A parenthetical paragraph in the Boomtown/Without a Trace article below refers to this blog not yet being listed on Blogwise. Well, just today I received the nicest confirmation e-mail from Sven, the person who runs the Blogwise site. Pila Posts is now listed there, and I feel more than a little sheepish for semi going off below. I really was not being critical of Blogwise. As stated, I just don't want to post buttons to sites this blog isn't listed on. Nevertheless, my comments could have been offensive, and for that, I do apologize.
As for any regular readers--all four of you--please forgive the slowness of updates. I realize that I have not really finished any post yet. Unfortunately, this is the busiest time of year at my place of employment, so my internet time is very limited, especially on weekends. I hope to finish the posts that are already up in the next couple of weeks. This is a both a plea and a thank you for your patience.
Sunday, August 24, 2003
Wednesday, August 13, 2003
A Look at Boomtown (With a Peek at Without a Trace)
Not much time to type tonight. Boomtown, NBC's point-of-view cop drama is fast becoming one of my favorite television shows. I never watched a full episode until Bravo ran a mini marathon the first weekend of May. I was home sick and unable to do much of anything other than watch TV and take pain relievers. I was hooked almost immediately, even though it took a few episodes to match up actors with characters and to figure out each character's back story.
I have to race home to watch yet another episode, only the second one I've seen on NBC. The others I've had to watch on Bravo and TNT. This article will contain spoilerish information. That is, if there are episodes you haven't seen, you may want to skip my re-caps and commentary, as I won't hold back twists and revelations. I assume that most Boomtown fans have seen most, if not all of the episodes, so I'm not worried too much about including spoilers.
More to come.
Well, it turns out that my human TV guide (Mom) was mistaken about Boomtown being on Wednesday night. She must have been looking ahead in the local TV schedule. It was on Friday, which will be its regular night, on NBC. TNT is continuing to carry it on Mondays for now. I am hoping that between the two networks I will be able to see all of the first season's episodes before new fall eps begin.
(This is completely off the topic at hand, but a word or two about the recently added buttons on the sidebar. I'm pretty proud for having figured out how to add buttons. Although it is not hard, I am not HTML proficient and certainly not a tech-type. At this time, Pila Posts can be found on Blogarama and Globe of Blogs only. Blogwise has not yet added this blog to its index, although the button suggests otherwise. I am going to give it another week or so. If Pila Posts is still not there, that button is gonna be outta here. I realize that Blogwise may be selective about what it chooses to list and/or inundated with submissions, so that is not a slam on the site. I just don't want to falsely advertise that this blog is indexed there when, in fact, it is not.)
Back to Boomtown. As stated above, I became hooked when Bravo ran a marathon of several episodes during the first weekend in May. During that weekend, I noticed that a couple of episodes were just a few details away from real-life crimes. In one, a rich, influential attorney murdered his young lover and got his loser brother to help him dump her body in the ocean. A similar murder actually happened several years ago on the east coast rather than Boomtown's California. Another episode was about a 70's radical living in the California suburbs. She's discovered and arrested for taking part in a bank robbery in which a cop was killed. (Patricia Wettig of Thirtysomething was wonderfully haggard in the role of the radical-turned-suburban-mom.)
The actors on Boomtown (BT) here are either relatively unknown or character actors you've seen in guest roles on other shows or in TV movies. Donnie Wahlberg is a revelation as Joel, the world-weary, by the book detective who is trying to keep his wife's recent suicide attempt under wraps. Wahlberg is trim and ruggedly handsome--much better looking than he ever was in his New Kids on the Block days. He wears khakis and polo shirts like no one else. Who knew the middle class man's uniform could be so sexy? More importantly, he is a strong, non-hammy actor who hits all the right notes as the hardworking, sensitive, and mostly controlled Joel. Though his wife has attempted suicide, Joel tells people that she's fine, the suicide attempt was an accident. One person who seems genuinely concerned about his wife is Teresa, the pretty paramedic who responded to the 911 call to Joel's house.
When Teresa asks Joel about his wife, his response is a defensive, almost harsh, slightly accusatory, "Excuse me!" In those two words, Wahlberg conveys Joel's fear: how does Teresa know? Is there gossip going around? Teresa then explains that she responded to the call. Joel concocts a story--his wife is fine. It was just a freak accident. Then he moves on. Teresa can tell he is not being truthful with her. Already there are the beginnings of a Joel-Teresa match up.
In another episode, Joel and Teresa meet up by coincidence in a coffee shop. They engage in small talk for a couple of minutes. Teresa starts to open up about caring for her father. When she asks Joel about his wife, he gives the standard answer. She's fine. He is not ready to open up to her yet.
Some of the best Joel-Teresa moments (from what I have seen so far) occurred in the Halloween ep, called "All Hallow's Eve." The show opened with Joel, his still fragile wife, and young son trick or treating. Joel's at ease until his cell phone rings. He's not supposed to be bothered, he reminds his partner. One of his colleagues is in trouble. As he reluctantly leaves his wife alone with their son, she asks who it is. His reply, "No one you know, it's a paramedic." Viewers instantly know that the paramedic must be Teresa. Wahlberg plays the scene brilliantly. He's sarcastic on the cell phone until he learns of trouble. He's sensitive with his wife, clearly agonizing about leaving her alone, yet he must help his colleague.
Later, we see Teresa's perspective. She is beatific. She takes time to pray as she starts her shift (or during a break). She remembers the promise she made to her dying mother--the promise that she would dedicate her life to saving others. Teresa (Lana Parilla) is stunning, with dark hair, large brown, caring eyes, and a beautiful smile. Yet she's lonely. There is no hint of a man in her life. (It is hard to believe that a woman who looks like this doesn't have half the police, paramedics, and firefighters after her).
[Another aside: As BT and WAT are about to begin their new seasons, I suspect that both dramas will try to sex things up to build ratings. Actually, WAT has already revealed that there will be a triangle involving Jack, Samantha, and Martin. As for BT, Vanessa Williams is joining the cast. I am guessing that she will be involved with Fearless. Since McNorris' love interest is leaving the show, a nice twist would be for Fearless, McNorris and Williams' characters to be involved in some sort of triangle. Teresa is going to become a cop. I could see her character becoming involved in a romance with Tom, since Joel and his wife appear to have made peace. Of course, there could still be a triangle with Tom, Teresa, and Joel. No matter, I can't imagine that the lovely Teresa will be without a boyfriend for long. ]
I have to race home to watch yet another episode, only the second one I've seen on NBC. The others I've had to watch on Bravo and TNT. This article will contain spoilerish information. That is, if there are episodes you haven't seen, you may want to skip my re-caps and commentary, as I won't hold back twists and revelations. I assume that most Boomtown fans have seen most, if not all of the episodes, so I'm not worried too much about including spoilers.
More to come.
Well, it turns out that my human TV guide (Mom) was mistaken about Boomtown being on Wednesday night. She must have been looking ahead in the local TV schedule. It was on Friday, which will be its regular night, on NBC. TNT is continuing to carry it on Mondays for now. I am hoping that between the two networks I will be able to see all of the first season's episodes before new fall eps begin.
(This is completely off the topic at hand, but a word or two about the recently added buttons on the sidebar. I'm pretty proud for having figured out how to add buttons. Although it is not hard, I am not HTML proficient and certainly not a tech-type. At this time, Pila Posts can be found on Blogarama and Globe of Blogs only. Blogwise has not yet added this blog to its index, although the button suggests otherwise. I am going to give it another week or so. If Pila Posts is still not there, that button is gonna be outta here. I realize that Blogwise may be selective about what it chooses to list and/or inundated with submissions, so that is not a slam on the site. I just don't want to falsely advertise that this blog is indexed there when, in fact, it is not.)
Back to Boomtown. As stated above, I became hooked when Bravo ran a marathon of several episodes during the first weekend in May. During that weekend, I noticed that a couple of episodes were just a few details away from real-life crimes. In one, a rich, influential attorney murdered his young lover and got his loser brother to help him dump her body in the ocean. A similar murder actually happened several years ago on the east coast rather than Boomtown's California. Another episode was about a 70's radical living in the California suburbs. She's discovered and arrested for taking part in a bank robbery in which a cop was killed. (Patricia Wettig of Thirtysomething was wonderfully haggard in the role of the radical-turned-suburban-mom.)
The actors on Boomtown (BT) here are either relatively unknown or character actors you've seen in guest roles on other shows or in TV movies. Donnie Wahlberg is a revelation as Joel, the world-weary, by the book detective who is trying to keep his wife's recent suicide attempt under wraps. Wahlberg is trim and ruggedly handsome--much better looking than he ever was in his New Kids on the Block days. He wears khakis and polo shirts like no one else. Who knew the middle class man's uniform could be so sexy? More importantly, he is a strong, non-hammy actor who hits all the right notes as the hardworking, sensitive, and mostly controlled Joel. Though his wife has attempted suicide, Joel tells people that she's fine, the suicide attempt was an accident. One person who seems genuinely concerned about his wife is Teresa, the pretty paramedic who responded to the 911 call to Joel's house.
When Teresa asks Joel about his wife, his response is a defensive, almost harsh, slightly accusatory, "Excuse me!" In those two words, Wahlberg conveys Joel's fear: how does Teresa know? Is there gossip going around? Teresa then explains that she responded to the call. Joel concocts a story--his wife is fine. It was just a freak accident. Then he moves on. Teresa can tell he is not being truthful with her. Already there are the beginnings of a Joel-Teresa match up.
In another episode, Joel and Teresa meet up by coincidence in a coffee shop. They engage in small talk for a couple of minutes. Teresa starts to open up about caring for her father. When she asks Joel about his wife, he gives the standard answer. She's fine. He is not ready to open up to her yet.
Some of the best Joel-Teresa moments (from what I have seen so far) occurred in the Halloween ep, called "All Hallow's Eve." The show opened with Joel, his still fragile wife, and young son trick or treating. Joel's at ease until his cell phone rings. He's not supposed to be bothered, he reminds his partner. One of his colleagues is in trouble. As he reluctantly leaves his wife alone with their son, she asks who it is. His reply, "No one you know, it's a paramedic." Viewers instantly know that the paramedic must be Teresa. Wahlberg plays the scene brilliantly. He's sarcastic on the cell phone until he learns of trouble. He's sensitive with his wife, clearly agonizing about leaving her alone, yet he must help his colleague.
Later, we see Teresa's perspective. She is beatific. She takes time to pray as she starts her shift (or during a break). She remembers the promise she made to her dying mother--the promise that she would dedicate her life to saving others. Teresa (Lana Parilla) is stunning, with dark hair, large brown, caring eyes, and a beautiful smile. Yet she's lonely. There is no hint of a man in her life. (It is hard to believe that a woman who looks like this doesn't have half the police, paramedics, and firefighters after her).
[Another aside: As BT and WAT are about to begin their new seasons, I suspect that both dramas will try to sex things up to build ratings. Actually, WAT has already revealed that there will be a triangle involving Jack, Samantha, and Martin. As for BT, Vanessa Williams is joining the cast. I am guessing that she will be involved with Fearless. Since McNorris' love interest is leaving the show, a nice twist would be for Fearless, McNorris and Williams' characters to be involved in some sort of triangle. Teresa is going to become a cop. I could see her character becoming involved in a romance with Tom, since Joel and his wife appear to have made peace. Of course, there could still be a triangle with Tom, Teresa, and Joel. No matter, I can't imagine that the lovely Teresa will be without a boyfriend for long. ]
Sunday, August 10, 2003
Recent Updated and Pending Topics
This post is to notify anyone who happens by of articles that I have recently added to. That way, if you are following a particular topic, you can quickly determine if it has new material. If the editing is for grammar, spelling, and style, I won't include the article here.
Pending Topics and Updates will be a list of articles that I plan to post and update soon. There are no guarantees about when they will be posted, as my internet time is limited mainly to evenings and weekends.
Recent Updates
If you haven't read anything here since July 30th, I have added a lot to the article
"Still More on the Half-Year in Soaps." I am going to add some more to it soon. Finished the article on September 6, 2003.
Pending Topics and Updates
"A Look at Boomtown (With a Peek at Without a Trace)"
"A Look at Even Stevens."
"Links I Like"
New Links will be listed on the "Links" sidebar, for the most part. I may publish another
links article in the future, with details on why I like the web sites listed. As I get more opportunity to explore the blogosphere, I will post a list of blogs in th sidebar. The list will be under a separate heading.
Pending Topics and Updates will be a list of articles that I plan to post and update soon. There are no guarantees about when they will be posted, as my internet time is limited mainly to evenings and weekends.
Recent Updates
If you haven't read anything here since July 30th, I have added a lot to the article
"Still More on the Half-Year in Soaps." I am going to add some more to it soon. Finished the article on September 6, 2003.
Pending Topics and Updates
"A Look at Boomtown (With a Peek at Without a Trace)"
"A Look at Even Stevens."
"Links I Like"
New Links will be listed on the "Links" sidebar, for the most part. I may publish another
links article in the future, with details on why I like the web sites listed. As I get more opportunity to explore the blogosphere, I will post a list of blogs in th sidebar. The list will be under a separate heading.
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