Another day, another "Best Of" list

I just had to post something about this list, because it a)includes three of my favorite characters and b) speaks up in defense of my favorite pilot, who, I find, is sometimes unfairly maligned by those who don't know better.

The list in question names the Best Characters of the Decade, and on at least three counts, the makers of the list were spot on. Here are the ones I totally agreed with and what the list writer had to say about them:

• #3. Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter. Loony Lovegood arrived late in the Potterverse: she made her first real appearance in 2003 in Order of the Phoenix. What makes her work as a character is that she's mad the way Hamlet is: merely north-north-west. There are things about the world, and about Harry, that only she can understand.

• #4. Wash from Firefly. In a show full of vivid characters, Wash was perhaps the vivid-est. He wasn't conventionally heroic -- he was never slow to point out the imminence and inevitability of the entire crew's destruction -- but when the chips were down, he was as brave as any man, or woman, on board. Except maybe his wife.

• #8. Dr. Horrible from Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. The great thing about Dr. Horrible is that in a comic book world, he defies the conventional categories. He's neither a hero nor a villain. He's just a human being who wants to be loved. And who wears goggles and carries a freeze ray. And who periodically breaks into song.

And the treats just keep on coming!

The Pixar people are on a roll, because here we are with yet another little treat from Toy Story 3!

This time, the teaser is an actual clip from the movie, introduced by director Lee Unkrich. The clip is from near the beginning of the film when Andy is deciding what to do with his childhood toys.

Honestly, I'm rather surprised that Pixar is leaking so many pics and sneak peeks so early. I'm ecstatic too, of course, but still surprised. I guess they want the anticipation as high as possible by the time June 18 rolls around.

I, for one, will be in the front of the line!

Toy Story 3 updates

Just thought I'd share a little treat from the people at Pixar. Remember, just six more months til Toy Story 3!

Behold:


And:
Now, obviously, these pics are staged and not from real scenes. However, they do give us a bit of info.

For one thing, they tell us which of the characters we've known and loved will return. Notice that Bo Peep (among others) is missing. If they include a scene showing her departure and Woody's reaction, that could be some pretty heartbreaking stuff.

For another thing, the pics give us a bit more insight into the feelings of the character. In both pics, Woody seems to be the only toy who is concerned/worried about the daycare. I would have thought they'd all be a bit upset about being discarded by Andy and sent off to daycare. Hmmm...

Oh, and we also know the name of the daycare: Sunnyside.

All in all, it's not much, but it's something.

I CANNOT WAIT FOR THIS MOVIE.

UPDATE: One more! Here it is:


We already saw this scene in the trailer, but it's nice to see the still anyway. I mean what's not to love about this? The return of the "Astro Nut," the Jessie/Buzz cuteness, the "oh no, what is WRONG with him?" look on Woody's face - it's all classic.

Celebrate the Nerdery

I made a fantastic discovery today, and I'm still geeking out about it!

Singer Marian Call is, as it turns out, the voice for geeky/nerdy people everywhere. She's made some really well-done fan music for the sci fi genre, particularly Battlestar Galactica and Firefly / Serenity. But my favorite song of hers is the non-fandom-specific "The Nerd Anthem." Enjoy:

Let the awards season begin!

The Golden Globes nominations came out recently and brought with them a few surprises and several squee-able moments. A few of the highlights:

• I was a bit disappointed that Up wasn't nominated for Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical. Yes, it was nominated for Best Animated Feature, but I find that category somewhat limiting. Animation is a method, not a genre; animated films can be both comedies and dramas, and they should be allowed to compete in those categories.
• Speaking of Best Animated Feature, I think the field is pretty good. Of course I'm rooting for Up, but it might get some heavy competition from the critically-acclaimed The Fantastic Mr. Fox, the new Disney classic The Princess and the Frog, and the beautifully animated Coraline. The only film I wouldn't call much of a threat is Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, which was visually wonderful but light on story.
  
• Glee love! Glee was nominated not only for Best Television Series, Comedy or Musical, but also Best Actor (the AWESOME Matthew Morrison - I love him), Best Actress (the talented and pitch-perfect Lea Michele), and Best Supporting Actress (the hilarious and incredible Jane Lynch). I call this revenge of the Gleeks!
• Meryl Streep was nominated TWICE for Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical. The nods were for Julie and Julia and It's Complicated. I haven't seen It's Complicated, but I'd say Meryl is a shoe-in for her joyous and chameleon-like turn as Julia Child.
  
• Stanley Tucci was nominated for his role as a serial killer in The Lovely Bones. I haven't seen the film yet, but I've read the book, and if anyone can make that character as creepy and complicated as he's supposed to be, it's the talented Mr. Tucci, whom I've loved ever since I saw him play Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream.

UPDATE: Can't believe I forgot this the first time:

• Um, a question for the Golden Globes people: Where's the love for The Big Bang Theory? Seriously, the show is awesome, with great characters, great writing, and the beyond amazing Jim Parsons. Which brings me to the next question: why the **** didn't he get a nomination? What, he's good enough for the Emmys but not for you? Fail, Golden Globes people. Epic, epic fail.
  

The Princess and the Frog

Let me start off with a disclaimer: I am a child of the Disney Renaissance. When I was growing up, nearly every year brought a new masterpiece from the House of Mouse: The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, Hercules, Mulan. These movies are classics, and for good reason. So it's probably a bit of an understatement to say that I have HIGH STANDARDS for my Disney movies.

So what did I think of The Princess and the Frog, the film that marks Disney's return to the hand-drawn animated musical format (which, in my opinion, it never should have left)?

Bottom line, I call it a major win. Not perfect, but a great return for the good, old-fashioned Disney musical.

First of all, the film is BEAUTIFUL. If anyone thought that hand-drawn animation was passe in the age of computer animation, they were wrong. The settings were absolutely amazing - so amazing, in fact, that they seemed to glow.

Next, the characters. I have to begin with Tiana, the newest member of Disney's most exclusive sisterhood: the Disney Princess club. I thought the writers did a fantastic job of creating a princess for the 21st century. Tiana is smart, driven, and concerned about more than her looks or finding her Prince Charming. In short, she's a great role model for the girl of today.

Of course, she does find her Prince Charming in the end - or, more precisely, her Prince Naveen, the spoiled but charming prince of Maldonia who learns a lesson about hard work and dedication from Tiana. I must say, I might have a new favorite Disney prince. Well, no, that's not true; Beast is still my first love, but Naveen is a close second. This prince is hilarious, sweet, and pretty darn handsome, I must say.

I also really loved the chemistry Naveen and Tiana had. They had a really fun, sweet, honest vibe between them, which really made me believe it when they fell in love. And unlike a lot of Disney couples, Tiana and Naveen actually had a chance to get to know each other before they fell in love. In fact, they hated each other at first, and it was only after they saw each others true colors that hate gave way to friendship and, eventually, to love. It reminded me a bit of Beauty and the Beast, actually, and that's a high compliment.

As the villian, Dr. Facilier was downright creepy. The best part was his minions: the oh-so-creepy shadow creatures that snaked across surfaces and did his evil bidding. Dr. Facilier wasn't quite as deliciously snarky as Scar or Ursula, and he didn't have the hilarity of Hades, but his evil scowl was enough to make him a worthy member of the Disney villians club.

As for the music, I enjoyed it for the most part. The score definitely gave a fun, bouncy, New Orleans vibe, even if the songs themselves were rather "meh"-worthy. I love Randy Newman as much as the next person - I'll never forget that he's the man who brought us "You've Got a Friend in Me" and the tear-jerking "When She Loved Me" - but I found myself longing for the musical genius of Alan Menken. Luckily for us, Menken will be doing the score for Rapunzel, coming out in 2010. To me, that man IS Disney musicals. Period.

One element that really shocked me: Disney actually KILLED A CHARACTER. And the character I'm talking about is NOT THE VILLAIN (who always seems to die in Disney movies, so that death wouldn't be a surprise). I won't reveal here who exactly shuffles of the mortal coil, but I will tell you that I was very surprised. True, Disney has killed characters before - Bambi's mother and Mufasa, to name two - but they rarely kill anyone in the climax of the film (Megara doesn't count - she was only mostly dead). I wasn't sure exactly WHY they killed the character, though I did think the death scene was effective: it was handled very sweetly and got me all teary-eyed. Honestly, I'm torn: I don't know whether I should be horrified that Disney offed a major character or appreciative that Disney is gutsy enought to trust that kids can handle something as emotionally heavy as death. I'm leaning toward the latter.

Well, those are my thoughts. Please, share your own in the comments! I'd love to hear what others thought.

Alpha Love

SPOILER ALERT. READ ON AT YOUR OWN RISK.


Oh, Alpha, I love you. Deep, deep fan love.

Yes, you're a psychotic, murderous compilation of forty-plus unstable imprints. You sliced Whiskey's face, killed Dr. Saunders 1.0, cut up Victor, killed nearly everyone who'd ever loved Echo, left Paul Ballard brain dead, and committed all kinds of other monstrous acts along the way. In short, you're evil, ruthless, and scary as all hell.

But you're also incredibly smart and wildly unpredictable, and that's what makes you so fascinating. Really, once you set your mind to some new act of evil, it's all the Dollhouse staff can do to scramble six or seven steps behind, trying to stop you. I mean, let's take a look at the list of people you've outsmarted so far: a tech genius; an ex-FBI agent; a who-the-hell-knows-what-he-did-before-but-he's-got-some-scary-skills head of Dollhouse security; and an anal control freak of a Dollhouse manager. That's pretty impressive.

So, Alpha, I just want to say that I LOVE it whenever you appear on an episode, and not just because you're played by the awesome Alan Tudyk (though, seriously, that's a big part of it). You're easily the scariest villain I've seen on TV in a while, and you turn every episode in which you appear into a wild, wild ride. We never know what you're going to do or how you're going to do it. And on top of it all, you're so damn funny!

So thanks, Alpha, and I can't wait to see you again.

And now, a bit of news from the "Bad Idea" bin...

Buffy fans, I want you all to try something with me. Close your eyes and think about the show. Imagine your favorite scenes, characters, lines, story arcs, etc. - whatever it was that kept you watching. Now, try to imagine any of that without Joss Whedon.

Can't do it? That's what I thought. Without Joss, there would be no Buffy - at least, not as we knew it. But apparently, someone has decided that the time is right to resurrect our favorite Slayer in a movie - one WITHOUT any involvement from Joss.

Can anyone else see a disaster waiting to happen?

I don't even get why they think anyone would go SEE this movie. I mean, maybe some people who only have a vague notion of what the show was might go out of curiosity, but any true fans would stay far, far away from a Joss-less Buffy. Such movie would be like resurrecting a body without a soul: It looks the same, but the actual person, the essence, is gone. And since several of the stars of the series - including Alyson Hannigan (Willow) and Anthony Stewart Head (Giles) - have already said they won't participate in a movie without Joss, the film seems like a no-go from the get-go.

If you want to make a Joss-written, Joss-directed Buffy film, then bring it on. But otherwise? Forget it. Please.

Fox sends Dollhouse to the attic

That's right, Whedonites. The sad but not totally unexpected day has arrived:

Dollhouse has officially been canceled.

As I said, sad, but not unexpected. Dollhouse has been low in the ratings for a while, and reviews have been mixed. However, the show has been getting steadily better since the middle of the first season, and it's one of the few shows on TV right now that tackles real issues of humanity and ethics in interesting, mind-bending ways.

Point of Interest: Though I never mind pointing out Fox's various sudden but inevitable betrayals (I will NEVER forgive them for killing Firefly), I really find it hard to blame them this time. True, they put Dollhouse in a terrible time slot (Friday night? For a Whedon show? Really?), but they gave the show a second chance when the ratings didn't necessarily warrant it, and they didn't screw up the episode order the way they did with Firefly.

Anyway, now that we know that a finale is imminent, how about some predictions?

First of all, we all know of Joss' penchant for killing off main characters at the end of his shows (Spike, Anya, Wash, Book, Penny... I haven't watched much of Angel, or I'd probably have more). Often, the character is a fan favorite and/or someone with a significant other.

We also know that Joss apparently hates happy couples, since most of the couples in his shows end up torn apart in tragic or angsty ways. Observe:

• Buffy/Angel = angst
• Buffy/Spike = tragedy (though he did come back somehow, apparently)
• Giles/Jenny = tragedy
• Willow/Oz = angst
• Willow/Tara = tragedy
• Xander/Everyone = angst
• Wash/Zoe = tragedy
• Dr. Horrible/Penny = tragedy

In fact, the only happy couples I can think of are Willow/Kennedy and Kaylee/Simon, and those couples only ended happily because their respective shows ended before angst or tragedy could ensue.

So what do I predict? Well, since the only real couple on the show is Victor/Sierra (and I LOVE them!), I predict we'll be seeing one of them meet an untimely end in the finale (it has to be ONE of them, or it won't fit the Whedon pattern). In the fan favorite category, I imagine that Topher might be the one to die. Nearly everyone I talk to LOVES Topher, morally absent though he might be. Actually, I can imagine him pulling an Anya, in the sense that he would show how much he's changed by dying in defense of something or someone that he previously wouldn't have been concerned about.

So what do you all think? Post your predictions and your thoughts about the cancellation in the comments!

To all those who lost loved ones in the Fort Hood shooting

I am truly sorry for your loss. I can't imagine what it must be like to lose someone you love in such a tragic, senseless way. I pray that peace will find a place in your hearts. Please remember that our thoughts and prayers are with you all. You are not alone.

Evil again? Why?

SPOILER ALERT - READ ON AT YOUR OWN RISK

I'll be honest. The only reason I watched the first episode of "V" tonight was because Alan Tudyk was a guest star. The show itself is, in my opinion, a rather lame retread of the whole alien invasion concept. However, there was no way I was going to miss a chance to see my current celebrity crush on TV again, no matter what show.

But do they let me enjoy it? NO! Because, once again, Alan had to pull an Alpha and turn out to be working for the Dark Side!

Don't get me wrong: Alan Tudyk plays evil and creepifying REALLY well. We saw it on Dollhouse, and we get to see it again here. I'm sure he'll be awesome as an evil, lizard-y sleeper cell agent.

But we also know he can play the funny good guy just as well, the obvious example being Wash. The good guy is what I thought I was getting at the beginning of this episode; unfortunately, that guy was just a cover for his true, evil V identity, so we won't get to see nice guy Alan anymore. Bummer. :(

Also: Did we REALLY need to see his character stabbed through the chest? That moment brought on a VERY depressing "leaf on the wind" flashback (R.I.P., Wash).

"Space Cowboy"

Here's a nice little Halloween treat for Browncoats and Whedonites everywhere:

The Halloween episode of Castle (which stars Nathan Fillion, a.k.a Captain Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds) features some pretty frickin' awesome references to Firefly and Buffy.

The BEST part is in the first few minutes. Just seeing that costume again was a enough to make me squee like a schoolgirl. Oh Mal, I love you. <3

Hulu, curse your sudden yet inevitable betrayal!

Finally, a justifiable reason to use that quote!

I was once completely in love with Hulu. I mean, anything that lets me watch TV episodes I missed (or just enjoy watching over and over) gets nothing but love from me. But now, I feel as though I've been stabbed in the heart.

First, they announce that they will start charging for content in 2010. That was bad enough. The whole point of Hulu is that it is FREE. Hello!

But NOW, they are only streaming the first FIVE episodes of Firefly! And only the first season of Buffy! How dare they!

People of Hulu, be warned: You have angered the Whedonverse (and probably a lot of other fandoms as well, I haven't checked). You will face the consequences.

Belonging

SPOILER WARNING. PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Finally, a Sierra-centric episode of Dollhouse, and its a doozy. I mean really, where do I start?

Topher's as good a place as any, I suppose. Good God, Topher. I've loved him from the very first episode - I mean, hey, he's the Xander/Wash character, that funny guy who always finds his way into Joss' shows. But there's a dark undertone to Topher that neither Xander nor Wash ever had. We learned early on that Topher doesn't care so much about the consequences of what he's doing, just as long as he gets to use his fancy toys and show off his brilliance. And in this episode, we find out that his lack of morals is exactly why he was chosen to work at the Dollhouse. So what does Topher do when his conscience finally starts to get to him? He gets a painful lesson in consequences - one that was chilling and well-executed by the writer and director (who, by the way, was Jonathan "Commander Riker" Frakes, don't forget). This episode seems like a turning point for Topher's character, and I wonder where he will go from here. I can't imagine him leaving the Dollhouse - I'm not even sure if they'd let him - but I don't think he'll be able to do imprints with the same nonchalance anymore. Maybe he'll join Ballard and Echo in taking down the Dollhouse?

Moving on to Boyd: Holy crap! There is a LOT we don't know about this guy. For starters: How the heck does he know so much about getting rid of bodies? I don't think we were ever told what he did before the Dollhouse, and now I'm somewhat afraid to know. Also, why is he working at the Dollhouse in the first place? He obviously doesn't like the idea of the organization very much.
Might he have been forced into service? I did like the bit where Boyd figures out that Echo can remember and then gives her the All Access card key. The "coming storm" bit is intriguing too... I wonder if Joss is setting up a final showdown as a way to wrap up the series if Fox decides not to renew.

Finally, the cuteness: I LOVE Sierra and Victor. And I love that their feelings are real, in the sense that they love each other and remember each other even when they are not in their doll state. I like the idea that love is something that transcends science and brainwaves and all of that. It's in the soul, and you can't mess with that. <3

Well, that's it for now. No new Dollhouse until December 4. The show won't be on during November sweeps, which is NOT a good sign. On the plus side, the next episode will feature a guest spot by Summer Glau, who played our favorite crazy genius River Tam on Firefly.

This I Believe, Part 1

This I Believe:

The role of art is to help people to see the world from another point of view - whether it be through the eyes of a different culture, a different place, a different social circumstance, a different gender, or a different sexual orientation - while at the same time emphasizing the basic elements of humanity that connect us all. We may not agree with what we see through that different point of view, but hopefully, we will come away with a new understanding, a new sense of compassion.

That, in my opinion, is what art, at its best, is all about. If we can open ourselves to creating and experiencing that kind of art, maybe we can make the world a more tolerant and understanding place. That's worth a little controversy and a little discomfort, isn't it?

"WHEEEEAAAATONNNN!!!!"

WARNING: HERE BE SPOILERS. IF YOU HAVE NOT WATCHED TONIGHT'S EPISODE OF THE BIG BANG THEORY, READ ON AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Loved TBBT tonight. True, Wil Wheaton is not much of an actor, but it was so much fun watching Sheldon do his usual crazy bit on ol' Wesley.

The Star Trek references were, as expected, plentiful. The ending was the best though (see the title of this post).

I also loved storyline involving Howard's date. I was expecting the date to go the way Howard's dates usually go, but Bernadette was a nice change: First, she was the dud date because she didn't seem to be interested in anything; then, she and Howard bonded over their shared interest in ticking off their mothers. I hope we get to see more of them together.

SQUEE!!!

Joss Whedon, the man who brought us Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog and the musical episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is directing an episode of Glee!!!!

So much awesome in one place! I'm exploding with geekiness!!!

I'll probably comment again later when I've calmed down a bit, but now I am just SO EXCITED!

Disney treats!

Here's some news from Disney regarding The Princess and the Frog, the studio's first traditionally animated film in FIVE YEARS. On the film's page over at the Disney website, John Lasseter posted a video message along with a treasure trove of concept art and character sketches.

I was blown away by this artwork. If the finished movie is anywhere near as beautiful as its concept art, prepare for a seriously awesome cinematic experience. Of course, there are a lot of other elements that have to be present in a truly great animated film: a great story, wonderful characters that you can relate to, heartfelt emotion, etc. Here's hoping that Disney will give us the magic that we all remember from years past and that we've all been waiting to experience again.

Star Trek and The Big Bang Theory!

A bit more from the Trekkie Girl front:



Wil "Wesley Crusher" Wheaton will guest star on tomorrow's episode of The Big Bang Theory!

Now, I have to admit that Wesley Crusher is NOT my favorite Star Trek character. In fact, seeing him in an episode often gives me a sudden urge to throw things and scream "Shut UP, Wesley!" at the TV.

That said, I'm always excited when TBBT features Star Trek references, and tomorrow should prove to be a Trekkie geek-out extravaganza.

So remember: Monday, 9:30, on CBS. Be there.

Live long and prosper, everyone.

Oops... nevermind

Fox: Curse your sudden yet inevitable betrayal!

OK, not really (not this time, at least), but I so rarely get a chance to use that awesome quote, and I AM pretty disappointed here.

Yeah, so apparently Dollhouse is on hiatus this week. Guess I'll have to wait until next Friday to get my Whedon/Trekkie geek on. Bummer.

But remember to tune in Friday, October 23 for the Jonathan Frakes-directed episode of Dollhouse!

New animated film poll!

A sweet, sweet new poll just came out that places Pixar's Toy Story in the number one spot for best animated picture of all time.

OnePoll, the company that conducted the poll, asked the opinion of 4000 film fans and put together a list of the Top 20 best animated films.

My take? There are A LOT of great animated films out there, and I find it incredibly hard to choose an absolute favorite. This poll had to be a very, very close call, but I'm happy with the results. True, I'd like to see Beauty and the Beast higher up on the list, but that's one of only a few small complaints. Is Toy Story the best animated film EVER? I don't know, but it is definitely a contender, and I think it's as deserving as any other of having the top spot in this poll.

What do you think? Did the 4000 fans get it right? What movie would you like to see at number one?

Here's the full list:

1. Toy Story

2. Shrek

3. The Lion King

4. Finding Nemo

5. Ice Age

6. The Jungle Book

7. Monsters Inc

8. Beauty and the Beast

9. Bambi

10. Aladdin

11. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

12. 101 Dalmatians

13. Who Framed Roger Rabbit

14. Watership Down

15. Wall-E

16. Fantasia

17. The Nightmare Before Christmas

18. The Little Mermaid

19. Cinderella

20. Alice in Wonderland

Dollhouse tonight

Just a quick note: Jonathon "Commander Riker" Frakes is directing this week's episode, so don't forget to tune in.

Joss Whedon AND a Star Trek connection? Can it get better than this?

Episode review to come.

"We all knew this day was coming"

Here it is, ladies and gentlemen! The TOY STORY 3 TRAILER!!!

As I said before, I'm always worried when film franchises go for the three-quel. After watching the trailer, however, my doubts have been laid to rest. This, my friends, is gonna be EPIC.

Check it out:




Well, am I right? Stellar animation, emotion and laughter in spades, "Return of the Astro Nut" - looks like this movie is shaping up to be one awesome ride!

Only 8 months and 6 days to go!

Not that I'm counting or anything... :)

BUST or bust!

In Borders the other day, as I was doing my usual book nerd ritual of breathing in the new paper scent and drooling over the books, I stumbled upon a truly awesome magazine.

BUST, the magazine "for women with something to get off their chests," is a revelation. I never thought I'd find a magazine with all the fun of Seventeen magazine but more substance and a focus on women of all ages, not just teenagers. Then I read BUST.

The magazine is unashamedly feminist, and I love that. I hate the fact that "feminist" has become a dirty word. This magazine simply celebrates being a woman in a vast variety of ways, from an article about influential folk music legend Buffy Sainte-Marie to directions for making your own spice cabinet out of a vintage suitcase to a look at the history of lipstick. I especially loved the unusually insightful and honest interview with Ellen Page and Alia Shawkat.

I think every woman should check out this fun, awesome, inspiring magazine. It's brain food and brain candy at the same time. I can't wait for the next issue!

I'm trying, Joss, I really am...

Today's Specials: Pancakes. Or a selection of Adele DeWitt's favorite teas.

WARNING: HERE BE SPOILERS. READ ON AT YOUR OWN RISK.

I want to like Dollhouse. I really do.

For most of last season, I did. I was right there with the show, especially when we found out who Alpha was. Wow, did that ever blow my mind!

But last Friday's episode was a disappointment. It felt like a repeat of the season premiere - Echo imprints, Echo glitches, Echo and Ballard have a chat about how she can remember past imprints and how she'll help Ballard bring down the Dollhouse.

Honestly, I don't care that much about Ballard and Echo. I know they're supposed to be the center of the show - the Doll whose soul is too strong to be erased completely and the FBI agent whose sense of justice will lead him to save her and free the Dolls -but I honestly care a lot more about the other characters. Thus, this episode left me with more questions than answers. For example: Where was Dr. Saunders/Whiskey? Where was Langdon? What's he going to be up to now that he's not Echo's handler (still majorly bummed about that development - I really liked their bond when he was her handler)? Why did we have to bring November back? And what the hell is going on with Alpha? Doesn't anyone care what he's up to anymore?

Now, don't get me wrong - I don't mean to say that it's all bad. There is plenty to like about this show. I love the many questions involved in this show. What makes a person a person? Is there such a thing as a soul, and does it have power? Should we do something just because we have the technology to make it possible? I also love that we don't get easy answers. None of the characters (except maybe Alpha) is completely good or completely bad. We are allowed to see all sides of the issue and decide for ourselves. Not many shows credit their audience with that kind of intelligence.

One more thing to love about Dollhouse: I just found out that JOHNATHAN FRAKES will be directing an upcoming episode. For anyone who doesn't know, Frakes played Commander William T. Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation. Total trekkie/Sci Fi geekout here!

So there's hope, definitely. I'll keep watching, and I'll keep hoping to feel the same love for this show that I felt for Buffy, Firefly, and Dr. Horrible. Joss deserves that much from me.

The Toys are Back in Town!

Today's Specials: Your choice of a slice of Pizza Planet pizza or a bowl of Cowboy Crunchies (the only cereal that's sugar frosted and dipped in chocolate!)

Pixar, I love you.

Really, it's enough that you continue to make movies that are beautiful not only on a technical level but also on a pure storytelling level. But you go further. You also allow me to relive some of the greatest films from my childhood.

On the big screen.

In 3D.

Toy Story 1 & 2 are awesome enough as they are. Awesome characters, great animation, the universal fear of having someone you love "outgrow" their love for you: it's all there. But three dimensions = even better.

Favorite 3D moment: The scene in which Woody knocks Buzz out the window. Scary enough in normal 2D, but even more impressive in 3D.

Geeky Bonuses:

• The people at Pixar provided "Toy Story Trivia & Treats" for those of us who stayed in the theater during intermission. My advice: do whatever you need to do (bathroom, concession stand, whatever) during the credits for Toy Story, then come back to the theater for the trivia. No Toy Story fan would want to miss this. Not only do you get trivia (with the various characters commenting as it goes), but you also get fun, short little clips, like Woody and Jessie dancing and Woody trying to beat Lenny in a staring contest.

• TOY STORY 3 TRAILER!!! I admit, I'm always a little wary when film franchises go for the third film. I mean, look at Shrek 3, Spider-Man 3, and Ice Age 3, and you'll see why. But I trust the people at Pixar, and the trailer looks REALLY good. Four words: "Return of Astro Nut." I'll post the trailer it when it comes up on YouTube.

UPDATE: I just found this little tidbit from an interview with Tim Allen:

What can we expect from 'Toy Story 3'?

They took forever to get the script right, and they did such a great, emotional, wonderful job. I can't tell you more because I respect where they're coming from. It's kind of a 'Sixth Sense.' The less you hear about it, the more you're going to be surprised. It's just like you expect it to be, but they really found a wonderful piece of business to make this thing run.

Now THAT'S what I want to hear!

Get over it already!

Here are the so-called "news stories" that I am sick of hearing about. Media outlets of the world: can we move on to some real news? Please?

• Heckle-gate: OK, Joe Wilson shouldn't have shouted "You lie!" during Obama's speech. I think most of us can agree on that. But he's already apologized. Can't we just let it go? Do we really need a resolution denouncing his actions? Do we really need him to apologize to the House? No, we don't. If bipartisanship is really what we're after, we need to stop tearing down the other side every time they make a mistake.

• Kanye West: He was an idiot, no doubt about it. And he clearly has issues if he feels the need to hijack and ruin someone else's moment. But in the end, he was a ridiculous guy acting ridiculously at an awards ceremony that no one will really remember a year from now. Let's just let it go.

• Obama's criticism of Kanye: Come on, people. He was off the record! And what's more, he was just voicing what EVERYONE was already thinking. Geez, I haven't heard this much fuss made of something so little since the uproar over Michelle Obama's shorts!
  

Fall TV mish-mash

All right, just a few notes on some of the TV shows that I'm either A) looking forward to, or B) mildly curious about this fall:

• The Jay Leno Show: After all the hype, I just had to tune in and see if all the fuss was worth it. And the verdict is: I'm not sure. Really, I think it's pretty much just the Tonight Show at a different time. Not to say that that's a bad thing: I like Jay Leno, particularly when he does Headlines like he did last night. But I'm still hoping there will be something new and exciting coming up.

• The Big Bang Theory: Ah, the show for the geek in all of us! What with the great writing, awesome characters (particularly Leonard and Sheldon) and lots of great Star Trek references, my inner geek rejoices every time I watch this show. And this fall, I'm especially looking forward to the Leonard/Penny reunion. Might they finally get together this time? Also, I'm totally rooting for Jim Parsons (Sheldon) at this year's Primetime Emmys - he's up for Best Actor in a Comedy!
  

• V: So, I don't know much about this show. In fact, I only know two things: it's a remake of an old show, and two Firefly actors - Alan Tudyk (Wash) and Morena Baccarin (Inara) - are in the cast. That last point might be enough to get me to tune in.

• Dollhouse: All hail the great Joss Whedon! I admit, it took me a while to warm up to this show, but now I see all the hallmarks of Whedon awesomeness: smart, funny writing; awesome, diverse characters; and twists that you NEVER see coming. Plus, another chance to see Alan Tudyk (!), albeit in a VERY different sort of role.
  

• Lost: OK, I admit: I kind of stopped watching this show in the middle of last season (I got busy with school or something), so I'll have to catch up before the season starts. Still, I think this is the craziest, most mind-boggling (in a good way) show on TV.
  

So, that's about it. What about the rest of you? Any new shows you're interested in? Any old shows you can't wait for? Let me know!

UPDATE: I'm also looking forward to Glee. As a former theatre kid, I know what it's like to be one of the high school losers who love to perform onstage. I saw the premiere last fall, and I loved it! The show is funny and quirky, but it also goes for the deeper things, like the very emotional reasons that the kids feel the need to perform. As I said, I've been there, and I know that everyone has a reason.

"Wicked" cool

Today's Specials: Steamed artichoke and punch with lemons and melons and pears (oh my!)

It's arguably the biggest musical theatre event of our generation. It has made huge Broadway stars of Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth. And it has inspired adoration from legions of fans around the world.

And now, I've seen it.

I'm talking, of course, about Wicked, the hit musical reimagining of the story of the Witches of Oz.

I bought the soundtrack last winter and immediately fell in love with it. So when I found out that the Wicked national tour would be "flying back to the Emerald City" this fall, I leapt at the chance. Not even an $80+ ticket price could keep me away. Fortunately, the show turned out to be totally worth it.

Things I loved:

• The sets, costumes, and lighting. Seriously, I don't think it can get any better than this. Every scene was an absolute feast for the eyes.
• Defying Gravity. OMG, total theatrical ecstasy.
• Donna Vivino as Elphaba. Her Elphaba struck the perfect balance between the sensitive, compassionate soul who deeply feels injustice against others and the strong woman who must use her sharp wit to survive in a world that won't accept her. I particularly liked her cackle and the way she told Fiyero that she felt "wicked."
• The many references to the Wizard of Oz. I know, it seems obvious that a story using the characters from that book and movie would have plenty of references, but the ones I loved the best were surprising and really, really funny.

Things that disappointed:

• Popular, as sung by Chandra Lee Schwartz. All in all, I thought Chandra was a great G(a)linda. However, I didn't much care for her performance of Popular. She was far too spastic and she sounded very out of breath for the whole song.
• The plot was, at times, a bit hard to follow. For instance, I'm not entirely sure why Elphaba was suddenly inspired to go free the monkeys after talking to her sister. I know they had to get all the movie plot points in, but some of the turns in the story seemed forced.

Shiny!

Today's Specials: healthsome, grenade-free apples (sliced, not whole) and a piece of molded-protein cake with chocolaty-flavored frosting.

OK, it's official: I'm in love with Firefly.

Until this week, I'd only watched the movie (which I stupidly watched before seeing the show) and half of the episodes. Now I've seen the entire series, and it is INCREDIBLE.

For those not in the know, Firefly is the totally awesome - and tragically short-lived - TV series from Joss Whedon, the storytelling genius behind Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

The show is set 500 years in the future. Earth has long since been abandoned, and humanity has relocated to a star-system with about 70 "terra-formed" planets. The known galaxy is ruled by a totalitarian regime known as the Alliance, which took power after winning a war against the Independents.

Enter Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds, the captain of a Firefly-class ship called Serenity. He fought for the Independents during the war; now, six years later, he flies around the galaxy, finding work (legitimate and not-so-legitimate) for himself and his crew wherever he can and staying as far away as he can from Alliance control.

Now that you know the background, here's why the show rocks:

The Characters:

This show has one of the most diverse and brilliantly conceived cast of characters I have ever seen on TV. Joss Whedon once described the premise of the show as "nine people who look out into the blackness of space and see different things." These characters are led by Mal, who, despite working as a thief and a smuggler, lives his life with honor.

The crew includes the following eclectic group of individuals: Zoe, the first mate who fought under Mal's command during the war; Wash, ace pilot and husband to Zoe; Kaylee, resident mechanical genius; Jayne, mercenary and weapons expert; Inara, a registered companion who rents a shuttle onboard Serenity; River Tam, a young genius whose brain was experimented upon at the Alliance's Academy; Simon Tam, a young doctor on the run from the Alliance for breaking River out of the Academy; and Shepherd Book, a preacher who travels with the crew.

The Writing:

It's Joss Whedon, so of course the writing rocks. Here are some of my favorite quotes in video form. I don't know what's up with the song in the background; just ignore it and focus on the quotes:



And here's my FAVORITE monologue from the series. Pure Whedon awesomeness; just enjoy the ridiculousness:

RENT!!!

[Blogger's Note: I can't believe I've waited so long to publish this... I must be slipping...]

Today's Special: WINE AND BEER!!

First off, let's flash back to Winter Quarter 2006. Five college students all live in the same dorm, all hang out constantly, and are all obsessed with the songs from the musical Rent. They sing those songs when they're out walking at night, when they're sitting together in the lounge, when they're having their girls' nights... basically, all the time.

Now, flash forward to a week ago, when three of those obsessed Rent-heads got a chance to see the BROADWAY TOURING SHOW LIVE AT THE PARAMOUNT, starring ANTHONY RAPP AND ADAM PASCAL.

(For those not in the know, Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal originated the roles of Mark and Roger, respectively, on Broadway and starred in the movie version of the musical. Short of seeing the entire original cast, watching these two actors play the roles they originated is the Holy Grail for true Rent fans.)

Before I get into the show itself, let me tell you a bit about the Paramount. It is, by far, the MOST AWESOME theatre I have ever been in. Besides being HUGE, the theatre is incredibly ornate; it seemed that there were chandeliers and decorations everywhere I looked. For the first five minutes I was there, all I could do was look around me in awe.

The show itself was awesome as well. The musical uses a lot more symbolism and theatricality than the movie did. The sets were suggestive more than specific, and any one set piece could be used for many different things and places. The lighting was inventive too: in "One Song Glory," spotlights cast giant shadows of Adam Pascal on the back wall.

In terms of the cast, I thought they were all pretty good. My favorite was Anthony Rapp's Mark, of course, but I also liked Angel. Benny was more of an ass than the Taye Diggs version, but that suited the character; as much as I love Taye Diggs, I think he's too nice to play Benny.

All in all, I absolutely LOVED seeing the show live. There's something different and special about live theatre; it affects you in a very direct, very present, very real way. Things I loved experiencing live: "Moo-ing" with Maureen, La Vie Boheme, Light My Candle, and Life Support.

Addendum to Reading List

Just a note: My cousin let me borrow her copy of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Since I've wanted to read this book ever since I first saw it on the shelf of my college bookstore in December (I didn't buy it because I hoped to find it under the Christmas tree; alas, it was not to be), I'm going to let good ol' Faulkner wait for a while before I get to his Light in August (sorry, Willy).

The Lovely Bones

Today's Special: Ruana's apple pie and your choice of drinks from a bar stocked by Grandma Lynn.


Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones was at once what I expected and very much not what I expected.

I expected the novel to be a story about a murder in the suburbs, a tale in which a murder happens in a town where the citizens have always been sure that such a thing could never happen. I expected the plot to revolve around how the murder affects the town and how the murderer is eventually brought to justice.

I wasn't disappointed. The story was about those things. And yet, it was also about so much more.

The Lovely Bones is about grief. It's about how loss can bring people together and tear them apart. It's about how people can eventually, in different ways, come to terms with their grief.

Through Susie, we get to see into the minds of the many people who are affected by her life and death: her father, who becomes obsessed with catching her murderer and ignores other aspects of his life; her mother, who is shaken from the suburban life she settled for; her sister, Lindsey, who finds herself marked both by her status as sister to a murdered girl and her physical resemblance to Susie; Ray Singh, the boy loved Susie and gave her her first kiss; Ruth Conner, a girl who bumped into Susie as her soul left the Earth; and even Mr. George Harvey, serial murderer and rapist who killed Susie.

As we follow these interconnected characters and see their stories unfold, Sebold's greatest achievement lies in getting the little things right. Her characters don't respond in the ways we've been taught to expect in TV shows like Law and Order or CSI. In those shows, the families are usually little more than tools to express the magnitude of the crime; the larger story is the killer who took their family member's life. In Sebold's book, the family and friends ARE the story, and she allows each of these people to be as contradictory and unpredictable as real human beings. We don't always agree with them, but Sebold's deft storytelling allows us to see where they're coming from. Even Mr. Harvey, who is clearly a despicable excuse for a human being, is given a backstory that makes him more complex and believable than your standard black hat.

Sebold does delve into the over-dramatic at times. And there is one sequence near the end that just seemed too fantastic to me. But for most of the novel, Sebold tells the tale in a calm, clear, and patient tone, allowing the characters and story to unfold on their own time. In the process, I think she succeeds in shining a light onto what grief and tragedy really does to people - not what Hollywood would have us believe it does.

The Book of the Unknown: Tales of the Thirty-Six

This book turned out to be much more fascinating than I'd expected when I first added it to my stack at the library.

I knew the book would feature a new twist on the fairy tale genre, but I had no idea that this new twist would center on something so strange and interesting. In the introduction, the author presents the collection of twelve tales as the result of meticulous research by Dr. Jay Katz, who found a list of thirty-six names below a synagogue in Germany and went from village to village, seeking out old folktales that concerned these thirty-six people. The names are supposed to be the Lamedh-Vov (literally, the Thirty-Six), the number of righteous people that must exist on Earth, according to Jewish tradition, in order for God to maintain his faith in humanity. These people are necessarily anonymous - if any of these people learns that they are members of the Lamedh-Vov, their status is revoked, and someone else is called to take their place. If ALL thirty-six are known at once, the world as we know it will end. To maintain anonymity, their names have been replaced by letters from the Jewish alphabet. In addition, only twelve stories are included in this collection.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about the righteous people featured in these folktales is that none of them are the sort of people one would expect to be fairytale heroes. The protagonists are whores, murderers, thieves, false Messiahs, fools, even golems (mud women). And yet, as I read their stories, I found that my initial perceptions were challenged at every turn. And each time, the seemingly lowest and basest turned out to be ones who taught the most important lessons.

What I liked best was the clarity and deceptive simplicity of the storytelling. Jonathon Keats shows incredible talent for telling uncomfortable truths about life, love, and relationships - something I value in my literature. Things do not always wrap up neatly in his stories. The heroes don't always live, love stories don't always work out the way one might want them to, but the message is always clear.

I also liked the chance to learn a bit more about Jewish culture. I love books that allow me to immerse myself in a place and time that I don't know much about.

Bottom line: The Book of the Unknown is a fascinating, thought-provoking, and sometimes unsettling read that is definitely worth picking up.

Summer Reading List - Phase 1

I went to the library today to kick off my summer reading. While the Kent Regional Library didn't have ANY of the books I was looking for (only TWO Jane Austen books? Really?), I did find some potentially interesting reads. Here's what I have for the first phase of my summer reading plans:

• The Book of the Unknown: Tales of the Thirty-Six - Jonathon Keats
• The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
• Light in August - William Faulkner
• The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian - Sherman Alexie
• The Quiet Girl - Peter Hoeg

I'm about half-way through with The Book of the Unknown, and it's pretty amazing so far. I'll follow up with reviews once I finish each book.

More Pixar goodness!

I totally geeked out about this! Check it out!



I LOVED the first two films (especially the second one) and I am SO EXCITED for the third! I have complete faith in the people at Pixar to stay true to these awesome characters. Plus, isn't this teaser trailer AWESOME!

Obviously, I'm still geeking out here. :)

"Up"-lifted

For as long as I can remember, my test for an exceedingly awesome movie has been this: if I lay awake at night because I'm still thinking about it, then the film has that elusive x-factor that takes it from great to out-of-this-world fantastic.

Last night, I laid awake thinking about Up.

I don't even know where to begin. I suppose the most fitting word - on so many levels - is BEAUTIFUL.

I'm not just talking about the animation, though that's a good place to start. The animation was fantastic, of course, but then this is PIXAR we're talking about, the computer animation geniuses/wizards/magicians who routinely set the bar for technical brilliance and then sail far above it on their next film. Honestly, it's redundant to even say "Pixar" and "incredible animation" in the same sentence. I can't think of a single moment in this movie that wasn't a visual wonder.

But with Up, "beautiful" goes way beyond just the visual aspects of the film. The people at Pixar are MASTERS at the art of storytelling, and once again they have created wonderful, relatable characters that you just can't help but feel for. You laugh with them, you cry with them, you gasp audibly when they are in danger.

On the point of characters: A lot of speculation went on before this movie came out about whether or not people would be able to relate to the protagonist, a 78-year-old curmudgeon named Carl. Well, let me answer with this: after the 4 1/2 minute montage of Carl and his wife Ellie, my heart was with Carl completely. I cried at the end of that montage; I seriously believe that if your heart doesn't break a little at that point, you're not truly human.

As with any storytelling, the power of the story comes from the heart that is put into it, the moments the audience gasps and thinks "Yes, that is absolutely real. I've felt that, I understand that." There were so many moments like that in Up, but there were a few that still come immediately to my mind, and they are especially incredible because they are done completely without words. At one point in the montage, Carl and Ellie learn that they can't have children, and we see an image of the couple silhouetted in a doctor's office, Ellie's head bowed in despair. In the very next shot, Ellie sits in front of her house, her eyes closed, her face upturned, the wind blowing her hair. In that one moment, I could see such pain and sadness but also such radiant strength that my breath was taken away. I'm getting tears in my eyes right now as I write this.

I could go on and on about Up, but I think you'd all be better served by just going out and seeing this amazing movie for yourselves. I'll just leave you with my final word: Up is storytelling at its finest, a film in which the technical brilliance is only outshone by the radiance of the story's heart.

Actually, being green ain't that bad...

Today's Special: Weed rat - rotisserie style (also try some weed rat stew)

In my perfect world, theatre (as in professional stage productions) would be just as popular as movies and TV, and everyone would know (and care) that the Tony nominations were announced yesterday.

Of course, this isn't my perfect world... which is why chocolate is still fattening, Star Trek is still considered geeky, and pale is still not considered cool (no matter how hard Twilight tries to make it so).

So I'm the only one among my circle of friends who is really, really excited about the Tonys. Usually, even I don't care much about these particular awards, but this year I actually know one of the shows that is up for awards: Shrek the Musical.

Now, I haven't actually seen the show. I'm still kicking myself for not attending one of the performances here in Seattle, especially since I could have seen the awesome Brian d'Arcy James (Shrek) and Sutton Foster (Princess Fiona). But I have listened to the soundtrack MANY times, and I am in love with the music (not to mention Brian's voice... *sigh*), so I'll be rooting for Shrek the Musical when the Tony's are awarded on June 7th.

Among the eight nominations that the show earned are nominations for Best Musical (!), Best Actor in a Leading Role (Brian), Best Actress in a Leading Role (Sutton), and Best Actor in a Featured Role (Christopher Sieber - Lord Farquaad).

By the way, here's an interesting bit of trivia. Apparently, the committee that nominates people/shows for Tonys seems to like green-skinned characters. In the past several years actors playing three different greenified characters - Elphaba from Wicked, Frankenstein's Monster from Young Frankenstein, and now Shrek - have been nominated for Tony awards. Actually, make that FOUR greenified characters, since Princess Fiona is an ogre too... at least part time. So yeah, being green ain't that bad- on Broadway, at least.

In celebration of all the nominations, here are a few of my favorite songs from Shrek the Musical.

First, here's "Who I'd Be." This song was the first one I heard from this musical, and that was all it took to set off the obsession.



And here's "I Know it's Today," one of Fiona's songs:



And finally, "More to the Story," a Fiona song that was, unfortunately, cut from the show. I don't know why... it's actually one of my favorite songs from this musical.

A Trekkie's Trepidation

Today's Special: Any one of these three beverages: tea, Earl Grey, hot; raktajino (Klingon coffee); and coffee, black. Also all the gagh you can eat.

OK, I just want to get this out in the open right away:

I am a Trekkie.

And by Trekkie, I mean hard core. I've been a fan of Star Trek practically since birth; in fact, Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG) began in 1987, the year I was born. At age seven, I had a complete set of TNG action figures. When TNG ended, I moved on to DS9 and dreamed about ordering a drink at Quark's and watching the wormhole from the Promenade. And of course, I cheered on Captain Janeway as she led the crew of Voyager and became the first female captain to star in a Star Trek series.

All those years of watching Trek has given me a store of knowledge and trivia that would make most of the non-Trekkies in the world shake their heads in wonder. If you tell me about an event from TNG, DS9, or Voyager, I can probably give you the episode name and the season number. I know what the Prime Directive is. I can recite the entire Borg assimilation speech and Seven of Nine's complete designation from memory. I could make an impassioned, fact-based argument for why Janeway would kick the asses of all the other captains if they were in a fight. I even know the standard drink order for Picard, Sisko, and Janeway. No doubt there are Trekkies who know more than I do, but I think I have enough Trek cred (and, therefore, geek cred) to be considered a bonafide Trekkie.

And still, I'm unsure about the new Star Trek movie. I haven't seen it yet, but based on the articles I've read and the trailers I've seen, I have my reservations, and they boil down to two main things:

1. I'm not a big fan of The Original Series (TOS). That might be considered sacrilege, but TOS was really before my time. I grew up watching TNG, DS9, and Voyager. (Don't talk to me about Enterprise. Just... don't.)
2. I'm afraid - really afraid - that the movie creators are going to sell out the fans.

More than almost any other fandom, Star Trek owes its life to its fans. After all, a letter-writing campaign to NBC is what save the series in the first place and allowed TOS to reach the magic number for syndication. In reruns, more fans fell in love with the series. The fans made Star Trek into the cult hit that it has been for over forty years.

These fans - and as I said, I count myself among them - are almost universally considered members of the upper eschelon of geekdom. People call us outsiders and freaks for embracing a futuristic fantasy world with aliens and space battles and time travel. But we don't care. We've formed our own fan communities, where we can be around other people who know the difference between a Klingon and a Cardassian and with whom we can discuss the finer points of the Ferengi Rules of Acquisition. Despite the teasing, despite the eye rolls and the mocking laughter, we've stuck with Star Trek through the years.

I don't think it's too much for us to ask that the Powers That Be in the Trek franchise could return the favor and stick with us as well.

However, it doesn't seem like this new movie is really going to be for the fans at all.

First off, director J.J. Abrams, despite having some geek cred of his own for conjuring up the hit sci-fi show Lost, is NOT a Star Trek fan. Apparently, the Star Trek higher-ups are trying to reach out to the non-fans, and that means bringing in a director who doesn't have any particular need to hold onto certain aspects of the canon or the universe that Trekkies have come to love over the years. Maybe, they think, if we eliminate the things that might alienate the "normal" people out there - the non-fans - then we can get a broader audience.

OK. I understand that. But here's one thing they don't understand.

We're the geeks. We've spent our lives being shunned. And to be honest, this feels like one more instance in a long history. The Star Trek execs are like that friend who abandoned us for a chance to sit at the cool kids table. And so we sit alone, clutching our combadges and our action figures and hoping that our old friend will eventually realize we're the true friends - the ones they really want to keep.

I get trying to reinvigorate the franchise. But alienating your fanbase is not the way to do it. Give us a new series with strong characters and an intelligent, interesting premise. Give us a reason to feel excited about Star Trek again. Show us that you aren't out of ideas, that there are still interesting corners of the Trek universe to explore.

Give us a reason to believe, Star Trek Powers That Be. When you do, I promise you that your faithful fans will not disappoint you.

Just please, stop trying to trade us for the cool kids, OK?