Archive for the 'TV' Category

Six Random Things

Published
by
Todd
on Monday, November 10, 2008
in TV and Tagged
. 10 Comments

Brent Logan tagged me, according to the “official” rules:

  • Link to the person who tagged you.
  • Post the rules on your blog.
  • Write 6 random things about yourself.
  • Tag 6-ish people at the end of your post.
  • Let each person know he/she has been tagged.
  • Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

Here are six random things about me:

  1. A number of the TV shows I love are critically acclaimed, but they commercially bomb. Friday Night Lights. Pushing Daisies. Freeks and Geeks (admittedly, I came late to the party on that one). Viva Laughlin*. And, of course, Arrested Development. This fact, of course, makes me feel cool and superior to people who mostly enjoy commercial successes.
  2. I have a serious problem with trying new flavors of chewing gum. When I’m at the grocery checkout, and I see “Extra Fruit Sensations Berry Pearadise” I’m powerless to withstand a purchase. And, typically, I don’t like the new flavor at all. A complete waste of $1.09.
  3. I’ve become something of a University of Texas fan. Some might point to their former #1 ranking and the likelihood of their playing at the Orange Bowl as the reasons for my favor. But they’re not. I’m a fan because I went to the Longhorn’s season-opener. The stadium was glorious. The fans were raucous. The atmosphere was charged. Something spiritual happened. And now I’m a fan. Oh, and I have a UT hat.
  4. I can’t really stand jazz music. Particularly smooth jazz. Ugh.
  5. I’m getting old(er). I have a goodly number of gray hairs. I don’t understand why the Jonas Brothers and Hannah Montana are cool. And I like going to bed no later than 10:00 p.m.
  6. This is perhaps the most random: I had a suite mate in college, a physics major, who was convinced that time machines would not be invented for public use in his lifetime. He reasoned that if a time machine were publicly available, that he would come back and tell his present (or past, depending upon one’s perspective) self about the technology. I argued that it was possible that his future-self decided that he needed to wait until his past-self was more prepared and able to process the time machine revelation, but he made a promise to himself that he would go back to his college-freshman-self and he wasn’t one to break a promise to himself. So how does that translate into a random thing about me? I find myself thinking about that conversation on a surprisingly frequent basis.

I’m tagging:

  1. Kirk
  2. Bobby – “Tagged” Post
  3. Chris
  4. Laura – “Tagged” Post
  5. Kim
  6. John
  7. Erin – “Tagged” Post

Thanks for the easy blog post Brent.

Happy Monday everyone.
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*Please note that “Viva Laughlin” was intended to be a joke. I don’t know that I wouldn’t have loved Viva Laughlin as it was cancelled after only two episodes. But from what I’ve seen, it probably deserved the axe. However, I do the other shows listed.

Best show on TV

Published
by
Todd
on Wednesday, July 30, 2008
in TV
. 5 Comments

Ok, I fully recognize that this is going to sound crazy or like I’m joking. But I’m not. I’m serious.

MTV’s G’s to Gents is the best show on TV right now.

Typically, that wouldn’t be saying too much during the summer season, but there are a couple of shows that Hayley and I have been watching that we enjoy (Wipeout and I Survived a Japanese Game Show are two embarrassingly enjoyable hours of television). But I think that G’s would stand out even in the crowded fall season.

The premise for the show is identical to VH1’s Flavor of Love: Charm School, but this time, instead of reforming former reality show contestants, they’re trying to reform true “G’s” from the streets. I’ll admit that I don’t know where MTV got their cast, but they’ve assembled quite a group.

Last night’s episode completely blew my mind. It’s amazing to me to watch the transformations that are already occurring in some of the people – simply because Fonzworth Bentley, the host, says he believes in the guys in the house. While some of the cast is there just to win the money, it genuinely seems that some are there to make a change. And it’s pretty dang inspiring to watch how they support each other.

As Hayley said, it’s possible that MTV went out and found the most sensitive G’s ever. But I don’t think that’s it. I think the gentlemen are recognizing how different their lives can be and are in a situation that is supportive and conducive to change. It will be interesting to see the obligatory reunion show and find out what changed, if anything, after they left the house.

I understand how trying it can be adding another show to your viewing queue, but I encourage you to check this show out. I think you’ll be surprised by its unique charm and increasingly likable cast.

Have you seen the show? What do you think of it?
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Friday Randomness

Published
by
Todd
on Friday, October 19, 2007
in Baseball, Blog stuff, Politics, Random, TV and Worship
. 8 Comments

It’s Friday. It’s been a crazy week. I’m not blogging as frequently as I should. Thus, a random post.

  • May I make two TV show recommendations? Chuck and Pushing Daisies. Both are great new shows. Both feature charming lead characters and enjoyable plots. Of the two, Daisies is my favorite. It has an irresistible charm to it. Despite the bizarre and depressing nature of the subject matter, it manages to be light-hearted and ridiculously sweet. Don’t miss either.
  • I don’t want to dedicate a whole post to this because it is too polarizing, but the Rush Limbaugh vs. Harry Reid letter feud fascinates me. The fact that the government is trying to punish a private citizen by mischaracterizing his statements (yes, they did) terrifies me. The fact that two of those who signed the letter are the front-runners for the Democratic ticket terrifies me. The fact that Rush is selling the letter on eBay thrills me. That is all I’ve got to say about that. (Unless I am provoked in the comments section.)
    • EDIT: Check out this video from Harry Reid. My personal favorite quote: “I strongly believe that when we can put our differences aside, even Harry Reid and Rush Limbaugh, we should do that and try to accomplish good things for the American people, and this does that.” How exactly did they “put differences aside?” Reid had absolutely NOTHING to do with this auction. He was trying to smear Rush. And now he’s taking credit for Limbaugh’s auction idea. Disgusting.
  • Want to do good AND drink delicious coffee? Check out Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee. If your church serves java, you should definitely check out the website as they have packages specifically designed with churches in mind.
  • Are you linking to my blog and I’m not returning the favor? Let’s remedy that. Leave your blog and a link and we’ll get you set up posthaste.
  • I’m not much of a baseball fan, but I’ve got to say I’m pretty pumped about the Rockies being in the World Series. I’m predicting it will be an Indians/Rockies World Series with the Rockies winning in five.
  • I’m not a worship leader, but if I were, this would be my setlist:
    • To Build a Home – Cinematic Orchestra (played as people were filing in to find a seat)
    • I Stand Amazed – North Point Live version
    • Jesus Paid it All – North Point Live version
    • Mighty to Save – Hillsong United
    • Inside Out – Hillsong United
    • Saviour King – Hillsong United (played during communion – a very long communion)
    • In Christ Alone – Stuart Townend

Well that’s it. Have an awesome weekend. If none of the above thoughts inspire a comment, why not tell everybody what your weekend plans are – unless of course said plans require you to leave your house empty or your spouse alone, in which case, you should probably make something up.

Have fun.

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NOTE: I have no ambition/gifts to actually become a worship leader. I don’t play an instrument, I don’t sing very well, my worship sets would all be more than 45 minutes and I get fixated on worship songs for months at a time. However, if your church is looking for a part-time worship planner, I’m your guy. I’ll tell you what songs to lead and in what order, pick out appropriate contemplative worship background slides and argue about why my choices are the right ones and you hired me to do this job, so you’d better trust me. If interested in hiring THAT type of position, feel free to contact me.