Reconnecting

The recent discovery of a treasure trove of online TV shows has finally propelled me to start subscribing to Megavideo. Unlimited access - no pesky 72-minute time limits - for what I consider a very reasonable fee.

First on the list: Nip/Tuck.

Am starting with season 2, though in all likelihood, I'll go through season 1 again at some point after I'm done with the rest.

For those of you who aren't familiar with this excellent series, its creator, the delightfully twisted Ryan Murphy, is also responsible for the big hit, Glee, which has been sweeping awards these past few months.

But in my opinion, Nip/Tuck is - and always will be - his crowning glory.

I began following the exploits of Drs. Sean McNamara and Christian Troy years ago, but stopped after season 2 or 3 when the time slots kept getting switched and I got distracted by other programmes.

Now, thanks to video-on-demand ( and more importantly, uncensored versions! ), I can tune in whenever I want, woohoo! :)

If you're a newbie, but share my love for dark humour, politically incorrect situations, gore and hot men ( medical jargon optional ), this is a must.

While Christian ( Julian McMahon, seated on the right ) is understandably portrayed as the obvious Lothario ( being single and shamelessly promiscuous, doctor-patient relationship be damned ), I'm much more drawn to Sean ( Dylan Walsh, left ), whose personal life is tonnes more tumultuous, and whose decisions are frequently unpredictable. Despite being viewed by many as a pillar of unwavering morality, he grapples with many hidden demons and occasionally makes Christian look like a saint.

The script is sharp and intelligent, poking fun at our aesthetic insecurities and serving up all sorts of uncomfortable scenarios ( Vanessa Redgrave makes her mark as a ravenous cougar ). The operating scenes are realistic enough to make even me squirm ( plastic surgery is barbaric! ). And yet, you'll also find yourself laughing hard at some of the more outrageous lines, before the realization that they're not really that outrageous after all smacks you sober.

There's also the enduring bro-mance between the 2 guys, transcending everything from professional rivalry to adultery and who knows what else ( I haven't seen every single episode, you know ). The complexity of their relationship is sinfully enjoyable.

Which actor do I prefer? McMahon may look like the clear winner, but nope, I much prefer Walsh. Sure, he may be the boyish one, often with a pained expression on his face and exuding an overwhelming sense of propriety, but I still recall one episode where a close-up suddenly made me sit up and notice his gorgeous blue eyes, and the emotions that lay behind them. It wasn't acting anymore. It was pretty freaking real.

Can't believe they're already at season 7. I can't wait to catch up! :D

Random Musings

Thought I'd put a lid on the Bliss theme, at least for the time being. :)

Completed Dexter By Design last week. Started off fabulously, but once Dex's sister Deborah became incapacitated - won't post spoilers here - and was left out of the picture for at least half the novel, it became clear how important a character she is.

Guess a lot of the humour and fun comes from her quick-fire verbal battles with Dexter. Once that disappeared, things started to get really draggy.

I can only hope that Book 5 - which will finally catch up with the TV series where Dexter's biological offspring is concerned ( though I wonder if author Jeff Lindsay will adopt the name the scriptwriters have chosen ) - will be tonnes better.

Something to look forward to - Dexter season 5 has been confirmed. YES!


My current tome: a copy of Shakespeare's The Tempest. It's more like a super-advanced reference text, featuring a lengthy introduction which discusses the characters, historical background, various stage versions, and a number of other topics that I can't digest.

Had to filter out the less useful trivia before starting on the play itself. Appreciate the generous amount of footnotes though - helps me understand all the fancy language which would otherwise induce a migraine.

Can't wait to see The Bridge Project's version in a week's time!


Speaking of The Bridge Project, the Singapore Repertory Theatre - I'm on its mailing list and correspond with its executive director via email - recently sent me an ad featuring a very dapper Kevin Spacey posing with a banner of The Tempest.

You know I'm a huge KS fan, and I've seen A LOT of his photos, but this is one of his best.
Unfortunately, I can't copy and paste the thing here because the software doesn't allow it. But KS looks fantastic! Dressed in a simple yet beautifully tailored black suit, standing casually with left hand in a pocket, beaming from ear to ear. I swear I stopped breathing for a few seconds. :)

Another long 12 months to get through before I'll actually see him on the local stage - and possibly even closer than that if the SRT is able to arrange something - but it's a small price to pay.


Other good stuff worth mentioning: cable screenings of Law & Order season 4 and L&O: Criminal Intent season 1. ( Channel 99 daily, check the schedule. )

The former is especially good because it stars Chris Noth ( Big from Sex And The City ), Jerry Orbach ( best known as the voice of Lumiere from Disney's Beauty & The Beast ), Jill Hennessy ( later the lead in TV's Crossing Jordan ) and Michael Moriarty ( whose work I don't know that well, but whom I really enjoy watching on this particular show ).

I've already seen the latter programme once before - I think it may have been in the U.S. when they had a chunk of L&O marathons - but Vincent D'Onofrio is outstanding as Robert Goren, a detective on the major case squad, investigating crimes that are never what they seem.

He cuts an intimidating figure with his massive frame - 6'4''? 6'5''? - and laser stare. His instincts are razor sharp, and if you try to outsmart him, he'll come down on you like a sledgehammer.
I especially enjoy the chase scenes, which invariably end with Goren effortlessly grabbing a suspect as the latter puts up a pathetic struggle.
And the last 10-15 minutes are always the best. Goren usually sits the suspect down in the interrogation room, engaging him/her in an elaborate mind game before s/he finally confesses or gets caught in an obvious lie. Even senators, celebrities and powerful tycoons squirm in his presence.
How cool is that? :)


More thoughts on American Idol: aside from Alex Lambert, those who've been booted off so far pretty much deserved it.
Andrew Garcia has been disappointing, but I suppose he has a strong Latino fanbase voting for him.
Aaron Kelly greatly impressed with his Aerosmith cover last week, managing to belt out glory notes despite suffering from laryngitis, wow!
Casey James gets mixed reviews from me. He's a good-looking fellow and an excellent blues guitarist, but there's just something off about his stage performance. Stiff? Corny? His voice definitely isn't anything special, and AI markets itself as a singing competition after all. What's going to happen to this guy?

Girls-wise, I'm rooting for Siobhan and Crystal. They're both vocal powerhouses with interesting personalities, though I do wish Siobhan would stop screeching every time she reaches the end of a song. If you can't hit the high note, then opt for a key change.


My next foray into the cineplex - hopefully later this week, to catch the remake of Clash Of The Titans. Could turn out to be really cheesy, but crossing my fingers that I'll enjoy this.


Am also eyeing the complete set of Nip/Tuck DVDs on Amazon. It's probably the only TV series I'd consider purchasing, because it's absolutely sinful yet also supremely intelligent. Plus, I love the 2 leads - Dylan Walsh and Julian McMahon. Have been watching clips on YouTube - delicious!


Almost forgot to mention Jersey Shore, an MTV reality show that's become a huge hit in the U.S.
It now airs on MTV Asia on Friday nights, and I almost missed the pilot episode when I got the date wrong, whew!
I must warn you: this is a super-trashy series. It features 8 Italian-American 20-somethings with fake tans and loose morals, shacking up together in a beach house for the summer.
The men - also known as "guidos" - are fitness freaks with too much gel in their hair, and the women have fake boobs, wear too much makeup, and spew obscenities like pros.
There was a segment that had so many bleeped-out syllables I didn't even know what the heck they were saying.

The first episode alone was scandalous enough - the guys invited complete strangers ( young women, of course ) off the street to lounge in their hot tub. Everybody got drunk, then one of the girls stripped naked, right in front of the camera crew.

I'm watching this because I know about the major hype in America. A later episode will have the JS gals at a nightclub, wearing short dresses and dirty dancing sans underwear.

Call it morbid curiosity. My mom's eyes were glued to the screen, though all she could say for most of the hour was, "Tsk Tsk!" and "What the...?!"

But we were wide awake the whole time, which says something about the entertainment value, heh!

Signing off...

Bliss Part 10

... comes in the form of Jeff Lindsay's Dexter By Design, aka Book 4 in the Dexter novel series, which I'm now roughly halfway through.

Was hoping to lift a few quotes for this entry, but will leave that for another time since I don't have the books with me at the moment.

As always, there's much to gush about, but I need to hold back a little so I don't end up revealing spoilers.

Rest assured that Dexter's - or should I say Lindsay's - signature brand of super-dark humour is still present in ample doses, and early chapters set the tone fabulously as the corpses pile up in quick succession.

There's a short lull in the breakneck pace when Dexter gets side-tracked by a family crisis, but at least there're no protracted Dark Passenger monologues like those from Book 3 ( Dexter In The Dark ).

Thus far, however, Book 2 ( Dearly Devoted Dexter ) is the best of the 3 novels I've read, although I've decided to pick up Book 1 ( Darkly Dreaming Dexter ) once I get the chance, as it's become clear that something really major happened in the 1st installment, which I consider quite a shocker.

Again, I'm endlessly fascinated by Dexter's many private musings, as well as the numerous peripheral characters who flit in and out of the main picture.
I've probably said this before, but will say it again anyway - the novels are satisfying primarily as hilarious commentaries on human behaviour, with the crimes taking on a more secondary role.
But it is a testament to Lindsay's amazing writing that I'm willing to forgive the less-than-challenging crime-solving techniques just because I enjoy his witty sarcasm so much.

Still, you can have your fix of nail-biting suspense and much more fulfilling detective work by watching the equally terrific TV version.

Don't think I've ever latched onto a TV show and its novels before. This is so addictive it's positively terrifying. All my People and Time magazines haven't been touched in months! :)


I guess my great appreciation for a character like Dexter Morgan also stems from the fact that I share a few of his traits. There's the overwhelming cynicism, the morbid sense of humour, the lack of interest in physical intimacy and social interaction, and maintaining a constant balance between one's public and private personas.

A memorable quote comes from TV's season 4, where a stressed out Dexter asks, "Who are any of us really? We all have our public life, our private life...", to which his deceased foster father's ever-present spirit replies, "And your secret life -- the one that defines you."

I may not lead a secret "life" in the literal sense, but there's definitely a part of me that I share with no-one, not even my best friends or my own parents. And obviously not anywhere on this blog.

And you can bet I have a reaaally dark side. :)

Bliss Part 9

There is, of course, a Part 8. It's titled "Kevin Spacey's In Singapore!" :)

So the latest upper in my otherwise monotonous life is none other than Dexter Season 4, which I'd been watching sporadically online these past few weeks. Am happy to report that I finished the last 3 episodes on Sunday evening. What a rush!

I've raved about a number of TV shows over the years - CSI, House, Monk - but even the best of the lot tend to lose momentum after a few seasons, either due to writer fatigue, cast changes, or the biggest mistake of them all: taking the viewers for granted.

CSI is a prime example of the last sin. The Las Vegas version - which I've always enjoyed the most - began to annoy the hell out of me somewhere in its 4th or 5th run, when the writers tried to come up with more creative ways for people to die, and invented dumber methods of spiffy crime-solving.

Not so for Dexter. It has succeeded in outdoing itself with each new season, in terms of characters and storylines. The villains are diabolical yet ambiguous. Season 1 featured a serial killer who turned out to be Dexter's long lost older brother. Season 2, a psychotic girlfriend. Season 3, a District Attorney turned crazed vigilante. Season 4, a church deacon whose dark history fuels his massive bloodlust.

The cast is outstanding. Michael C. Hall is only getting better with age, and in S4, he looks damn bloody gorgeous at times ( no pun intended ), with the ruffled hair, buff bod and occasional mischievous smirk as he zooms in on yet another target. He's also letting his flair for comedy take flight. There're moments in S4 where I found myself laughing out loud at Dexter's antics, many of which revolve around his desperate attempts to balance a new family with his nocturnal adventures. Lots of nail-biting moments!

Jennifer Carpenter also finds her mojo as Dexter's foul-mouthed detective foster sis, Deborah. Some real-life couples can't play siblings convincingly, but no problem here. Even though they're married now, they stay perfectly in character, without any of that sexual tension interfering with the flow of the story. Amazing!

Season 3 had Jimmy Smits. Season 4, on the other hand, features John Lithgow, of all people, playing the Trinity Killer - a fellow so twisted he gives even me the heebie-jeebies. And I already have a pretty high threshold for gore.
This was a stroke of genius in terms of casting. Who would've thought the funny guy from 3rd Rock From The Sun could play creepy so well?

The best thing about watching Dexter online is being able to bypass the irritating local censors, who love to erase all the nudity, violence and foul language. Unfortunately, these are vital ingredients where this particular show is concerned, so trashing them just spoils the entire flow, and important plot points end up being lost.
E.g. The Trinity Killer displays a pattern which includes slaughtering women in bathtubs. So both he and the victim are naked. I found it insightful rather than exploitative.

I do wonder if my recent appreciation of the Dexter novels, on which the TV show is based, could have something to do with the sudden surge in enjoyment. Answer: there's a definite correlation. I would recommend Dexter fans to watch the series AND read the books. Only the first novel, Darkly Dreaming Dexter, shares the same storyline as season 1. After that, almost every major / subplot is different. For instance, Book 2 aka Dearly Devoted Dexter mentions that a certain central character was killed off in Book 1, which did not happen on-screen. Quite a big shock, that one!
The villains also share zero similarities. So it's like getting 7 doses of Dexter instead of 4! :)

I'm halfway through Book 2, and just picked up Book 4 when it finally reappeared on the public library's shelves. Can't wait to get through them ASAP. :)


Oscar news: I'm thrilled that The Hurt Locker helped shatter the glass ceiling for director Kathyrn Bigelow, and whacked Avatar in the Best Picture category. Haven't seen Locker yet, but I love to root for the underdog, especially when James Cameron so clearly wants to win big yet again. C'mon, Avatar was fun, but a little too cheesy for Best Pic. A recent blockbuster that deserved to win that award was The Dark Knight.

Signing off. Till next time...

Kevin Spacey's In Singapore!

I apologize for the unbridled enthusiasm, but the fact that my all-time favourite actor - whom I've idolized for more than a decade, and after whom this blog is named - is in such close proximity, is just too much for me to handle. :D

There was no indication of the visit on his Twitter page, and I haven't been bugging my grapevine of inside sources, so imagine my shock when I saw the front-page headlines in today's Life! section, complete with a sprawling interview. I was in a stupor following less than 6 hours of sleep, after a hellish evening shift last night. The article definitely woke me up, no caffeine needed!

He'll be giving a talk at the Singapore Repertory Theatre today - those lucky lucky theatre students! - followed by a tour of the Esplanade. I can't worm my way anywhere near him because I'm stuck at the hospital all day ( argh! ), but I'm thrilled that he's confirmed he will tour with the Project in 2011.

Regular readers of this blog may remember he replied to my tweets last year about whether he'll tour in the near future. He ruled out 2010 because of other commitments, but did hint at 2011. Ain't it cool? :D

So what Shakespearan roles are you gunning for for the great Mr. Spacey? He excels at both drama and comedy, so if it's age-appropriate ( i.e. not Romeo ), he can do it.

I have a preference for The Merchant of Venice's Shylock, or even Hamlet. As for comedy, I like Benedick from Much Ado About Nothing, or Petruchio from The Taming Of The Shrew.

You can bet I'll attend more than one performance if Mr. Spacey's in the cast. And yes, I will do everything in my power to meet him in person. It's one of the items on my bucket list!

I hope he enjoys his 2 days in Singapore. Wonder if he'll be brave enough to try some durian? :)

Bliss Part 7


Am nearing the last few chapters of Laurell K. Hamilton's The Laughing Corpse. Thoroughly enjoying the ride, and although her writing has its slightly annoying moments ( think she uses the words "maybe", "bully" and "goody" a tad too often ), the characterizations remain vivid, and a couple of scenes are so well-drawn they literally leap off the pages. Haven't appreciated a funeral this much in a long time. :)

There's also a colourful trip through a red light district, where readers will meet a wheelchair-bound prostitute with an even darker personal history.

Cool stuff eh? :)



Here's something else to enjoy. Ladies, if you're not tuning in to So You Think You Can Dance season 6 on cable's AXN channel, then at least check out Ryan di Lello on YouTube.

They just aired the Top 20 special performance episode, but I've had my eye on this hunky dude since the early audition rounds. Never mind the fact that he's married to a hot young lady ( who also made the top 20 ). It's great to see a ballroom veteran who doesn't look the least bit wimpy for once!

Here's a HOT cha-cha number - with a jaw-dropping climax! Oh yes, and don't forget the half-buttoned shirt, heh!

And... a fabulous disco routine. Ryan looks perfectly capable of hurling his partner across the room, haha. :)

Ooh, I just found this delectable samba. No shirt, yow!


But of course, season 6 is also worth watching for its eye-popping choreography. The recent Top 20 special performance episode featured a flawless group dance orchestrated by Wade Robson. I love it so much I've seen it countless times - yes, I'm saving it all to DVD. :)



So Adam Lambert's confirmed a private gig in Singapore March 12. Despite being a big fan, it's unlikely that I'll be able to see him perform because (1) I can't for the life of me figure out how to secure tickets ( yes there's a contest giveaway, but my luck tends to suck in such things ), and (2) I'm already rostered to work that evening.

Such short notice, and not open to the general public. Why, Sony Music, WHY!?!?!?


Speaking of American Idol, the first Top 24 performances have illustrated how the series is getting old, and fast. This year's crop of Idol wannabes are pretty run-of-the-mill. The only person who stood out this week is Aaron Kelly, a sweet-faced 16-year-old whose big voice during a Rascal Flatts cover woke me up. Kind of a cross between Clay Aiken and David Archuleta, he could go very far in this competition if he continues to choose the right songs and corners the country-pop genre.

One of my early faves, Tyler Grady, got booted off, which is a real shame. Surely the wooden Tim Urban warranted an elimination? And don't get me started about the females. I can't stand that African-American girl who slaughtered The Beatles' I Wanna Hold Your Hand!

You're walking on thin ice here, AI9. No wonder SYTYCD is gaining strength in the ratings.


Last but not least, I received some very interesting news recently, raising questions about a certain person's career path and marital situation.
I'm a firm believer in divine intervention. What goes around comes around. Thank you, God. :)

Bliss Part 6

1) Purchased my Jamie Cullum concert tickets today. A reminder to those who don't know which seats to get: his piano's always on the left side ( that's the audience's left, facing the stage ).

2) Borrowed Laurell K. Hamilton's The Laughing Corpse from the public library - couldn't resist! :)

3) Also have a tattered copy of Jeff Lindsay's Dearly Devoted Dexter sitting on my shelf.

4) Completed Episode 7 of Dexter Season 4. Wonderfully screwy, super-gory but with a smattering of hilarious scenes, and the script and acting are top-notch. Hasn't disappointed me yet, so it's currently my favourite TV show.

5) Lots of Chinese New Year visits lined up this weekend. Need to run a truckload of errands tomorrow.


Was watching the latest episode of So You Think You Can Dance season 6 this afternoon. It's the last Vegas round before the Top 20 are chosen. Excellent 2 hours, filled with eye-popping dancers and lots of drama. It's far superior to American Idol. Dancers are way tougher than musicians, rarely give attitude, and seem to share an optimism which I find extremely heartwarming.
So whenever someone who's good but not quite there yet gets cut, the judges holler, "Come back next year!" and the contestant almost always answers, "You bet I will!"
Awwww. :)

And American Idol's Top 24 have been revealed at last! Only the guys have made strong impressions on me so far. Am thrilled to learn that Andrew Garcia, Casey James and Tyler Grady made it through. Casey is a frontrunner for sure - a blues guitarist who looks like a movie star and sings like a dream. We shall see how far he goes with his gifts.

I don't know if you agree with me, but I find that the quality of American TV shows has skyrocketed in the past decade. Reality programmes form a large part of that jump - American Idol, SYTYCD, Survivor, The Amazing Race, Project Runway, America's Next Top Model, The Apprentice, etc - but the sitcoms and dramas are also way better these days.
Could be the edgier material and lax rules on nudity, foul language and taboo subjects. But TV actors now also hail from Broadway and film, like the Glee cast, Dexter's Michael C. Hall ( primarily a stage thespian ), Damages' Glenn Close, 30 Rock's Alec Baldwin, House's Hugh Laurie, and so on.

I'm just glad I have cable. Local programmes really suck - I'm allergic to all Mediacorp productions - and they censor just about everything.

Finally completed Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol. Took me a few weeks, no thanks to constant distractions from work and New Year preparations, and the book was a huge chore to read. Haven't made a detailed comparison with the first Robert Langdon novel, Angels & Demons, which I loved back in 2005. But I remember A&D boasted much better writing, while Symbol seems painfully staged from beginning to end.

There're a few interesting plot twists, but the finale is a huge disappointment, with an irrelevant last chapter. I guess I get miffed when something gets built up to this level and ends up not really mattering in the whole scheme of things, y'know?

Anyway, I do NOT recommend this to anyone, but if you want to waste your precious time on it, be my guest.

Have been scouring the Net for travel ideas for the upcoming trip. Still a ways to go, but planning holidays always puts me in a good mood, especially when it involves the theatre and striptease. Excuse me, I'm single and in my 30s, it's all perfectly legitimate. :)

Also resolved not to kill myself during shifts. If it's busy, it's busy. The queue will clear eventually.

Bliss Part 5

... is about to end.

Returning to work on Monday. NOT looking forward to it.

But a week of leave has been a godsend, despite spending half of it - or maybe more - mopping, vacuuming, dusting, wiping and getting soaked in detergent and dirt.

The upside: meeting up with Australian friends for a tiring but fun day at the Jurong Bird Park, where numerous pots of festive flowers were on display and we had a ball getting swarmed by excited lories ( that's the Lory Loft for those of you who don't know what I'm talking about ), followed by afternoon tea at a posh hotel ( felt really bad about ordering a $14 pot of Singapore Sling tea, but they wouldn't let me get away without drinking something! ), and a tummy-busting dinner at a nearby Japanese restaurant.

They were particularly thrilled with a dessert called "momo ice-cream", which comprises peach-flavoured ice-cream covered with a shell of white chocolate coloured to look like a real peach ( very creative I must say ), with a core of what looks and tastes like Ferrero Rocher.

Mmmmmmm. :)

Last night was feast #2 - a reunion dinner with relatives at a seafood restaurant along the Singapore River. Great location, terrific ambience, and heavenly food for a very reasonable price, complete with 10% discount if you have the right credit card.

Last but not least, I've finally submitted that pesky journal article, ONLY because I want a pay hike, nothing else. :)


Things I CAN look forward to - Jamie Cullum's upcoming Esplanade gig in April, and Joshua Bell's performance at this year's Arts Festival. Playing Beethoven and Mendelssohn, yech. I'll probably choose Beethoven. Lesser of 2 evils. Why no Tchaikovsky or Mozart?!

Also, the annual JC class gathering at our teacher's home, complete with spouses and kids, and a long overdue BBQ with clinical group mates.

Need to exercise like crazy over the next couple of weeks!

Bliss Part 4

A sure sign of impending physical meltdown always presents itself after 3 months of work in the ER. So yesterday evening, as the influx of resus cases continued, with 2 collapses and countless geriatric patients with raging fevers on nasogastric tubes in vegetative states, I suddenly felt the room spin and had to stop in my tracks for a few seconds until my head cleared.

But I managed to finish the shift despite a few milder episodes thereafter. And today, I'm relieved to escape an even worse fate in resus, by being assigned to consultation and having competent MOs running the show.

Am just waiting for the evening to end, so I can start my leave and recharge my dying battery.

How the hell am I going to do this for another 20-25 years?

Anyway, the week ahead isn't going to be easy. Chinese New Year looms, and as always, I'm in charge of house-cleaning, since I refuse to let my parents go through any heavy physical exertion, and think it's a waste of money to hire professionals who may end up stealing my valuables for all I know.

In the middle of all that sweaty activity, I need to finish up a journal writeup and get it submitted, meet friends visiting from Australia for an entire day out ( they were extremely hospitable when we met them at the Gold Coast last October ), congregate with relatives for a reunion dinner, and run a long list of other assorted errands in between the social engagements.

But I'm not complaining. Anything beats fighting daily battles in the ER. Not seeing sick people - or even worse, WELL people - in the hospital will do wonders for my mood.

As Dr. Gregory House famously said, "Treating illnesses is why we became doctors. Treating patients is what makes most doctors miserable."

Second, many hearty congratulations to Jason Mraz for winning TWO Grammy Awards! Don't think Make It Mine was the best choice - his rendition of Love For A Child is far superior - but I've always predicted that he would win a Grammy someday, and am thrilled that he's swept 2 in a year, especially after he lost in 2009 for I'm Yours.

Well-deserved, Jason, bravo! :)
Now if only they'd get him a spot performing at the Grammys ceremony already. He'll bring the house down for sure!

Am eyeing a new series on cable's Fox channel ( Ch 132, FYI ). Called White Collar, it features a con artist being arm-twisted into aiding the FBI - not the most original idea ( e.g. Catch Me If You Can ), but boasts a tasty Matt Bomer in the lead role, so I'm game. :)

Premiered last night, but I've been too busy with other programmes to watch it. Will post a review once I do.

Glee continues to enthrall. Episode 3 was so much fun, with the high school teachers forming an all-male a cappella group called, cheesily enough, Acafellas. Check out their performance of Color Me Badd's I Wanna Sex You Up. Real high school teachers are never this cool. :)

And I have such a huge crush on Matthew Morrison right now!

John Lloyd Young made a guest appearance as a thumb-less teacher, but his vocal abilities weren't showcased at all. Such a pity.

Something else to look forward to - the final season of Monk starts on Starworld 9pm tonight. I've watched every single episode since S1, and can't wait to get some closure regarding Monk's torment over his wife's unsolved murder. Not going to read episode guides for this one!

I intend to enjoy some good food this coming week. I rarely venture far for meals since my mom's an excellent cook and I love staying home ( TV, books, Internet, fluffy pet cat ), but social commitments offer good opportunities for pigging out once in a while, so I'm going to enjoy myself dammit! Just need to make up for the calories with more exercise.

Oh yes, forgot to mention that I'm currently poring over Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol. 100 pages in, I'm far from impressed. Think Angels & Demons was exceptionally good, then The Da Vinci Code got tiresome, and now Symbol feels limp and lifeless. Am certain Brown had a strict deadline to meet, since his publisher would insist on yet another Robert Langdon adventure so Hollywood can churn out a 3rd Tom Hanks / Ron Howard flick.

The result? Every scene sounds and feels staged to the point of annoying the hell out of me. And why does the author deem it necessary to start most chapters with a character's name? Robert Langdon this, Katherine Solomon that... you get the idea.

He sets things up in Washington, D.C., which is intriguing enough, but again, the prose lets the story down. This isn't helped by the fact that I finished Jeff Lindsay's mind-blowing Dexter In The Dark just before picking this up. The difference is colossal.

Last but not least, I'm so thankful to W for tipping me off about a website that offers free American TV shows online, and actually works! Have already watched 2 episodes of Dexter Season 4, which is so freaking AWESOME! Uncensored too, so everything makes perfect sense now. You can bet local cable will snip out the naked bathtub murder scene when it hits our shores.

Once I'm done with Dexter, it's on to Gossip Girl. Hope the webmaster will add Nip/Tuck and Nurse Jackie soon. I love dark comedies. :)

Bliss Part 3

One, finding a website that allows me to watch the latest seasons of my favourite TV shows online, for free. No need to fiddle with the computer to change my IP address, etc.

Thank you so much, W!

Going to dose up on Dexter Season 4, then move on to Gossip Girl. Hope they'll add Nip/Tuck and Nurse Jackie soon. I've seen episodes overseas and would love to see the full seasons.

Two, hearing from a reliable source that John Mayer is possibly coming to Singapore - finally! - for a big solo concert in May / June this year.

Considering the fact that I own all his albums and have been listening to him since 2002, waiting 8 years to see him 'live' has been pure torture.

Hoping Michael Buble and Robbie Williams will return soon, and that Josh Groban will make his debut on our shores in the near future.

Three, this one's for my mom. :)

A few days ago, I wondered aloud why local TV stopped airing The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. The comment was precipitated by an article in People magazine featuring the latest Bachelor, a gorgeous commercial pilot named Jake.

Lo and behold, I suddenly decided to do a quick check of the Channel 5 programme, and stumbled upon The Bachelor Season 9, Episode 1.

I'll leave you to read the synopsis on your own. Suffice to say, my mom is now addicted to the show, and constantly tells me to "remember to set the timer" every night because it airs at an unearthly 2am.

So far, the first 2 episodes have fulfilled my expectations. I watched at least 3-4 seasons of The Bachelor years ago - the best one had Andrew Firestone; yes, THAT Firestone - and am familiar with the format. 25 over-enthusiastic women fall all over themselves vying for a single eligible man's attention, before being whittled down to 12, then 11, then 10, etc etc.

There's always a drama queen, a super-b****, a bimbo, and a nice decent girl somewhere in the mix. Makes for interesting viewing, but being the cynic that I am, it comes as no surprise that none of the seasons has ever produced a tangible long-term relationship, except for Ryan and Trista from The Bachelorette, who got married and now have 2 beautiful children.

So what do you think of Prince Lorenzo Borghese ( above )? Seems charming enough, and looks years younger than his actual age ( he was 34 when this was filmed ). One of the more watchable Bachelors they've had on the show, but his choices at the first rose ceremony were questionable to say the least.

Anyway, my mom's having a lot of fun with this, so I wanted to mention it. :)

Four, going on leave in a week's time. Lots of house-cleaning to get through, but also meeting up with good friends visiting from Australia, as well as college pals and clinical group mates from med school. Oh yes, there's also a big reunion dinner with relatives. Picked a seafood restaurant with a scenic backdrop. Looking forward to it!

Till next time...

Bliss Part 2

Finished Dexter In The Dark in record time - the ending was a little anti-climactic, but paved the way for some serious character development where young Cody is concerned.

Intriguing. :)


The main focus of this entry, though, is Evan Kasprzak from So You Think You Can Dance Season 5.

Spotted him during the audition round for Season 6, which just aired this Monday, when his older brother, Ryan, performed a tap routine for the judges. A flashback clip of the 2 siblings from S5 came on, and I immediately recognized Evan, who auditioned first back in S4 but never made it to the Top 20.

Evan returned in S5, got through to the Top 20, and eventually finished in 3rd place, while Ryan didn't get through to Vegas and thus, waited another year to re-audition for S6.

Confused? I apologize. :)

The point is, Evan's beautiful jazz performance in S4 was so memorable that I was thrilled beyond belief upon finding out that he showed up again in S5. And since Starhub cable has skipped S5 for now - argh! - I've had to satisfy my cravings with YouTube videos, before a friend can pass me his downloaded version sometime in the near future. Thanks, J!

My favourite piece at the moment is choreographed by Ryan. It's a little grainy, but features the full routine. Have already watched this countless times, and I still can't stop smiling! It's just so... perfect!

I never picked up dance myself, but love watching the pros doing what they do best. Fred Astaire ranks right up there at #1 for me, and Anne Miller is a close 2nd.

The Kasprzak brothers have, through SYTYCD, revived a dance style that many still associate exclusively with Hollywood films of yore. But it's just too much of a good thing to be kept under wraps!

Check out this cool montage of Evan's solos. Light as a feather, and all those crazy leaps, whoa!

Don't miss this sexy performance to a Jamie Cullum song. Very nice indeed.
Then there's this kooky-gorgeous Mia Michaels piece.
Why the heck can't I find Evan and Randi's spectacular jive?!

Last but not least, Ryan's got a website, so be sure to pay him a visit!


Pretty big news in the local paper today - The Chippendales are coming to Singapore for a gig at Resorts World Sentosa in March.

I agree that timing it with International Women's Day is one of the dumbest excuses ever.

Singaporean women want to see male revue shows, full-stop. There's no shame in that!

I watched The Chippendales in Las Vegas back in 2007. Uncensored, but relax, there was no full monty, though they came very close to it. Brought my mom, and we both enjoyed it immensely. Cost much less as well, so I'm not prepared to fork out $138 for a possibly PG-rated local version.

Plus, the dancers in the photo are different from the guys I saw in LV. No Juan DeAngelo or Steve Kim, who are much better-looking. That look DeAngelo gave me at the photo-taking session still gives me goosebumps, man. :)

Just wondering if the guys will be allowed to greet audience members at the end of the show, like they did in Sin City? If anyone who reads this intends to go to the Sentosa performance, make sure you get aisle or front row seats. I was in the front row in LV and hugged 4 of the Chippendales. So did my mom! They're soooo friendly.

I'm going back to Vegas for my 40th birthday, no question about it. :)


And this video should be renamed: OMG!

How I miss Broadway... a scene from one of my favourite musicals ever... maybe I can persuade my mom to go to New York next year. ;)

And Neil Patrick Harris is the new Billy Crystal. Will he host the Oscars soon? ( A great clip of Hugh Jackman's stellar effort last year. )

Bliss

...comes in many forms.

For me, a lot of it is associated with TV shows, movies, food and travel.

But reading - it has become a luxury I can ill afford, given my work schedule and other commitments. But when I get bitten by the bug, the need must be satisfied.

So as my People and Time magazines pile up, and my sleep cycle gets turned upside down, I draw immense pleasure from the fact that I've found yet another fabulous author to whom I can declare my undying loyalty. :)

I'm talking about Jeff Lindsay.

After watching the excellent Dexter series for the last couple of years, I finally decided to read Dexter In The Dark because it's the only novel that features a storyline which was not covered in the TV adaptation.

But Lindsay's proven to be such an amazing writer that I'm game to backtrack and read his earlier works despite knowing how they end, just so I can savour more of his exceptional prose.

He's really that good. Believe me.

"Although it was slightly dimmer here, the parking lot was still far too bright for me, almost too bright even to see the moon, although I could feel it there in the sky, smirking down on our tiny squirming fragile life, festooned as it was with monsters who lived only to take that life away in large, pain-filled mouthfuls."

This is taken from Chapter 4, and just one of many other memorable lines scattered throughout Lindsay's prose.

As you can see, the general tone is a cynical one. And what I love about the novel is the rich detail it provides, especially where the inner workings of Dexter's mind are concerned.

Watching 3 entire seasons of the TV series doesn't even measure up to reading a mere few chapters of the book. This is because a viewer naturally gets caught up in the criminal investigation, with only the occasional voiceover to describe Dexter's stream of thought.

Despite being a hard-cover edition with only 300 pages, the amount of information crammed into this relatively slim volume is mind-boggling. Not only do you learn about Dexter's Method, you also get cozy with those around him, especially his foster sister, Deborah ( a Miami PD detective ), his fiancee, Rita, and her 2 young children, Astor and Cody.

Deborah ( or Debs ) is one of the best female characters I've ever encountered in written form. She's extremely foul-mouthed and short-tempered, but Lindsay manages to use her mannerisms to great comic effect. Her interactions with Dexter are side-splitting, and made me realize how casting Jennifer Carpenter was a stroke of genius ( as was putting Michael C. Hall in the lead role ).

Astor and Cody also receive lots of attention compared to their fleeting appearances on the small screen. I just love their quirky personality traits and dark, revealing moments. Little wonder Dexter is already planning a training programme so they can follow in his footsteps!

"I looked down at S____, taped to the table with his unlovely face hanging open, and I thought, as I never had before, this is what we all are. This it what it comes to. A bag of meat that breathes, and when that stops, nothing but rotting garbage."

Another memorable quote, chosen because I was so struck by this observation which has crossed my mind numerous times ever since my own cynicism peaked about a decade ago.
There're many others worth mentioning, but this is by far my favourite of the lot.

Dexter's sardonic brand of humour is infectious, and he effortlessly dissects ( mentally and physically, heh ) every person he meets, picking up little verbal and visual cues that point to his/her insecurities, before exploiting them to his own advantage.

He describes himself as an "artificial human" devoid of any genuine emotion, but well-trained by his late foster father, a Miami PD veteran, on how to disguise himself as a normal human being. Oddly enough, I still find him very appealing. Perhaps his frequently hilarious comments have something to do with it. They're laugh-out-loud funny. :D

Of course, the beautiful characterizations take nothing away from the core content - a serial killer who targets college students, offing them in a ritualistic manner reminiscent of demon worship during King Solomon's era.

And I haven't even elaborated on the Dark Passenger - an inner voice which guides Dexter in his criminal investigations and, more importantly, murderous vigilantism.

Woooo.... :)

I still have another 60 pages to go. Will try to post another entry once I reach the finale.


Glee!

I just HAD to stick the exclamation point right in there. :)

This wonderful show finally began its run on local cable last Wednesday, and I am absolutely ecstatic.

Far from being labelled another High School Musical, this hugely enjoyable series sprang from the delightfully twisted mind of Ryan Murphy, who's best known for Nip/Tuck.

The pilot episode moved a little too swiftly, but I'll probably get used to the frenetic pace. What I most look forward to is the music!

Already compiled into 2 soundtrack albums - yet omitting a few choice songs, like a rollicking cover of Duffy's Mercy ( available on free MP3 sites, thankfully ) - the best things about the Glee cast's cover versions are the arrangements and vocal delivery.

These aren't actors who sing. They're singers who act. Lea Michele and Matthew Morrison, in particular, hail from Broadway ( Michele was the female lead in the Tony Award-winning Spring Awakening, which I missed when I was in New York in 2007 and still kick myself over to this day, argh! ). I loved the Spring album recording from the opening number, which happens to feature Michele belting her heart out. And she continues to dazzle with her soaring performances of everything from Les Miserables' On My Own, to Celine Dion'sTaking Chances, and R&B hits No Air and Take A Bow.

I downloaded Glee's digital soundtrack albums over the weekend, and have been hitting repeat on a few songs, namely the Don't Stand So Close To Me / Young Girl mash-up, Lean On Me, Smile, and Endless Love.

The studio recording of Endless Love is tonnes better than the Lionel Richie / Diana Ross original. And turns out Matthew Morrison ( who plays the Glee club coach ) has the most exquisite voice. Even my mom asked about him when I played this on the car stereo.

There's a short video clip here, but it ruins the beauty of the song, so be prepared.

What I love most, though, is the unabashed, exuberant celebration of music, and its application to life's myriad situations. We all have sentimental attachments to songs that hold special meaning, whether to a certain person or event. Glee's repertoire spans generations and is presented with so much heartfelt emotion you'd have to be made of stone not to feel something when you listen.

I also like to sing along when driving alone in my car. It's very cathartic. :)

Well-deserved wins at the Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards. Next, the Emmys!

( And please get Jersey Boys star, John Lloyd Young, to guest star in a recurring role. He's phenomenal! )


Another show keeping me glued to the TV screen: The World's Greatest Musical Prodigies, airing every Saturday night on Biography.

Showcasing some of the globe's most talented young musicians, it is a fascinating documentary which also provides dramatic twists, notably in Episode 2, where a tough fight between 4 astounding pianists produces a frontrunner, yet culminates in a victory for the underdog.

I say "underdog" because this child is clearly the poorest of the lot, living in a tiny apartment with only one breadwinner in the family. He hardly speaks during group interactions, and played a very strange piece during his stage audition. I considered him a long shot, especially when compared to the confident Hong Konger who displayed a natural gift for improvisation. So I was extremely moved when Alex Prior picked him for his ensemble, demonstrating maturity way beyond his tender age. A happy ending indeed!


Before I sign off, a link to Matthew Morrison YouTube vids, in which he shows off his pipes on pieces from Broadway musicals. I LOVE Younger Than Springtime from South Pacific! And I didn't realize he was in the original cast for Hairspray - he played Link Larkin, and I own this album!
And don't miss his fantastic duet with Kristin Chenoweth on Alone - much better than Heart's original solo version! Plus It Takes Two from Hairspray!

Okay, time to return to Earth. :)

Reviews

Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton

Finished this yesterday. Don't like to rate in terms of ABC, 1-10 or number of stars, so I'm just going to say it's good. Reeeaaaally good.

Personal taste, so not everyone will share my opinion.

Reasons I enjoyed this novel:

1) it's extremely fast-paced

2) very exciting

3) lots of fascinating characters ( not an easy feat considering my high threshold for such things )

4) the last couple of chapters are downright chilling

5) Hamilton has a let's-get-down-to-business style of writing which suits the story well, though she does tend to repeat herself on occasion, and thinks a vampire hunter who collects stuffed penguin toys is supposed to be cute. ( Errr, no. )

In short, Anita Blake is a vampire hunter / animator - the second is a term used for those who literally raise the dead.
In Guilty Pleasures, Anita is recruited by the city's vampire clan to investigate a series of gruesome vampire murders which have left the local police flummoxed.
She's an unwilling party, of course, but compelled to agree through various methods, one of which endangers her best friend's life.

Along the way, we meet the rest of the motley crew of colourful characters, from a fellow animator who harbours a shocking secret, to a mercenary vampire hunter nicknamed Death, to a vampire junkie / stripper - it gets better - to the terrifying Nikolaos, and Anita's mysterious love interest, the French bloodsucker Jean-Claude.

Oh, and don't forget the crazy ghouls who remind me of demonic hyenas, and lycanthropes who transform not into wolves but - wait for it - giant rats.

Everybody, say "wooooooo". :)

There was initial word that a U.S. network had picked this up for a TV movie / series, boasting no less than X-Files guru Glen Morgan as an executive producer. Sadly that is not to be. But I can't say I'm disappointed either. The novel is just too amazing for words, and there's a high chance the final product would've disappointed fans severely. Each character is infused with so much personality and physical detail that casting the wrong actor / actress, especially in the most pivotal roles, would result in disaster.

And all those breath-taking sequences - from the erotic stage performances at the Guilty Pleasures nightclub, to the sinful Circus Of The Damned, to the horrifying ghoul chase at the cemetery, and the climactic showdown between Anita and Nikolaos - how could they translate onto the small screen given the budget constraints? No cheesy special effects please!

HBO did a great job with True Blood, but Anita Blake is a much more kick-ass type of woman.

As luck would have it, I found Book 2, The Laughing Corpse, at the library yesterday, so it's sitting on my shelf while I quickly read Dexter In The Dark, hopefully within a week, if I sleep less, haha.


Orphan

Didn't realize this movie received so many bad reviews. I actually kinda like it. Maybe 'cos I'm wired the right ( or maybe wrong ) way. :)

First, I love Peter Sarsgaard, so renting this DVD was a no-brainer.

Second, I enjoyed it from the get-go. Very atmospheric, builds up the story and tension well, with a terrific cast to complete the whole production.

Young Isabelle Fuhrman, who plays the psychotic Esther, delivers a breakout performance. The creepy costumes and pigtails definitely help!

Tiny Aryana Engineer, who's hearing-impaired in real life, almost steals the show from her older co-stars, with her giant doe eyes and genuinely petrified stares.

The plot twist in the last half hour caused my hair to stand on end. Not merely because the revelation itself was mind-boggling, but because Esther's bizarre behaviour finally made sense, and made your skin crawl big-time.

If you don't care what the critics say, then listen to me and watch this film.

Can't wait for An Education to be released!

Oh God...

I apologize for the expression, but staring at a triage complaint about a patient who came to the ER because he "feels sleepy after taking Tramadol" takes the bloody freaking s***** cake.

How about a referral to us for "depression", even though the patient expressed refusal to see a psychiatrist?

Miracle workers, that's what everyone perceives us to be.


On a happier note, American Idol Season 9 kicked off yesterday, and here's my favourite from episode 1.

I won't spoil things with an intro, but I'm curious about whether anyone who hasn't seen this audition ends up as surprised as I am, and in the best way possible.

His performance was just so... unexpected. :)

Quite a few talented young people out there, but it's going to take a helluva lot to top Adam Lambert.

Pure Indulgence Part 2

Aka in continuation of the Hot Older Men On TV post.

Feel free to heckle me. I just click "delete comment", with appreciation of your efforts, of course. :)

Wanted to do this quite some time ago, but don't really know why I didn't get round to it.

To the right is Campbell Scott, who has a recurring role on Royal Pains.

He plays a mysterious tycoon with a sprawling home in the Hamptons, who hires an ER physician to be his "concierge doctor", mostly for the purpose of hiding a hereditary neurological disorder from the prying public ( and more importantly, company shareholders ).

Film buffs will remember Mr. Scott from Dying Young, in which he co-starred with Julia Roberts. It was a sappy romance with lots of plot loopholes, and the whole thing was terribly forgettable.

Nice to see he's aged wonderfully. Very athletic and distinguished, and sports a cool European accent in Royal Pains, which adds to the overall appeal.

Here's my other sentimental favourite ( the first being Josh Charles ) - Andrew McCarthy, who also appears sporadically in Royal Pains, but who was also seen recently in Lipstick Jungle.

In Royal Pains, he portrays yet another rich bloke, this time an absent father to his haemophilia-stricken and extremely precocious teenage son.

He also wears the most gorgeous suits, and looks bloody fabulous. :D

I'm a big fan of his, beginning with his early roles in Mannequin ( co-starring Kim Cattrall, who later played nymphomaniac Samantha on Sex And The City ), Sixteen Candles and St. Elmo's Fire. Very thankful for the fact that he hasn't lost any of that terrific hair.

Last, but certainly not least, is Simon Baker from The Mentalist.

He previously starred in another TV drama series titled The Guardian, but didn't make any headway till his small role in The Devil Wears Prada, which I strongly suspect is due to a drastic change in his hairstyle - from an earlier buzz cut, to wavy curls.

Well, maybe his more light-hearted persona also contributed to his recent success. Was always so intense and glum in The Guardian, but played an unscrupulous flirt in Prada.

As the so-called "mentalist", he spends a lot of screen time playing amusing mind games with his colleagues - and occasionally, witnesses.

I also love the fact that he's constantly dressed to the nines, in a full suit and even a waistcoat, striding around in the sunshine and even climbing up and down hills and mountains in this getup.

Not realistic at all, but great to watch!

( Not entirely impossible either. Was in Rome during the sweltering July season in 2005, and saw lots of Italian men running around in their suits, eating gelato. I just kept thinking, "Why the heck don't they take those jackets off?" )

Succumbed to the public library's collection yet again.

Have borrowed Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton, she of the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series, and whose short stories in Strange Candy greatly impressed.

Also grabbed a copy of Mr. Darcy, Vampyre. Believe it or not!

( Was hunting for Tom Holland's Vampyre, about Lord Byron, but someone borrowed it, argh! )

Okay so the Amazon reviews aren't exactly good, but I'll probably leave this until I finish the other 2 books I'm hanging on to, then speed-read through the whole thing.

The 3rd novel is none other than a Jeff Lindsay tome. The Dexter TV series is based on his work, and I can't for the life of me remember which title I have, but it's definitely not something from Seasons 1/2/3. Somewhere around 2.5 maybe ( he's engaged to Rita, hasn't gotten married yet ).

Reviews to follow at a later date.

Pure Indulgence




Discovered a new TV series this past week, titled Hung.
Quite surprising that local cable decided to bring this in. I mean, it's about a high school teacher who resorts to prostitution to pay his bills.
And he's got 2 teenage children who are oblivious to his moonlighting.


Risque? You bet!
The fact that the show doesn't sink into a cesspool of bawdy jokes and stereotyping is admirable, and credit goes to the cast and writers, who handle the characters and subject matter deftly.

Lead actor Thomas Jane deserves extra kudos. I'm not familiar with his work, but find him hilarious as hapless Ray Drecker, who stumbles around female clients until he finally finds his mojo and becomes a consummate professional.

His dysfunctional family life is insanely funny, with an ex-wife ( a haggard-looking Anne Heche ) who ditches him to marry a rich but nerdy dermatologist, and offspring who look nothing like either parent - Ray was the school jock, his ex a beauty queen, while their kids are sullen, ugly and pudgy.

The female customers could've been reduced to caricatures ( e.g. the rich but lonely tai-tai's, etc ), but so far, I've seen only one such example, namely Ray's wealthy lawyer neighbour's frustrated wife.

One character really stands out, and qualifies as quite the stroke of genius in my book.

*spoiler alert*


Named Jemma, she forks out piles of cash for the sole purpose of playing out scripted fantasies, complete with re-do's a la Groundhog Day.
Being a pretty and brainy 30-something-year-old, Ray falls for her easily enough, but ends up getting his heart broken when it turns out the entire "relationship" was part of her plan after all.
When the last payment arrives and the truth is revealed, Ray's devastation is palpable, but at the same time, he also experiences relief.

It's a mind-bending, bittersweet few seconds that will be difficult to top!

Anyway, Jane's a lovely addition to a growing crop of sexy older men on television. :)

Another sentimental favourite: Josh Charles ( right ).

He stars in The Good Wife, a new legal drama which airs on Hallmark Channel 17 - pilot episode previewed on Tuesday, but the official run begins Jan 14.

You can read about the series at the link provided.

I first saw JC in 1989's Dead Poets Society, aka my personal all-time favourite movie. He played lovable and lovelorn Knox Overstreet, a hopeless romantic who was inspired by poetry to woo the girl of his dreams, and succeeded in winning her heart.

I adored him in that film, after which he disappeared for more than a decade, before resurfacing in 2003's S.W.A.T. in a peripheral role.

20 years after Dead Poets, he still looks as boyish as ever, exuding cheeky confidence as a swaggering high-profile lawyer who takes an old friend under his wing following her husband's career-wrecking scandal.

The Good Wife's been garnering rave reviews in the U.S., and I enjoyed the pilot episode immensely, not because of the legal plotlines ( too easy for my taste ) but for its stellar cast. Aside from JC, there's Julianna Margulies ( famous for her work on the early seasons of ER ), Christine Baranski ( from Cybill and Bowfinger ), Chris Noth ( Law & Order, Sex And The City ) and another sentimental fave, Matt Czuchry.

If you're a loyal Gilmore Girls fan like myself, you'll remember Matt fondly for his role as filthy rich, arrogant yet soft-hearted Logan Huntzberger. I had no idea he was in The Good Wife, but immediately sat up when I heard his voice amid all the on-screen chatter. He's grown up beautifully, and I'm ecstatic to see him on TV again. :)

A couple of short DVD reviews before I sign off:

Terminator Salvation turned out to be a huge treat. Had been avoiding this movie for months because the trailer made everything look so freaking gloomy, but the actual film got my adrenaline pumping big-time! The visual effects are amazing, the dialogue well done ( nowhere as cheesy as Avatar's melodramatic cliches ), and the cast absolutely perfect.

Christian Bale totally deserves to be John Connor, and Anton Yelchin is terrific as young, hot-headed Kyle Reese. Sam Worthington is so much better here than in Avatar, and Moon Bloodgood beats Megan Fox hands down in the sexy action babe department.

But did we really need a nude Arnold Schwarzenegger cameo - though it's obviously computer-generated? Err, no we didn't.

Public Enemies isn't as bad as everyone says it is, but compared to other films set in that era, it definitely falls short in many ways. Johnny Depp and Christian Bale look fabulous in their suits and fedoras, but suffer from a wobbly script and really bad editing.

Just finished Coraline last night. I've never read Neil Gaiman's novels, but the cartoon version is relatively good. Has that Tim Burton vibe, though I enjoyed Corpse Bride much more.

Anyway, recent animated films which I love dearly include Bolt and Kung Fu Panda. Compared to these, Coraline is so-so at best.

Currently blasting John Mayer's Battle Studies in the car. Not as magnificent as Continuum or Try!, but it's beginning to grow on me. Will write more next time.