making a deal to save his own skin.
Also in this scene we have the most extended conversation between Pam and Erik...in Swedish.
FOR AIRDATE JUNE 28TH 2009: When Sookie is attacked by a mysterious creature, Bill must enlist Eric's help to save her. At the Light of Day retreat, Jason has second thoughts about the sect's anti-vampire agenda, but Sarah and Steve counter his doubts with flattery and promises. After snapping at Tara and new employee Daphne, Sam decides to cut and run. A bored Jessica heads over to Merlotte's, where a smitten Hoyt falls under her spell. At another Maryann hosted party, Tara finds her attraction to Eggs interrupted by a swirling, aphrodisiac fog.
Watch as the cast of HBO’s “True Blood” poses for the upcoming issue of Entertainment Weekly. Also the cast describes their "must haves" for movies, TV and books. Finally the cast, including Stephen Moyer, Anna Paquin, Sam Trammell, Ryan Kwanten, Rutina Wesley and Nelsan Ellis answer the question of who they would bite if they were really a vampire. Fun stuff!
Aww. Anna describes crying twelve times (" and laughing") upon recently seeing the film "Up." I just went with my spouse and son over Father's Day and though they liked it, I was the only one who really thought it was touching and beautiful. Maybe it's a girl thing.
This is an awesome little clip taken at the True Blood Season 2 premiere party. Everyone was in such high spirits and looking so spiffy! It's still such a treat to hear Stephen Moyer (Bill), Ryan Kwanten (Jason Stackhouse), and Anna Paquin (Sookie) speaking with their native accents.
Alexander Skarsgård (Eric) does "The Buzz" intro and unexpectedly, one cannot detect his Swedish
accent. I wonder if that's a savvy career move--kind of going mainstream and sounding no different than
most trained American accents with the sort of "generic" Midwestern accent or has he simply lost his
Perhaps the best way to express how great a talent Bear McCreary is is to say that Battlestar Galactica, my favourite television show of all time, which concluded its four-year run this year, would not be Battlestar Galactica without Bear McCreary's creation of it's superb scores. His style is like no other, obviously classically trained yet at times tribal-sounding, Bear qualifies the music he composed on Battlestar Galcactica as "ethnic rock-pop-classical soundtrack music."
I could fawn over Bear's signature sound but he has many. Some once you hear them, your ears will alert you to later when hearing an entirely different soundtrack. This happened during an early episode of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, which Bear also scored."That's Bear!," I exclaimed when a hint of one of his amazing compositions seeped a tiny bit into Terminator--just long enough for me to recognize it.
Bear worked last year on scoring a miniseries, "Caprica" that is to air on the SciFi/SyFy network this fall. It has been released in DVD from and on CD it's called appropriately, "Caprica."
I've been listening to it this week and it's good. Yes absolutely, Bear pulled off his stated-upfront mission to "pay tribute to Battlestar Galactica without imitating it."
In an NPR interview with Bear, host Guy Raz said that at times Bear's work is "almost devastating."
I don't think it can be phrased better.
It can touch you that deeply. I admit to tearing up along with some of Bear's best work as well as having had my heart rate seem to pick up as Bear's soundtrack draws me in and along with him.
Bear McCreary has an uncanny sense of matching the score to a scene, though as his sold-out concerts indicate, his music stands on it's own. Many a time I've noticed a theme or two of his running through my head the day after viewing one of his shows and hearing some new pieces of his work. Now the same thing is happening after having given the Caprica soundtrack a couple of listens. It's very beautiful and it tells a story that I'm very excitedly looking forward to.
Bear's music can elevate a scene to the sublime and though he's still a young guy, he has quite a notable body of work building. Bear says in his liner-notes for the Caprica soundtrack that he hopes it will be "a seed from which the the Caprica musical universe will grow."
I'll look forward to hearing more music from Caprica after it debuts and in the meantime "Caprica," the CD will continue to be a new, amazing piece to enjoy.
To my fellow Battlestar Galactica fans, yes there are moments on Caprica where you are transported into BSG territory--usually with a very light touch, though after viewing the miniseries you'll see and hear where some of Bear's trademark sounds are very appropriate and I cannot say it enough, enhance each scene.
Bear McCreary is currently scoring the music for Galactica's series prequel, Caprica, to be aired on the SciFi (SyFy by the time it debut) Channel.
For some fun facts about Bear McCreary and his new Caprica soundtrack as well as the upcoming SyFy Channel miniseries and series, Caprica, click below.
Public Enemies - ET Clip (JOHNNY DEPP VS. CHRISTIAN BALE)
Public Enemies - ET Clip 1 (17-06-2009)
It's difficult to pick a favourite amongst these clips because you really ought to watch them all. No matter what you think of Johnny Depp and Christian Bale as actors--very few dispute that they both are loaded with talent, you realize quickly in sit-down interviews that they are both very bright and put a great deal of thought into their characters. I'm probably partial to Depp unscripted because even when I find myself blanching a bit when he speaks of John Dillinger with great admiration, I still can totally dig the man behind the words as he is not hyping the movie --just being honest about his interpretation of the man--for better or worse. I think Bale has the easier task of defending Melvin Purvis who idolized FBI head Hoover, and in his opinion did a great job of chasing and ultimately shooting down John Dillinger. Depp wins the argument, IMO.
Hmm. Should I continue on my quest to be right about what happens next on True Blood? I said I would not go out on a limb again...but it's fun to guess so here's my halfway-educated guess about what happens next to Lafayette:
1. It's been spoiled that Lafayette drinks a lot of Eric's blood and in the TVGuide piece (below) Nelsan compares that to Sookie and her relationship with Eric. I'm sort of confusing the show and the Sookie Stackhouse books and it doesn't help that I'm in the middle of the most recent one ("Dead And Gone") so it may be that right now Eric's power over Sookie was because of his promise to "not kill humans" in exchange for her being "employed" by Eric to use her telepathic powers whenever he wishes. SPOILER: It's quite possible that Sookie will be drinking lots of Eric's blood, too.
2. So then, Lafayette is severely injured and Eric saves him with a "blood transfusion" which makes Lafayette indebted to Eric.
3. It's been stated that "someone" gets shot in Episode 2, "Keep This Party Going." I don't know how it would come to this but does Sookie shoot Lafayette?
Sunday's True Blood premiere answered at least one burning question: Is Lafayette alive? Answer: Yes! Nobody is more surprised by this turn of events than Nelsan Ellis, the actor who plays Lafayette.
As a fan of the Sookie Stackhouse novel series, on which Alan Ball based the vampire drama for HBO, Ellis knew that Lafayette, Merlotte's wisecracking cook — and part-time pornographer/drug dealer — is totally dunzo after Book 1. When he arrived on set for the finale episode's table read, he prepared himself for the end. "I thought, this was fun, time to look for the next gig," he says. But then... what's this? That painted toenail in the car didn't belong to Lafayette after all! "'You know we're not going to kill you, right?'" Ellis remembers Ball telling him. "And I was like, 'Noooo...'" Ball told the actor that he decided to keep Lafayette in the cast after shooting a scene between Ellis and Rutina Wesley, who plays Lafayette's cousin, Tara, in the pilot episode. Ellis and Wesley have combustive chemistry for sure, which Ellis attributes to their long friendship. (They attended Juilliard together in the early '00s.)
So now that Lafayette has been spared, what's next for the flamboyant entrepreneur? When we last saw him, he was chained up in a dungeon watching a fellow prisoner get disemboweled by a very cranky Eric, his vampire captor. Ellis reveals that, this season, Lafayette's fate will be inextricably tied with that of the vampires, but that their relationship won't always be quite as adversarial. "[Lafayette] stays with the vampires basically throughout the season," he says. "I guess how deep down the rabbit hole he goes with Eric is the biggest teaser I can give."
"Eric makes people beholden to him," says Ellis. "He did it to Sookie, and now he does force Lafayette to work for him to repay him for something he's done for him." Oh jeez, Lafayette isn't going to become a vampire, is he? Not any time soon, says Ellis. "I have a sneaking suspicion that, in the future, the vampires are going to learn to respect him and not mess with him," he says. "He's going to find a way to elevate his position with them. Lafayette is a survivor, so he's not going to stay in this scared state too long."
Below: more scenes from True Blood S2XE2 - "Keep This Party Going"
'Keep This Party Going"
Sookie is forced to babysit Jessica, as well as the romantic inconveniences the teen vampire’s presence creates. At the Light of Day leadership conference, Jason makes an impression on its ambitious leaders, Steve and Sarah Newlin. Maryann casts her spell on Merlotte’s patrons.
The lady at the helm of Sitrep finds the same version of Six that I found intriguing-looking to be worthy of interest. My-oh-my I was soblasé about The Plan then; now I'm drooling!
Hmm. Should I continue on my quest to be right about what happens next on True Blood? I said I would not go out on a limb again...but it's fun to guess so here's my halfway-educated guess about what happens next to Lafayette:
1. It's been spoiled that Lafayette drinks a lot of Eric's blood and in the TVGuide piece (below) Nelsan compares that to Sookie and her relationship with Eric. I'm sort of confusing the show and the Sookie Stackhouse books and it doesn't help that I'm in the middle of the most recent one ("Dead And Gone") so it may be that right now Eric's power over Sookie was because of his promise to "not kill humans" in exchange for her being "employed" by Eric to use her telepathic powers whenever he wishes. SPOILER: It's quite possible--sometime--that Sookie will be drinking lots of Eric's blood, too.
2. So then, Lafayette is severely injured and Eric saves him with a "blood transfusion" which makes Lafayette indebted to Eric.
3. It's been stated that "someone" gets shot in Episode 2, "Keep This Party Going." I don't know how it would come to this but does Sookie shoot Lafayette?
Sunday's True Blood premiere answered at least one burning question: Is Lafayette alive? Answer: Yes! Nobody is more surprised by this turn of events than Nelsan Ellis, the actor who plays Lafayette.
As a fan of the Sookie Stackhouse novel series, on which Alan Ball based the vampire drama for HBO, Ellis knew that Lafayette, Merlotte's wisecracking cook — and part-time pornographer/drug dealer — is totally dunzo after Book 1. When he arrived on set for the finale episode's table read, he prepared himself for the end. "I thought, this was fun, time to look for the next gig," he says. But then... what's this? That painted toenail in the car didn't belong to Lafayette after all! "'You know we're not going to kill you, right?'" Ellis remembers Ball telling him. "And I was like, 'Noooo...'" Ball told the actor that he decided to keep Lafayette in the cast after shooting a scene between Ellis and Rutina Wesley, who plays Lafayette's cousin, Tara, in the pilot episode. Ellis and Wesley have combustive chemistry for sure, which Ellis attributes to their long friendship. (They attended Juilliard together in the early '00s.)
So now that Lafayette has been spared, what's next for the flamboyant entrepreneur? When we last saw him, he was chained up in a dungeon watching a fellow prisoner get disemboweled by a very cranky Eric, his vampire captor. Ellis reveals that, this season, Lafayette's fate will be inextricably tied with that of the vampires, but that their relationship won't always be quite as adversarial. "[Lafayette] stays with the vampires basically throughout the season," he says. "I guess how deep down the rabbit hole he goes with Eric is the biggest teaser I can give."
"Eric makes people beholden to him," says Ellis. "He did it to Sookie, and now he does force Lafayette to work for him to repay him for something he's done for him." Oh jeez, Lafayette isn't going to become a vampire, is he? Not any time soon, says Ellis. "I have a sneaking suspicion that, in the future, the vampires are going to learn to respect him and not mess with him," he says. "He's going to find a way to elevate his position with them. Lafayette is a survivor, so he's not going to stay in this scared state too long."
Below: more scenes from True Blood S2XE2 - "Keep This Party Going"
'Keep This Party Going"
Sookie is forced to babysit Jessica, as well as the romantic inconveniences the teen vampire’s presence creates. At the Light of Day leadership conference, Jason makes an impression on its ambitious leaders, Steve and Sarah Newlin. Maryann casts her spell on Merlotte’s patrons.
HBO just released the True Blood July official episode synopses.Here be SPOILERS!
Episode 204 - “Shake and Fingerpop”
Debut: SUNDAY, JULY 12 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
With Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll) in tow, Bill (Stephen Moyer) and Sookie (Anna Paquin) head to Dallas to carry out Eric’s (Alexander Skarsgård) vampire-reconnaissance mission – but a surprise awaits them at the airport. At the Light of Day Institute, Jason (Ryan Kwanten) falls victim to a practical joke, but has the last laugh when the Newlins anoint him for a higher calling. Maryann (Michelle Forbes) throws Tara (Rutina Wesley) a birthday party at Sookie’s, attracting much of Bon Temps to its Bacchanalian revelry. Sam (Sam Trammell) postpones his departure from town to attend the bash, connecting with Daphne (Ashley Jones) in the process. Having barely escaped Fangtasia, Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) finds himself reluctantly pulled back into Eric’s orbit.
Written by Alan Ball; directed by Michael Lehmann.
HBO - Episode 205: “Never Let Me Go”
Debut: SUNDAY, JULY 19 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
In Dallas, Sookie connects with one of her own, then joins Bill and Eric for a strategic summit at the lair of the missing vampire, Godric (Allan Hyde), attended by his lieutenants, Stan (Ed Quinn) and Isabel (Valerie Cruz). Meanwhile, Jason shows his mettle at a Light of Day boot camp, and is rewarded for his hard work with a gift from Sarah (Anna Camp). Rebuffed by Tara in her relocation efforts, Maryann decides to cast her spell on the staff of Merlotte’s, softening Tara up towards her new “family.” Eric shares a little-known secret about his past with Bill, and Sookie makes a decision that might solve the Godric mystery – or get her killed.
Written by Nancy Oliver; directed by John Dahl.
HBO - Episode 206: “Hard-Hearted Hannah”
Debut: SUNDAY, JULY 26 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
Accompanied by Isabel’s human boyfriend Hugo (Christopher Gartin), Sookie embarks on a dangerous mission to locate Godric. Meanwhile, Bill is shocked when a vampire from his distant, more violent past resurfaces in Dallas. In Bon Temps, Daphne presses Sam to get comfortable in his own skin(s); Hoyt (Jim Parrack) continues his unlikely courtship of Jessica; Andy (Chris Bauer) interrogates Lafayette about his disappearance; and Tara and Eggs (Mehcad Brooks) take a detour while on a road trip. At the Light of Day camp, Jason faces difficult emotional and physical choices.
Written by Brian Buckner; directed by Michael Lehmann.
Also, is this the Reverend Steve Newlin dragging Sookie away? If so, why?
Is this another Sookie daydream? Why is Sookie not reacting and why is Bill not turning to charcoal? Remember in Season 1 where she and Bill were sitting together at the breakfast table on a beautiful sunny morning, he reading the newspaper and she mentions that he's in the daylight? No sooner does he reply why, yes I am (or something to that effect) than he spontaneously combusts--going up in flames.
Shortly thereafter Bill really does go up in flames as he tries to save Sookie from the Bon Temps killer. Sookie actually saves herself with an assist from Sam--in dog form.
Oh gawd. I really hope there's not much more of the religious campiness going on in True Blood Season 2. I fear however there is as A-Ball has alluded to the religious zealotry storyline being very prominent (though not only on the vampire-hating front).
I shall not get into my personal convictions but to me a religious zealot has already veered into campiness and when you layer more campiness on top of that, I wanna hurl.
As much as some critics annoy me with their half-hearted, late to the table endorsements of True Blood, my honest feeling about the character of Jason is (and has been since Season 1) that I wish they would keep his role rather minor. Kwanten seems like a lovely man and perhaps in another role--certainly his real accent would be very welcome.
[caption id="attachment_99" align="alignright" width="400" caption="Ryan Kwanten as Jason Stackhouse"][/caption]
I get that this song is full of double entendres and not just of a sexual nature ( I could be using the term incorrectly. There's a really bad storm here right now and I've not time to look it up. Lost power once already tonight. Will fix later if needed). There's a good, big dose of hypocrisy in the video which if you don't see than you need to listen to the lyrics again. Once 'round was enough for me.
Why couldn't they have gotten Bob Dylan to do something off his new album? Maybe the music from the True Blood promo video, "Beyond Here Lies Nothing" playing?
In Sunday's new episode of True Blood, Jason Stackhouse (Ryan Kwanten) heads off to the Light of Day leadership conference, aka Jesus camp. It's basically a place to brainwash people into hating vampires. Jason makes quite an impression on his fellow campers, but there's still a doubt as to whether he's really there for the right reasons.
One of his fellow campers, Amanda Jane (Molly Burnett) with her band, the God Rockets, livens the spirits at camp in the clip above with their hit single, "Jesus Asked Me Out Today," (which will be available... on the True Blood soundtrack).
Take a peek at Jason at Light of Day in the clip above, and then read on if you want to know what had happened just seconds before that.
I don't know who gets shot but I'm doubtful that its Lafayette's reason for drinking Eric's blood. If Lafayette gets turned vampire, then before he "dies" he needs to injest a vampire's blood, so why not Eric? And why would Eric or any other vamp need to use a gun on Lafayette? A snap of the neck would be less messy.
I'm complaining a lot. Sorry. I do love this show.
Battlestar Galactica fans were treated to 2 sneak peek videos from the Edward James Olmos produced TV movie, Battlestar Galactica: The Plan, which focuses on the invasion from the Cylon perspective. Take a look below at your first look at the upcoming flick, airing this Fall.
Frak! these have been out for days! Why did no one alert me?! Just because I deferred Twitter untiil this evening due to well life, does not mean that me missing this is OK. Because it's not!
Funny thing is I was just listening to the Caprica soundtrack (which I'm reviewing <squee!> ) and getting wistful during two tracks wherein you can hear a bit of Battlestar Galactica-like music and now these two clips come along and well, I guess it's time to break out the DVD's and get my BSG fix. I'll be back tho' to look around for better copies of these great sneak peaks.
After the jump. Director Edward James Olmos talks about the upcoming telefilm, "The Plan"
I wonder if Season 4 Dexter is going to take place this far in the future? That would have to be a least a year and that's conservative as teevee usually has children portraying a younger age than the actor is. In this case, just guessing, the little dude is eating solids <lol> so he'd have to be what, 4-6 mos. old?
[caption id="attachment_75" align="aligncenter" width="399" caption="Lafayette in Eric\'s basement"][/caption]
[caption id="attachment_78" align="aligncenter" width="447" caption="Lafayette - Does he get turned?"][/caption]
[caption id="attachment_77" align="aligncenter" width="399" caption="Tough times for Lafayette"][/caption]
[caption id="attachment_76" align="aligncenter" width="447" caption="He looks much happier here--but can he go outside on a sunny day?"][/caption]
The best: Andy (Justin Kirk) and 'bitchface" Jill's, Nancy's sister that were are hearing about for the very first time, wine-fueled encounter.
The good: Silas (Hunter Parrish)and Doug (Kevin Nealon) hiking "6 hours" into a National Park, finding the perfect spot to grow weed only to moments later find that the spot was already found by rifle-bearing pot-growers.
The not-so-good: Nancy's alcohol, cigarette and sushi binge (for the mercury) as a way of rebelling against Esteban's (Demián Bichir) "goon" Cesar (Enrique Castillo) dogging her everywhere including inside her home.
The awful: Esteban's rape of the drunk and pregnant Nancy to drive home the point that she will do as he tells her.
I hated this scene not because it was shocking that Esteban would do this to Nancy as at this point he's in the deciding process of whether to kill her or not. I just hated it period. I felt as a viewer manipulated. We already know that he is a brutal, vicious man. I hated that Kohan and company and I include Mary Louise Parker in this group felt it necessary to make this part of the episode. I would have much rather he punched her in the face if we needed to see what a bastard he is. It left a really bad feeling in my stomach.
From here on in if Nancy continues to 'love" Esteban, as actress Parker has indicated she will, all hope in my opinion to for her to get her shit together--even a little bit--fades to black.
Guillermo was so good in the Weeds premiere. Will we see more of him this season? Yes, indeed. While he is currently incarcerated, the Weeds baddie will be back in some capacity and leading lady Mary-Louise Parker could not be more thrilled about it. MLP tells us, "Guillermo [Diaz]is truly one of the best actors I've ever worked with. There are two bigger scenes that we have coming up, and when he works, I just want to stay all night." Let's just hope he stays behind that plate-glass window for the safety of Nancy and baby-to-be.
Any scoop onWeeds? Remember Sucio from last season of Weeds, the grungy guy who guarded the infamous drug tunnel? He's back in Nancy's life under the pretext of keeping an eye on her for Esteban. He begrudgingly becomes somewhat part of the family. However, don't get too attached to him. Sniff. Someone else is out to get Nancy, and Sucio falls victim to the first attack.
Below: Thanks to The Futon Critic for some greats comments by Weeds' creator Jenji Kohan.
Regardless of the sometimes-bad things that Nancy does, we still root for her. How do you strike that balance so the audience stays invested in that character?
Jenji Kohan: Well, I think first of all it's Mary-Louise and just how fucking great she is. Just those big brown eyes. [laughs] That's a huge part of it.
EDIT/ This is precisely why I watch it. Mary-Louise is simply great in this role. --Cyn
Jenji continues: But I think people identify with deeply flawed characters because we all are; it's universal. So when you're able to identify with the fuck-ups and the messes I think you feel sympathy because she's trying. She's trying. And she's trying to do the right thing. She didn't set out to do bad things. And I think, in a way, it's a relief to see real repercussions for her bad behavior as well as her good behavior. The black and white of protagonists on televisions - I think it's a little weary. Nobody is completely a villain and nobody is completely a hero and, in general, we all try to do the best we can and I think people buy into it because it's a universal experience.
In the first few episodes of this new season, you touch on the one-sided love that Andy (Kirk) has for Nancy. Is that story going to progress?
JK: I don't think so. I'm sure Nancy has a lot of feelings but she's invested in her baby-daddy and, as she's demonstrated over and over, she's a danger junkie and she likes the excitement and she doesn't take Andy seriously. She loves Andy but not, as he says in one episode, not in the good way and I think that's sort of his cross to bear and his journey this season and how to deal with feelings that aren't reciprocated in the way he had hoped.
EDIT/ Though I sympathize with both the Nancy and Andy characters, to use an old expression, "He's too good for her." --Cyn
JH: Do you miss the "Little Boxes" theme song since you stopped using it after the third season?
JK: I miss the covers of the theme song. I miss all the different versions of it and getting really excited about the musicians who are doing it. But I kind of like our little openings now and it gives us much more time for the show. It's more relevant, I think, for what we're doing now and I mourn the passing of "Little Boxes" but I think we've found a good alternative.
EDIT/ Every episode opens so cleverly with pot leaves creatively worked into the last glimpse of the opening credits. In episode one, among other places, a pot leaf -shape was in the middle of sushi pieces. And they all tie in to the show.
I do miss the "Little Boxes" theme but it wouldn't work now that there's no Agrestic--the setting for the "little boxes."--Cyn
I think of all the reviews I've read thus far which critiqued Nurse Jackie, this one had the most imaginative way of describing a very telling aspect of Jackie. Her hair actually matches her demeanor. I'm hugely curious to know if the severe haircut on "Jackie" (Edie Falco) was her idea or was it in in the script.I see (so-called fans) complaining about it all the time. If you think Edie Falco wears it that way off- screen than you must believe too that she ran around as "Carmela Soprano"--the nails, the hair-- when not on set of her eponymous HBO hit show, The Sopranos. Stop being so silly.Also about Jackie's Percocet habit. More people than you may guess get addicted to painkillers often in the aftermath of an injury or to treat an untreatable one like say, a bad back. (It's a crime on top of a crime apparently that she gets off on stuff that is supposed to do just that--you know, so you don't notice the pain you're in? (to state the obvious). Finally, Jackie's unfaithfulness to her husband and that seems to really bother people. We don't have much "context" yet about Jackie and her hubs and the pill guy at work. I'm reserving judgment until I see the whole 12 episodes. For all we know they have an open marriage.
"Whether she's snorting ground-up Percocet tablets or flushing a man's severed ear down a toilet, Edie Falco brings a genial forcefulness to Nurse Jackie. It's the latest bit of cutting-edginess from Showtime, a new series that could have come off as jaded or self-satisfied were Falco not anchoring it with such firm ? authority. She plays Jackie Peyton, a veteran ER nurse who's deeply cynical about the doctors she works with and openheartedly kind to the patients in her care. ''Doctors don't heal, they diagnose — we heal,'' she says of nurses in the second episode. From anyone else, that might seem like hubris; from the woman who embodied Carmela Soprano, it just seems like common sense.
As Jackie, Falco sports a daringly unattractive short haircut that makes sense for her line of work. But an unfashionable 'do doesn't prevent her from removing her wedding ring before she enters the hospital and conducting a sweaty affair with the hospital pharmacist (Paul Schulze — Carmela's priest from The Sopranos! EDIT/ Also a close friend IRL with Falco since their college days at Suny.-Cyn). She has a bad back due to the long hours she works, which I suppose is meant to explain her addiction to painkillers, but Jackie seems to get off on the thrill of deceit nearly as much as on the pills' agony-numbing high."
Sookie is forced to babysit Jessica, as well as the romantic inconveniences the teen vampire’s presence creates. At the Light of Day leadership conference, Jason makes an impression on its ambitious leaders, Steve and Sarah Newlin. Maryann casts her spell on Merlotte’s patrons.
ASAdmin | June 22, 2009
WARNING: VERY GRAPHIC! HBO owns the rights. No copyright infringement intended.
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"Pam Will Kill Me" True Blood S02xE02 "Keep This Party Going"
Disclaimer: No copyright infringement is intended.
Summary: True Blood S02xE02 "Keep This Party Going"
After making up with Bill, Sookie suggests that he take it a little easier on Jessica as she is just a teenager. Bill tries to convince Sookie that a vampire as new as she is not capable of controlling her impulses and that she could be dangerous. En route to the Light of Day Leadership conference Jason becomes fast-friends with an anti-vampire zealot named Luke, but after Jason makes a good impression on Steve Newlin, and Sarah Newlin in particular, Luke’s good-natured friendship turns to bitter jealousy and he tells Jason that he doesn’t belong there. Eric approaches Bill and demands that he and Sookie help in finding a vampire sheriff named Godric, who has gone missing in Dallas. Meanwhile, Tara finds out more about Eggs' past as a criminal and he makes it clear that he is interested in her. After a failed attempt to escape from the basement of Fangtasia, Lafayette is badly injured and asks Eric, Pam and Chow to turn him into a vampire. Fangs bared, they ferociously bite him. Jessica realizes she misses her family after her parents, who think she has just gone missing, appear on TV. She asks Sookie to take her to see her family and Sookie agrees, on the condition that Jessica stay in the car. Although she agrees, Jessica eventually ignores Sookie and drops in on her old family. When her father comes home, he angrily accuses her of putting the family through hell, and even though Sookie tries to stop her, Jessica attacks her father and threatens to kill him for all the times he beat her. But Bill shows up and glamours his way into the house just in time. The episode ends on an ominous note, with Bill throwing Sookie out of the house barking at her that he has to "clean up her mess"
Last night we saw Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer quarrel over his keeping secrets--big secrets from her--and then having fierce, kinky make-up sex that looked pretty real right up to and including Bill's chomping on Sookie's neck, blood flowing like a necklace across her throat.
When True Blood actors said in pre-season interviews that there would be "more sex," I think they were being quite literal. Will more sex and violence, especially when coupled together turn off the audience members that are not the most ardent fans?
I hope so.
There is a vampire overload in American entertainment right now and most of it is dreck. Nothing especially wrong with that as judging from what the top twenty network shows are, most of teevee-show-watching America thrives on dreck.
I would just as soon see a smaller, more cerebral audience for True Blood than to see a bunch of teenagers jumping on the True Blood bandwagon seeking vampires that sparkle--because they don't belong there.
Despite all the hype--especially the viral marketing of True Blood--it's made for a specific demographic that is not put off by vampires biting whilst having sex, (almost)vfull nudity, intense violence which includes buckets of blood--and more sex. And just to mix it up and keep it interesting and fun we get the sheriff of Area 5,1000 year-old former Viking, vampire Eric Northman paying a visit to his dungeon whilst in the middle of having his hair highlighted, foils and all.
We also get Sookie, upon discovering that Bill has turned his first victim vampire as punishment for last season's killing of Fangtasia bartender Longshadow when he was attempting to snap Sookie's neck, enquiring of Bill and new vamp Jessica, "Did you have sex?" To which Bill blurts out "No!" while Jessica throws in "Old"! (as in ew, he's disgustingly old). <big smiles>
Sookie and Bill, afters she stomps off and then comes back another night, end up declaring their love for one another and having frenzied sex. This is not stuff for teenagers, not stuff for the easily unnerved or to be blunt, prudish, nor is it for the squeamish.
The violence in True Blood, though played straight, is in fact done with a wink and a nod. Just pay attention to how ludicrous the storyline gets.
Last season for example, a scene begins with vampire Bill in his dilapidated old mansion--playing Wii-like golf on his big screen. It's funny yes, but also kind of sad as we know that no matter how long he "lives" he'll never play out on the greens.
And so True Blood goes. It's intense, scary, funny, sexy, witty, violent, escapist entertainment for, need I say? Grown-ups.
There is a thread of social commentary running through it which you can feel free to ignore or acknowledge though why would you want to ignore it?
Please though if it offends you, pick up your remote and click over to Animal Planet. Oops, there's sex and violence there, too.
How about Dancing with the Stars or American Idol? They are pretty harmless and I've heard quite entertaining if you are into that kind of thing. And that's really my point. People that are into True Blood and therefore into Alan Balls' work are a bit left of mainstream and we don't get all freaked out by the freakiness. For us, the farther out he goes the more we enjoy ourselves.
Last time I checked that was the point of couch-sitting for 60 minutes whist facing a large plasma screen.
It appears that Jill (Jennifer Jason Leigh) and Andy (Justin Kirk) get a bit more than tipsy--more like wasted (and horny)!
I had no idea that JJL was to be on the show so early in season 5! But still as far as we know for only two episodes. She's great and I don't see her often enough. Would love for her to become a bigger part of the clan on Weeds!
Weeds Nancy's older sister Jill (Jennifer Jason Leigh) gets tipsy with Andy.
Sorry, it's not great quality. I will post better when I have it (believe me, it's not for lack of trying!)
With "Nothing But The Blood" the first episode of season 2, the title of episode 2 comes as no surprise. I have no doubt that A-Ball will keep this party going.
'Keep This Party Going' video
Sookie is forced to babysit Jessica, as well as the romantic inconveniences the teen vampire’s presence creates. At the Light of Day leadership conference, Jason makes an impression on its ambitious leaders, Steve and Sarah Newlin. Maryann casts her spell on Merlotte’s patrons.
Below: Hollywood 411 chats up the cast of TRUE BLOOD at the premiere of its second season
Above:tvguide Interviews with Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer who are now a couple on and off screen. They discuss their relationship, and, creator Alan Ball talks about new cast member Evan Rachel Wood.
Below there are some hardcore spoilers regarding Nelsan Ellis's "Lafayette," BonTemp's gay, V -selling prostitute and Merlotte's (probably ex) short-order cook.
I'm calling shenanigans on Ausiello and every other critic that has seen one-third of Season 2 of True Blood already and are blabbing about it. I write about spoilers and I don't even want to know what's gonna happen episodes down the line.
However, in their quest to get eyeballs on their websites Ausiello and I'm sure I'll a bunch of others paid and unpaid who are are practically wetting their pants,totally untrustworthy about leaking info three weeks before it occurs on True Blood, a 12-week show on HBO.
I can't imagine that Alan Ball wants that much of his story out of the bag so early in the season.
I'm hoping it's more HBO's publicity department. You know, the ones who've been accused of driving one of the last nails in the coffin of the Los Angeles Times by wrapping Stephen Moyer around last Friday's edition?
How will the experience of being locked in a dungeon and almost dying change Lafayette this season? ELLIS: It certainly humbles him. It shows him there are some situations he just can’t get himself out of no matter how slick he is. He's going to have to suffer the consequences of what he’s done. And I think he reflects back on his behaviour and maybe for a second thinks about changing. What was your reaction (to finding out LaFayette survives?) ELLIS: Thank you! I have a job for next season! That was my reaction. Did (showrunner Alan Ball) explain to you why he let Lafayette survive? ELLIS: Not really. He just said he decided after the bar scene in [the pilot], but he didn’t tell me until the 12th episode. He didn’t really go into any detail as to why he decided to keep me -- not to me anyway.
In an upcoming episode [SPOILER ALERT], Lafayette ingests a lot of Eric’s blood. The homoeroticism in that moment was off the charts. Was that something you were conscious of while shooting it? ELLIS: I wasn’t. I know Alexander said that from his standpoint he thinks Eric is a little drawn to Lafayette. My intentions were that I was completely terrified of Eric and what he can do to me. As far as I know, I hated his guts. It’s funny what the camera picks up... Alan has been making jokes about me and Eric and what’s to come in the third season. I definitely think I’ll be one of his henchmen, but as far down the rabbit hole as that goes, I don’t know.
So we can assume that Lafayette does, in fact, survive to see a third season? ELLIS: I think I’m back for the third season.
Do you think it’s possible for Lafayette to settle down and have a normal relationship with a guy? ELLIS: I don’t know that his normal is the general norm for everybody. I don’t think he’ll ever be normal to everybody’s standards. I do hope though that the dude can find someone that he loves and that loves him back. Everybody should be capable of that -- even Lafayette. (Additional reporting by Jeremy Medina)
HBO "This mysterious and somewhat sinister stranger is quickly becoming a fixture around Bon Temps.For more about True Blood, log onto HBO.com/trueblood.
HBO "Sookie never assumed dating a vampire would be a piece of cake. For more on True Blood, log on to HBO.com./trueblood."
"Meet Tara. Sookie's best friend from childhood. For more on True Blood, log on to HBO.com/trueblood.
True Blood S2E1 Recap - Season 2, Episode 1: Nothing But the Blood:
Ten Best Scenes True Blood - Season 2 Episode 1:
Original Air Date—14 June 2009
Two weeks after season 1 ends, Sookie and the staff at Merlotte's are scared witless when they find the body of a woman who turns out to be Miss Jeanette, Tara's fake exorcist, in Andy's car in the bar's lot--with her heart torn out.
Det. Bellefleur and Sheriff Bud Dearborne investigate, concluding that Bon Temps has a new serial killer in their midst. Now that Vampire Bill has turned the no-longer-innocent Jessica Hamby, she lives with him at his mansion 'temporarily' as he tries to teach her how to mainstream on Tru Blood, the synthetic human blood substitute.
Meanwhile, Tara is still living in Maryann's luxurious home spending time doing little else but flirting with fellow housemate Eggs, getting high and listening to Maryann's feel-good homilies.
Maryann has a few choice words for Tara's mother, Lettie Mae, when they meet.
We learn that Sam Merlotte and Maryann have quite a long ago history together for which Sam tries to make amends, but Maryann demurs.
Jason Stackhouse, who found religion while temporarily in jail, now considers going off to Texas for a Church-run leadership seminar for the Fellowship of the Sun.
'V'-dealing Lafayette finds himself abducted and chained in a filthy basement dungeon with several others. A new one is tossed in - the hick who was gay-bashing him in Merlotte's. Eric has some questions for him regarding 'a fire that killed three of our own.' The hick uses the proximity to Eric to burn his face with a silver cross, prompting Eric to literally tear him limb from limb, with a trembling Lafayette witnessing the gruesome event.
More Eric and Pam and the bloody foils after the jump!
Starring:
Anna Paquin ... Sookie Stackhouse, Ryan Kwanten ... Jason Stackhouse, Rutina Wesley...Tara Thornton, Jim Parrack... Hoyt Fortenberry, Carrie Preston ... Arlene Fowler, Michael Raymond-James ...Rene Lenier, Stephen Moyer ... Bill Compton, Alexander Skarsgård...Eric Northman Nelsan Ellis...Lafayette Reynolds, William Sanderson... Sheriff Bud Dearborne, Sam Trammell ... Sam Merlotte, Chris Bauer ... Andy Bellefleuer, Kristin Bauer ... Pam, Michelle Forbes ... Maryann, Amy Burley... Lizzy Caplan, Todd Lowe ... Terry Bellefleur, Deborah Ann Woll... Jessica, Stephen Root ... Eddie, Zeljko Ivanek...Magister
Below there are some hardcore spoilers regarding Nelsan Ellis's "Lafayette," BonTemp's gay, V -selling prostitute and Merlotte's (probably ex) short-order cook.
I'm declaring shenanigans on Ausiello and every other critic that has seen one-third of Season 2 of True Blood already and are blabbing about it. I write about spoilers and I don't even want to know what's gonna happen episodes down the line.
However, in their quest to get eyeballs on their websites Ausiello and I'm sure a bunch of other's, paid and not, who are are practically wetting their pants, have proved totally untrustworthy by leaking info three weeks before it occurs on True Blood, a 12-week show on HBO.
I can't imagine that Alan Ball wants that much of his story out of the bag so early in the season.
I'm hoping it's more HBO's publicity department. You know, the ones who've been accused of driving one of the last nails in the coffin of the Los Angeles Times by wrapping Stephen Moyer around last Friday's edition?
"How will the experience of being locked in a dungeon and almost dying change Lafayette this season? ELLIS: It certainly humbles him. It shows him there are some situations he just can’t get himself out of no matter how slick he is. He's going to have to suffer the consequences of what he’s done. And I think he reflects back on his behaviour and maybe for a second thinks about changing. What was your reaction (to finding out LaFayette survives?) ELLIS: Thank you! I have a job for next season! That was my reaction. Did (showrunner Alan Ball) explain to you why he let Lafayette survive? ELLIS: Not really. He just said he decided after the bar scene in [the pilot], but he didn’t tell me until the 12th episode. He didn’t really go into any detail as to why he decided to keep me -- not to me anyway.
In an upcoming episode [SPOILER ALERT], Lafayette ingests a lot of Eric’s blood. The homoeroticism in that moment was off the charts. Was that something you were conscious of while shooting it? ELLIS: I wasn’t. I know Alexander said that from his standpoint he thinks Eric is a little drawn to Lafayette. My intentions were that I was completely terrified of Eric and what he can do to me. As far as I know, I hated his guts. It’s funny what the camera picks up... Alan has been making jokes about me and Eric and what’s to come in the third season. I definitely think I’ll be one of his henchmen, but as far down the rabbit hole as that goes, I don’t know.
So we can assume that Lafayette does, in fact, survive to see a third season?ELLIS: I think I’m back for the third season.
Do you think it’s possible for Lafayette to settle down and have a normal relationship with a guy?ELLIS: I don’t know that his normal is the general norm for everybody. I don’t think he’ll ever be normal to everybody’s standards. I do hope though that the dude can find someone that he loves and that loves him back. Everybody should be capable of that -- even Lafayette. (Additional reporting by Jeremy Medina)"
I must admit, I was just totally pwned by True Blood tonight. Without the benefit of viewing the first four episodes that some blogger-critics of the show had, I had no way to smugly sit back and know the truth--and play head games with the fans. If I were sworn to secrecy I could have done it but otherwise I would have spilled.
It was great to be fooled as I indulge in so many spoilers that this foiler had me exclaiming, "It's not Lafayette!!!" So cool, hopefully for Nelsan Ellis's many fans that clamored for Lafayette to survive (in some form) are enjoying the payoff . I have my fingers crossed for him because I really enjoy his work, too.
What became of Lafayette is quite scary though and that leads me into yet another foiler that I fell for. The press-released videos and stills implied that Eric was being held hostage. Without elaboration I'm going to admit to being wrong again. This time I sort of went with what I knew from the books. Possibly Alan Ball, shrewd fellow that he is, is tweaking things knowing that some of us who have read the Sookie Stackhouse series are guessing certain things may happen and he can use that and surprise us. So great. I'm doing this out of love--not for money.
I'm proud to say that I didn't have to wait to be convinced as far more critics than you might guess, that True Blood was/is an awesome show. I am speaking specifically of a critic clique who all appear to have the light bulb come on at about the same time. Posers. LOL! I'm goin' back and watching it again--this time without my spouse so I can really um, appreciate when Bill and Sookie made up.
"I look forward to sleeping on the weekends. I do occasionally get my nails done on the weekend, but usually because there’s some miscellaneous vampire-related crap that ended up under them."
Er, blood? Dirt? Miscellaneous. Mysterious. The cuter the outfit, the more you’re about to get really messy in it on set. There’s eye blood, there’s mouth blood, there’s congealed blood, there’s liquid blood, there’s old blood, there’s crusty old blood.
What’s the hardest kind of blood to get out in the laundry? There was a time last night that they dumped an entire pureed vampire—it was fake—on top of me. It does sort of stain your skin a bit. Fun fact, completely useless: The old-school shaving foam, like Barbasol, is the only thing that gets it out of your skin. It opens up the hair follicles, your pores. It does it for color or, well, debris—you take a nice shower in head-to-toe shaving foam. Aren’t you glad you know that? But that’s just fake blood. No promises for real blood.
On a scale ...Buffy theVampire Slayer (and True Blood) where does True Blood fall?
...Our show is Sookie and Vampire Bill doing it in the graveyard. These are all grown-ups having consensual vampire relations. It’s grown-up kink.
What’s the trick to soul-shivering screams, like the one that ended last season when you discovered the dead body?
You just scream. Loud. Have older siblings. I’m the youngest, so you scream loud or no one will come and intervene. My older brother stuffed me inside a cello case once. Zipped it up.
No wonder you moved thousands of miles from New Zealand. No, the cello-case-putter-inner lives in Los Angeles. With his cello case. I, uh, love him. [Laughs]"
The second season of True Blood premieres Sun 14 at 9pm on HBO.
Evan Rachel Wood, who joins the cast of HBO's True Blood later this season, told reporters that she's already getting vamped out for her appearance. She is signed for two episodes of the show, which returns this Sunday and will air Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT. "I just got fitted for my fangs," Wood said in a press conference Monday in Beverly Hills, Calif. Once the teeth went on, Wood couldn't help but get into character. "They just take over," she said. "You can't help but just snarl and be evil. It's great." Wood's role as vampire queen Sophie-Anne has been announced, but Wood elaborated: "I'm playing the vampire queen of Louisiana, 400 years old and gay, so it's going to be a good one." With vampires all the rage now, Wood had some choice words for posers who just hopped on the bandwagon. "It comes every now and then," she said. "I have always been into the vampire craze, OK? This whole Twilight thing? No." Since she brought it up, who would win a fight between Sophie-Anne and the Cullens? "Considering I'm a real vampire, probably me," she said.
Beneath the masthead of Friday print editions of the Los Angeles Times is a full front-page ad for the HBO's series "True Blood." A black-and-white close-up of star Stephen Moyer with blood dripping from the corner of his mouth dominates the page. In news boxes around town, all that's visible is the close-up of actor's menacing gaze and the paper's banner splayed across the top. No other stories or photos appear on the cover, which is actually a separate four-page broadsheet touting Sunday's premiere of the show's second season. Readers remove the wrap to find the regular front page, anchored by the Lakers' NBA Finals win over the Magic on Thursday night in Orlando. Times spokeswoman Nancy Sullivan says it's the first time the newspaper put its masthead above an advertisement wrapping the paper. "One of the things for us is that innovation is pretty crucial in both a challenged and cluttered marketplace," Sullivan said. "HBO came to the Times to break through that clutter, and the result is what you see today." Zach Enterlin, HBO's vice president of advertising and promotions, said HBO had placed front-page ads with Hollywood trade publications in the past, but jumped at the chance to do the same with the Times. "We saw it as a fantastic opportunity to speak to a consumer audience in an innovative way," he said.
William Sanderson is the familiar face from one of my all-time favourite mini series, Lonesome Dove, and films, "Blade Runner." He was also part of a pop culture phenomenon rooted in his 8-year role on Newhart and his trademark line, "Hi. I'm Larry. This is my brother Daryl, and this is my other brother Daryl." (It really is a visual joke.)
I never watched "Newhart" though I'd heard as a pop culture reference of Larry And Daryl. And Daryl.
What I was first familiar with was Mr. Sanderson's work in Blade Runner as the doomed toymaker, Sebastian.
All these years later, it's great to see him pop up as I always enjoy his performances.
I have a link to an interview he did a couple days ago for ABC. He's very enjoyable to listen to, so humble, self- deprecating and certainly yes, a true Southern gentleman. I'm sorry ABC is stingy so I can't get the embed code to put the video here but you can watch his interview here. It has a not-seen-by-me-before scene from True Blood - Season 2! That's worth clicking right there! I did a couple of screens caps anyway. If I find better--which I doubt as I've had to scrounge from ABC previously for LOST video and pictorial promo morsels, I'll try to repost. I think William should put it on his site because it's a nice interview--I thought the interviewer had a good set of questions so in turn we good some good statement from Mr. Sanderson.
"But, no, that was all on a need to know basis, and I’m still learning. When I get to work with Alan Ball, the creator, I really try to be a sponge, but, for me it was a thrill to play what was — at least ostensibly — a normal person: I’m clean shaven and I don’t wear dirty clothes. But if you read the books, there’s not a lot on Sheriff Dearborne, but people have told me he’s a voice of reason (and that’s another irony with me). But it’s fun to play a normal person." -- William Sanderson
I've done a number of sci-fi projects, and one was a great thrill and still a cult film. But I've never done anything like this. I look at it as providential, or a gift from God. I'm a greybeard, and lucky to get this job. -- William Sanderson
Nancy encourages her unwelcome guardian to get an unusual pedicure
Did you watch the premiere eppy of Weeds last Monday night? If not, you have no excuse as it is airing for free online.
It was great to see the gang back--even the shocking transition of Nancy's younger son Shane (Alexander Gould) from a chubby-cheeked barely adolescent to a much taller, streamlined young man fully into that stage we all look back on so fondly.
To the naysayers who are miffed that Nancy is no longer dealing, that she was responsible for that chapter in her life literally going up in smoke, and that she somehow got herself involved with a Mexican drug lord, I say lighten up--Weeds is as enjoyable as ever. It is much like True Bloodin that even though things get very dramatic and life-threatening, at the end of the day this is escapist fare with an excellent cast, certainly an entertaining 30 minutes in which you could do a lot worse by changing the station.
I think that it is imperative that to dig Weeds, you like actress Mary-Louise Parker, she of the great acting chops and gorgeous brown eyes that you could get lost in. I like her lots--as well as much of the cast so it's easy for me to forgive some of the "didn't quite work" moments in the show.
So let's get onto the the Spoilers, shall we?
I was pretty certain that Nancy was pregnant by the end of Episode 1 of this new season. I decided during the scene with Nancy and Andy (Justin Kirk) where he is urging her to consider "fleeing" as a remedy for what ails them to which she responds bluntly she could not do that as she is pregnant. She and ex-bro in-law Andy have the kind of relationship that, though they might withhold information from one another, outright lying is not how they roll.
So:
Nancy is in fact with child, but she spends her first few days back for season five deeply (and destructively) in denial, especially after being outed by Esteban as the rat. "I think she has a lot of inherently male characteristics, like when a man's wife gets pregnant, and they go out and do crazy stuff in denial," Mary-Louise says of Nancy's whiskey, sushi and cigarette binge. "I wanted it to go further, like have her do a line of cocaine," says MLP in her E! interview this week past.
Not only is Nancy pregnant, she was correct in stating that she's carrying a male child. (How she could have know that, having only carried boys previously? I do not know, but I quibble.)
It felt like a boy because it is a boy! Mary-Louise made casual mention of what we'd all hoped to be true, for Nancy's sake: She's giving Esteban a male child. But don't think that means smooth sailing between Nancy and her baby daddy. The first few episodes have Esteban asserting control over the situation, but "Nancy takes back her power at a certain point. We're on [episode] nine right now, and it's a power struggle, back and forth," explains MLP. "In some ways she has this thing over his head—she's carrying his son, which is just about the only thing she could have that would [save] her.
Given that he death was all but a done deal after Esteban found out that she ratted him out to the narcos, could there be any way this relatiosnhip can be salvaged? We know that Esteban stopped short of killing nancy when she blurted out that she's pregnant but where do they go form here? mary Louise explains thusly:
"Nancy spends much of this season negotiating that relationship, because right now she has two kids [of her own] and [she and Esteban] don't live together. It couldn't be more complicated, right? Their moments together are really fraught with all of that."
Despite the complications, Mary-Louise goes on, "There are a couple of nice moments, and I think in those moments we see that they actually care for each other. He's the first person she's really cared about since her husband died." But ... "It's just like everything else she does—it turns into a mess. That's who she is as a person. Even if she was given something uncomplicated, she would probably mess it up."
When asked specifically her opinion of the Estaban-Nancy relationship being "love,' her reply was "I think so, yeah."
With Nancy being so wrapped up in well, Nancy, is there any chance that she'll wake up to the fact that Andy is a pretty damn great guy?
"Some of the best moments for me so far have been with Andy (Justin Kirk), because that relationship is more defined. With Esteban, it's so messy and all over the place, partly because they do care for each other," says MLP. "Andy is just so bittersweet because she loves him, but maybe not in the way he loves her, but maybe a little bit."
Even so, Mary-Louise teases,
"What Justin does that is so amazing is be hilariously funny and heartbreaking at the same time. You really see that this season more than ever. He has a scene in episode four that made me cry." Ahhh, what happens?! "Their relationship comes more into the forefront. It really goes somewhere, and they're a big part of each other's lives, but I'm not supposed to tell why. He takes on a really big role."
And, in episode nine:
"There's a scene that Justin said, if we do it right, it's going to make TV history. That's a pretty good tease, right? There's a kind of inadvertent, intimate moment that hopefully will be funny and a little bit perverse."
Everyone, even Estaban must answer to a "higher power." In Estaban's case it's his boss, played by Kate del Castillo, who will be present for much of this season, hating on Nancy of course, and making sure that both Nancy and Esteban are aware that she "has a lot of power to destroy both of them—everyone really."
University of AndyBecause you never know when you're going to be called upon to make nice with the bottle: how to boot and rally, properly mix, and more! Enroll today at WWW.UNIVERSITYOFANDY.COM and earn your degree!
EDIT/
If you've watch episode one of season two watch this.
See if you agree that these are the best scenes.
Thanks to RainingXrisi!
Sorry. E! has removed the video but there's some juicy stuff from the interview after the jump!
"In all honesty, this stuff is for the rabid True Blood fangirls who need no introduction to these two, but if you're reading this anyway and you're the type who likes a little metadata with your content, then you should know this is a post about True Blood, which is an hour-long sex, blood, and soap opera Southern Gothic vampire series executive produced by Alan Ball and broadcast by the premium cable network HBO.
These interviews with actors Alexander Skarsgård, who plays Viking vampire Eric Northman, and Stephen Moyer, who plays Southern vampire Bill Compton, were conducted by E! News at the True Blood season-two premiere party at the Paramount lot in Hollywood on the evening of June 9, 2009. For further information, please review our series of informative online articles(lulz) on the topic of True Blood. Season two of True Blood premieres Sunday, June 14 at 9 p.m. on the Home Box Office channel delivered by your cable or direct broadcast satellite provider. Enjoy." Credit: TEAM WWK
Huh. That's the first time I've heard Alexander Skarsgård speaking as himself. I thought he'd have an accent. Isn't he really big in one of those Icelandic or Norwegian countries? Or is that just rumour and/or innuendo?
Also, it's still pretty striking too to hear Stephen Moyer speak as not-Bill. Lovely voice. Anna Paquin as well (not heard in this clip). Not an American in the bunch!
You'll notice in thatwhen writing about True Blood E! (below after jump) really seems intent on making sure the reader knows that "True Blood" has some very raunchy sex scenes. That's because Alan Ball is unafraid of your reaction. But it's not teevee, it's HBO so he can do what he wants. As he did on Six Feet Under :)
Meanwhile, media outlets like E! can grapple with just how do they write about this show they ignored until it became a hit? Hmm.
Anyway, I think True Blood brings out into the open a number of sex taboos on American television, namely sex itself! The Brits are much more casual about a shot of breast or bum--and their language is saltier, albeit at times very hard to understand to my not-Brit ears.
More with Stephen Moyer talking to E! after the jump:
SCENE ONE - "She's a Hell of a Girl" - Michelle Forbes' Maryann meets Tara's (Rutina Wesley) mother (Adina Porter), but it isn't all love and warm feelings:
Oh, here it is! I've been waiting for Michelle Forbes to be turned loose. And that's the beauty of this actress. She can cut someone straight through using only the weapon of her words. Here, Tara's mother gets a taste of being "Maryann's" bad side. Excellent scene!
SCENE TWO - "We're All Equals Here" - Jason Stackhouse (Ryan Kwanten) tells a visiting minister that God has a purpose for him:
This may be unfair but I think the "Jason finds Jesus" storyline sounds the absolute weakest. It's an Alan Ball creation (not from the books) which I believe will segue into Jason's next adventure which should be way more appealing, IMO. I'm guessing though that his next adventure willnot start in earnest until the end of Season 2 or even not 'till Season 3.
SCENE THREE -"This Is All Your Fault" - Bill (Stephen Moyer) explains to Sookie (Anna Paquin) how Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll) came into being and how long she'll be around.
Getting the tension between Sookie and Jessica started from the get-go, Bill answers Sookie's string of Jessica-related questions honestly, though with a strong streak of "but I did it for you" runningthrough his explanation. In truth, Bill turned Jessica upon hearing that the Spanish Inquisition-era trained "judge" of his crime against vamps--the staking of Longshadow to save Sookie--told him he could show him some "real" torture.There was no threat against Sookie When Bill turned Jessica. All Sookie had to lose was Bill himself. Perhaps this act of selfishness on Bill's part is an exmaple of his "human" fraility?
SCENE FOUR - "We Made a Deal" - Eric (Alexander Skarsgard) lets Bill (Stephen Moyer) know that he still has need for Sookie:
This scene is odd with vamps Eric and Bill with a shopping mall as the backdrop. The pissing match between these two continues with Eric again (predicably) keeping the upper hand in procuring Sookie's services in locating the ancient vampire Godric..
Stephen Moyer True Blood Season 2 Premiere - StephenMoyerWebring.com
Here are a string of videos from the True Blood Season 2 Premiere brought to you by one of the original True Blood fans who actively promoted the show early on, without any "special access" (as far as I know!)
Sam Trammell True Blood Season 2 Premiere -StephenMoyerWebring.com
Unfortunately, the crowd noise was such that the interviewer could be heard just fine--so we hear the question put to the actors but the responses by actors Kwanten, Moyer, Paquin, Wesley and Trammell are almost inaudible. If you can read lips you'll have no problem, to a lesser extent you can get a feel for the actors by interpreting their body language.
For my part I've decided that the incredibly smart, gracious, and cute Sam Trammell is the one I'm going to really follow this season. As much as I love Anna, Sam Trammell has won me over. He's absolutely an actor's actor.
Anna Paquin True Blood Season 2 Premiere - StephenMoyerWebring.com
Haaz Slieman (Mohammed "MoMo" De La Cruz) and Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie)
Edie Falco-led drama part of Showtime's "biggest ever premiere night":
Woah! That was even faster than Dexter! Dexter, another Showtime original series got picked up for renewal after just two episodes.Yesterday, after just one airing of "Nurse Jackie," Showtime said that it was part of the "biggest ever premiere night." That was followed by the announcement that "Showtime has ordered a 12-episode second season of the Edie Falco series. Production on season two will begin at the end of the summer. About 1.35 million watched last night's series-premiere installment of Nurse Jackie, along with 1.7 million tuning in for Weeds..." Um. Wowzers! Good for Edie!
Hollywood 411 continues its conversation with NURSE JACKIE star Edie Falco. Edie talks about her first above the title televison role, the allure of playing a character you don't identify with and seeing herself on billboards.
I have an opinion about Falco's hair and it's not to criticize it. Ms. Falco has worn her hair short off-screen at various times in her career. The ' Jackie' character probably has little-to-no time to fuss with her hair ala "Carmela Soprano" and it's a matter of ease and practicality that she keeps it short. If all you can say when asked your opinion of the show is that you "hate her hairdo" you are not intelligent enough to watch the show. This is me being very annoyed by and swearing to never again read the comments in Kristen's E! column. "What do you think of the show?" "Duh, I hate her hair."
P.S .There was a time, long, long ago when only smart people had access to the Internet. <sigh> De-evolution.
EDIT/ Just read today that Edie Falco is a single mom to a one-year-old girl and a four-year-old boy. The star of Weeds, Mary Louise Parker is in a similar situation (single mom to 2 younger children) and has commented that working on a the 30-minute cable show makes it much easier for her to do her other full-time job of mothering. Hopefully, Ms. Falco will share the same experience of having life made a little easier to juggle with the knowledge that she's got steady work for the next 2 years. E! calls Nurse Jackie "a well-written and brilliantly acted new dramedy." (info SourceE!) To get thumbnail descriptions of the main characters and an idea of what to expect from Nurse Jackie in it's inaugural season, read more after the jump.
Eve Best as Dr. Elenor O'Hara, Edie Falco as Nurse Jackie
Edie Falcoas nurse Jackie Peyton Where You Know Her From: Ex- Carmela Soprano . What to Expect: The pilot might lead you to believe that this show is about the battle for Jackie's soul, but in short order you will see that Jackie's soul is exactly where it needs to be (the woman is all heart), it's just some of her behaviors could do with a little tweaking. Quote: Regarding the "hot" career of costar
Peter Facinelli: "I don't have my finger on the pulse of anything, so I wouldn't know that he was hot right now. Outside of this show, I am blissfully ignorant.
Merritt Weaver as trainee nurse Zoey BrakowWhere You Know Her From: She was Matt Albie's assistant on Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. What to Expect: Zoey remains adorable and earnest and scared witless for most of the season, but there is one moment when she dares to face down a doctorly dragon (albeit in a very different way than Jackie would) and she wins the fight. Quote: "She wears scrubs all the time because she's a nurse. Pink scrubs, pink bunny scrubs, pink butterfly scrubs. She likes pink—it helps her battle the day."
Peter Facinelli as Dr. Fitch "Coop" Cooper What to Expect: His Tourette's-like sexual-harassment thing gets worse before it gets better. Where You Know Him From: Anybody else remember that show Fastlane? Otherwise you might be familiar with a blonder Facinelli as Dr. Carlisle Cullen in the Twilight movies. Quote: "People keep asking me, they say, 'You know you played a doctor in Twilight and now you're playing Dr. Cooper,' but they're completely 180-degree people. They have the same occupation, but they really are worlds apart. Dr. Cullen is a really calming force and Dr. Cooper is a bundle of nerves on the inside, even though on the outside he tries to appear calm and cool and confident."
Haaz Slieman as nurse Mohammed "MoMo" De La Cruz Where You Know Him From: He started opposite Richard Jenkins (the dad from Six Feet Under) in last year's Oscar-nominated indie standout The VisitorWhat to Expect: Momo brings the funny, partly via his workplace non-fling with fellow nurse Thor and through his always in-flux relationship with boyfriend Ricky
Eve Best as Dr. Elenor O'HaraWhere You Know Her From: This is her first major American TV project; she's otherwise a big-deal British theater actress. What to Expect: Even though she'd never admit it, O'Hara would do anything for best friend Jackie, including risk her career. Also, she reaaaaaally doesn't like New York City street food.
Paul Schulze as hospital pharmacist Eddie Where You Know Him From: He was sacrificial lamb Ryan Chappelle in the early seasons of 24. What to Expect: It turns out that pharmacist Eddie is just like that sleazy drug dealer in high school, but now available in new and improved adult form with Kung Fu Grip and a license to dispense narcotics.
Anne Deveare Smith as hospital administrator Gloria AkalitusWhere You Know Her From: She played National Security Advisor Nancy McNally on The West Wing. What to Expect: Expect to be surprised to see this great actress doing so much slapstick comedy work! Dominic Fumusa as Jackie's husband, Kevin PeytonWhere You Know Him From: He's done a number of TV guest gigs, but he's best known for his theater acting. What to Expect:
