Pilot Season

I was reading an article in TV Guide (the paper edition) about “pilot season,” the most wonderful time of year in show-biz when hopeful TV producers pitch pilots for pick-up by one of the five networks. The article said that the “shows that continue to influence network execs the most are two of the top ratings-grabbers currently on TV: AMC’s The Walking Dead and ABC’s Modern Family.” So I immediately thought a sure-fire hit pilot would have to be Walking Modern Dead Family.

At the end of the article I learned ABC had beaten me to it with the pilot for The Returned in which “dead loved ones are suddenly alive again.”

That woody flavor you detect is from the scrapings you get at the bottom of the barrel.

“Green Lantern”: It doesn’t (completely) suck

OK, it wasn’t the best film I’ve ever seen, nor even the best film I’ve seen this week, but “Green Lantern” is far from the turkey that I’ve seen described in the press. It’s a good deal better than “Thor,” for example. I saw it today as part of my “take a walk around the neighborhood and blow off work” solstice celebration, and was entertained. If you like the comic book, you’ll probably like it. If you don’t like the comic book, of course, there’s really no reason to see it.

One suggestion: if you do want to see it, skip the 3D version. I found it distracting and not particularly well-executed. Go see the 2D version, and, preferably, at a reduced-price matinée.

A few minutes later: On the other hand, I can’t say that the recaps here are totally unfair: http://www.toplessrobot.com/2011/06/topless_robot_presents_the_best_scenes_from_the_gr.php

I wave my hand and raise a storm

Late last week I began composing a short piece for this blog about the phrase “get over it.” However, knowing that the weekly edition of TidBITS was running a little light this week, I showed it to the editors there, and they felt it was worthy of publication, so I submitted it, and they published it.

It seems I touched a nerve: as I write this, the article has accrued almost 90 comments in the course of the day. And I didn’t even mention sex or free prizes in it once!