Women in Comics - Part 1: "What a Girl Wants..."

So I got to reading Laura Hudson's commentary on the... ahem... interesting new turns that took place in several of the "new DC universe" comics this past week.  The stories in question involved two female characters, Starfire (in the pages of Red Hood and the Outlaws) and Catwoman (in the pages of... well... Catwoman) and have been the source of considerable buzz for the company. 


I'm not going to go and rehash every single point that Hudson made in her article.  Her points stand fairly strongly on their own, and I think her perspective gives them that much more impact.  I can't possibly speak for female readers or fans myself.  I can only speak as a male with what I'd like to think is a firm (if limited) understanding of what women might appreciate from their fiction.


I've heard the arguments concerning this, and I figured I'd address a few here.  Forgive me if this gets sporadic, but it covers a few more points than the Superman article I wrote a few weeks ago...


"Women should be able to be portrayed as sexual beings.  And they should be allowed to express that sexuality freely."

Hell, yes.  I am more than in favor of that.  But before you start reaching for the high five or making your pig noises, let me elaborate.  This should be done as a further enhancement of characterization, not at the expense of it.

I have fought countless net wars defending She-Hulk's validity as a character and her honor versus the dreaded "s-word".  Why must a woman be considered a slut simply because she chooses to have sex - and you know how the rest of that argument goes.  Aside from the double standard, it's just a cheap, senseless joke to imply that being "easy" makes her less of a character.

But along similar lines, sexual freedom needs to be explored in a somewhat respectful manner.  Dan Slott chose to cover She-Hulk's perceived promiscuity from a realistic angle, having her (and others) occasionally question her freewheeling activity as a sign of a potential problem.  Of course, in the end, she still allows herself to engage in sexual activity, but within the context of the story(ies), there is a certain level of accountability.  And really, it never even came up as much as people act like it did.

But my main point is that at the end of the day, the character isn't defined exclusively by their sexuality.  You know, just like how it works in the real world.


RE: Starfire "Starfire is an alien.  Why can't an alien have an alien view of things like sex?"

Again, yes they can.  And I'd welcome a new, fresh, or even inventive take on a character.

But there should still be a character there.  In particular, re-envisioned characters should have enough cues to appeal to their old fans while still offering something new to new readers.

What then is this new Starfire offering us in Red Hood and the Outlaws?  T&A?  All due respect, but that isn't a new thing.  But on top of that, we get... well, very little else.  What we were shown was a cold, detached, functionally disinterested woman whose only primary interests are wrecking people's #&*$ and having sex with the nearest available target.

That's nothing like the character that we have come to know and love.  In fact, it misses one of the key elements of Kory's existence: passion.  She has always been a passionate person.  She fights ferociously, yes, but for her friends and for causes that she believes in.  And yes, said passion translates into physical affection as well.  But not as some half-interested, recreational tryst with the nearest appendage with a pulse.

To clarify this further, I'll cite the example of the Teen Titans animated series.  The show made the choice to display the characters on the team as actual teens, most likely to be relateable to their target audience.  But what's funny is that their version of Starfire still feels like Starfire.  The core of the character, a positive, passionate, alien girl, remained and was, heaven forbid, entertaining.  Heaven forbid any of the kids (or adults) that watched that show try to check her out in this new incarnation.  They'll probably be left wondering what on earth happened to the character they thought they knew.

Remember that one ep where she bagged everyone in Titans Tower?  Yeah, me neither.

To add insult to injury here, this new comic version of Kory is literally a shell of how we remember her.  According to the story here, Kory barely remembers her old teammates in the Titans as anything but a blur of memories, and looks at humanity in general as just a flash of sights and sounds.  So she dehumanizes all of humanity, and then goes so far as to treat these unimportant, unmemorable life forms as sex toys.  Man, that's compelling characterization.

If you really had to have an alien character fit a bill like this, why not use a new alien?  Or heck, dig up Starfire's sister, Blackfire?  She is literally the @-hole version of Starfire, and retooling her for this "team" would have made some sense.  It would still be an empty, piss-poor character that I didn't care about, but at least it wouldn't be a mischaracterization of someone I do care about.


RE: Catwoman "Catwoman and Batman have 'done the deed' before.  What's the big deal?"

An argument like this ignores the bigger picture.  The issue of Batman and Selina's relationship isn't the problem here.  It's more or less a matter of the presentation.

Unlike Starfire, I do see Selina as a bit more of an impulsive or sexual creature.  So, in theory, if they wanted to "spice" her book up a little, then so be it.

But did we really need this?  It's one thing to imply that Bruce and Selina have a sexual relationship.  It's another to hint that it's a little kinky here and there.  And it's another entirely to show them going at it, costumes and all, as the climax (pun intended) of her first issue.  This isn't the time or place for this kind of explicit imagery.  Especially not in a book that isn't specifically targeted to mature audiences.

I mean seriously, people.  I usually have to turn off my Safesearch to find an image like this.  But it's actually the last page of the book:

At least they were tasteful enough to leave out the prerequisite grunting noises...

I've learned to overlook some of the larger oversights of the past decade.  The killing and subsequent razing of the corpse of Sue Dibney comes to mind (again, all done without any sort of mature content warning).  But as you continue to target older audiences, you alienate an entire younger generation that you could be reaching.

And that's to say nothing about the image you set in your books about females in general.  It's like you either don't understand or don't care about the female demographic.  What is a young woman... heck, any woman supposed to think when faced with what you present them with as an idealized female hero?

And forgive me, since I know there are likely many examples of less controversial and better rounded females making the rounds in some of your titles (more on this soon....).  But are they being talked about right now?  Are you even pointing to them as part of your press spin?  Or are you trying to milk the "controversy" for as much publicity as you can?


"A new universe means characters should be allowed to be reinterpreted in new ways."


This is a reasonable point to make in some cases.  The problem with this argument when used as a blunt force hammer is that it becomes a blanket statement for defending bad decisions with character choices.  "It's a new world, so why can't people be empty, vapid shells of their former selves?"  See?  doesn't sound so logical and sensible when you put it that way.

I think the main issue that has come from the way females have been presented in several of these new titles is exactly what Hudson states: the women are not women.  Yes, they've got the lady parts to prove it, but you know what I mean.

 Let me speak on behalf of at least myself (if not what I would hope was a majority of the men on the planet) when I say that the oversexualized, free ranging image of a woman portrayed by so much of mainstream comics world (and specifically by DC in these titles) is not what I want in a woman.  Not even a fantasy woman.  And even if I did, I wouldn't necessarily want or expect that image to be displayed as the mainstream theme of a major publishing company.

At the end of the day, these are your characters belong to the company.  They can and will do whatever they want with them.  The readers, however, do have an attachment to them, and you as the writers, editors,etc. have an obligation to show them a level of respect.

There is a fine line between making things intriguing and making a spectacle of your stories just for the sake of doing it.   All of the people touting how cool and great it is to see your characters whoring themselves out and mounting each other mid-page should not be the group you're attempting to reach in this new, dynamic universe you've been pitching.  They will either get bored and abandon you or eventually force you to raise the stakes to the point where you alienate every other type of reader.  Even if that remains profitable, wouldn't it be that much more profitable if you could appeal to both groups without completely abandoning one of them?

That's about all I have to say on the matter.  For now, anyway.  When I revisit this in Part 2, I'll talk about one of my favorite female characters, and why she somehow never seems to get the respect that she deserves.  Seems to be a lot of that going around lately...

Where Have All the Cowboys Gone...

I'm briefly reminded of an episode of Greatest American Hero. In it, Ralph Hinkley is excited to find that the actor that played the Lone Ranger on television is coming to town. He excitedly tells his friends and his students about it, going so far as to arrange a field trip to hear the Lone Ranger speak at the local mall. Ralph, unable to properly express what he loves so much about the Lone Ranger, ends up blindly repeating the same statement over and over again: "I grew up on this guy."

Over the past few months, DC Comics has been talking about rebooting its comics continuity (or in simpler terms, starting again from the beginning). Along the way, this means new tweaks and origin stories for many of its characters. And among the most directly affected is the Man of Steel himself, Superman.

Now bear in mind, we haven't seen a ton of what this new Superman is like. Most of our information at the moment is a limited appearance in issue one of Justice League, and a few previews and interviews connected to the upcoming Action Comics #1.



Action in particular will spend time covering the history of Superman and his early crimefighting days. The reaction to this new version of Superman appears to be polarizing. People seem to either love or hate the changes, which involve having Superman be a brasher, more direct, and cocky hero (at least initially). I've heard the reasoning behind why someone should be excited about these new changes, so I decided to list out some of the more popular "pro" arguments and my reaction to them.


PRO: "In Grant we trust..."

Probably the simplest and most easily understood of the pro arguments. With Grant Morrison running Action Comics, he no doubt brings with him a solid fanbase of supporters. Said supporters (I refuse to derivatively call them "fanboys" since every artist has them...) will follow the title simply because they love Morrison's work. And no matter how different or even controversial a story might seem at first, they will stick with it, because they know eventually he will pull it all together in a way that they will enjoy.

Here's my singular issue with that: I don't fall into that category. I respect Grant Morrison and the massive body of work he has accumulated. But for me, I've always been 50/50 when it comes to liking his work. For every really enjoyable creation or story he's created, there's one that leaves me scratching my head. And no matter how many times people tell me that they make more sense on multiple readings, I just can't find the drive to reread his stories more than once. That's just not the kind of storytelling I'm looking for in my comics.


PRO: This Superman is more "relatable."

I've heard this one a few times. Basically the argument is that this new Superman that doesn't always play by the rules and isn't a "boy scout" is more human. People can find a connection to him easier because he acts "like they would if they had the power of Superman."

What this argument neglects, however, is that part of Superman's character strength is that he is beyond reproach. He is above the corruption and moral ambiguity that most of us would suffer from. And this is good. Because a person running around with that much power and not enough restraint would be horrific for so many reasons. And really, they wouldn't be the hero that the world would look up to, and they certainly couldn't become the icon that every hero in the known universe aspires to be more like.

On top of that, you lose the impact of one of Superman's greastest enemies: Lex Luthor. A core element of Lex's character has always been that he harbors an inborn jealousy of Superman. Not just of the raw power that Superman possesses, but of the incorruptible moral fiber that Superman has. Lex resents that such a being exists, as it contradicts everything Lex has learned or been taught about the way of the world. If nothing else, Lex secretly wonders, "Why him? Why not me?"

Creating a flawed Superman presents a chink in the armor. It's a glaring hole that Lex can use to turn the entire public against Superman. Heck, half the world will be against Superman right off the bat, because Superman is not the walking paragon of righteousness that he normally would be. And to me, that's kind of a shame.


PRO: This Superman will grow into the hero we all know and love. And it will be fun to see that happen.

Don't get me wrong. It's a timeless story, and when well told, it's an enjoyable one. A hero, initially well intentioned but misguided in their actions, learns to overcome their own personal flaws and become a better person. And by doing so, they become a better hero.

It's a good story. Very Greek. I'd even say I love to see that journey in a hero. Problem is, that isn't Superman. It's not his story, and it doesn't fit him. On top of that, I've actually seen the story done with a guy that has an 'S' on his chest. His name is Superboy. And given his background and history, it does fit him.

The thing is, you don't tell a good Superman story by making him human and then finding a way to make him great. You tell a good Superman story by letting Superman be great, and then finding a way to bring out his humanity. There's a subtle, but important difference there.

And if you must tell a story where Superman shows his mortal failings, then it's just that: a story. A single arc or standalone that highlights that he's having a bad day/week/whatever. You don't give him an "I used to be an ***hole" phase that he will never be able to live down.


PRO: This version of Superman is more like the way he was when he originally premiered.

Ignoring that the character premiered virtually a lifetime ago (and that's considering good luck and healthy living...), there's nothing that inherently says that reverting a character to its original form is the most logical course of action. Exploring it is always an option, yes, but implying that it's somehow the natural thing to do - a logical evolution of a character - makes no sense.

Otherwise, why have we seen a relatively untouched Batman as opposed to a "reversion" to the gun-toting, villain killing hero that was part of his early days? If that had happened, no doubt the Bat-fanbase would go ballistic to screams of, "Batman would never do that! That's not what Batman is!" Which leads me to...


PRO: This new look will probably bring in new readers and increase sales.

Sales are an important factor in any business. And it would be crazy to expect a company, even one in an artistic medium, to trade potential sales over some sense of artistic integrity. Obviously, if you think you can make more sales, you make a change.

The question then becomes what happens to sales once the flash and sparkle of the initial issues wears off. Will older readers who were turned off by the new changes come back and help support/boost sales? If you decide to change Superman gradually back into the more noble, "less relateable" character that kept your new readers away, will they stick around or jump ship? No one can say for certain, but it's been my perception that the end result of dramatic changes for the sake of creating new interest is usually a return to the status quo, both story-wise and sales-wise.

**********

So what does all this mean? Well... nothing. At the end of the day, I'm just one 30-something guy with an opinion and without a crystal ball. For all I know, a decade or two from now, people will be whimsically talking about Superman's Boy Scout phase in the same breath as they do the period that Superman juggled planets and constantly antagonized Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane. And whether the world will be a better place (or DC will be better off financially) because of that, I can't say.

But for me, I kind of feel the way that Ralph Hinkley did during that episode of Greatest American Hero. I'm just staring off into space, trying to explain to a bunch of kids why it should even matter at all, and finding that the only argument that matters to me is, "I grew up on this guy..."

"... in twice the time Jack Bauer has..."

This weekend I had the good fortune to check out the showing of the submitted projects from this year's 48 Hour Film Project. It was interesting to see what the various participants came up with in just two short days. In truth, the most difficult task I found myself with was reminding myself that these films were produced in that short a time span.

It was easy to get lost in the moment and want to be overly critical of some of the submissions. Weird camera angle here, dangling plot there. What was the point of that shot again? But then, I found myself reminded of Midsummer Night's Play Festival. Yes, it was fun. Sure it was chaotic. But in the end, the challenge (and overcoming it) was the thing. In just twice the time that we had to put a stage show on, these people created a film.

I won't argue which was harder to do. Both have their specific quirks and requirements. But I have to believe that, all things being equal, there's a certain level of security that the stage provides. People are (I think) far more willing to suspend their disbelief when they know the magic is happening right in front of them. And I have to believe that the triangle of writing/filming/editing is probably slightly more hectic than writing/directing/acting. If nothing else, filming certainly holds more potential for chaos.

So I have to tip my hat to everyone that successfully completed the challenge (even those that might have crossed the finish line a little later than they should have). With the small mountain of things that could have gone wrong along the way, it was definitely an accomplishment to have created anything, let alone a legitimate short film feature. And each and every one was entertaining in its own way.

All in all, it was a great experience. It's the type of thing I could definitely see myself getting involved with next year.

"Bloggus Resumus!"

I don't normally talk about my adventures with the Odd Lot Comedy Troupe, but after last night's Harry Potter show, I felt like sharing a small snippet of the insanity that transpired.

Being based on a wizard school, you can imagine that spells flew fast and furiously in last night's show. And of course, not all of them would be Hogwarts approved. Here is a short list of several of the spells cast by me during various points of the show, along with a brief explanation of why said spell was cast:

"Admittus the Truthus!" (as the bad cop half of a wizard interrogation)
"Police Harrassicus!" (when said interrogation went bad)
"Winnus Snackus!" (to the lucky winner of the Odd Lottery, teh brave victim of said interrogation)
"Needus Paternicus!" (I need an adult)! (while being held by Lord V)

Note the list might have been longer, but being cast as Ron for most of the show meant that my wand was repeatedly taken from me for safety reasons. Speaking of which, here's a brief list of incantations that I didn't get to use, along with a brief explanation for why they were never spoken:

"Logicus Prevailus!" (because really, that spell would never work)
"No more cryus, Pantsus Dryis!" (because Ron kept getting his wand taken before he could cast it)
"Arvydas Sabonis!" (not used because I'm likely the only one that remembers a forward from the 1990's Portland Trailblazers)
"Coffee-us Hottus!" (because the bad wizard cop never needed a cup of coffee)
"Ala, Peanut Butter Sandwiches!" (simply because I forgot; and the world is a worse off place because of it)

And note, this is just the stuff that I was responsible for. You can imagine that the rest of the gang got just as crazy at various points in time.

So if you haven't been to a show yet (or just need an excuse to show up), make sure that you find the time to stop by. Next week is our audience participation show, and it goes without saying that the more, the merrier. So Audience Returnicus! Or Checkus UsOutis! Or... you know, I'm just going to stop now.

"...are all that I'm taking with me..."

I've been getting a mad crazy amount of sleep this week. That's not the update, but it's more of an indicator of how much of my life was being taken up by the prep and subsequent performances of Bay Street Theatre's production of Boys Next Door. The wrap-up of the show last week was every bit as bittersweet as I expected (although the cast party this Tuesday was truly epic... who knew Bill Cooper had such an epic Buddy Holly in him?).

"Bittersweet" would be the word of the day for this story. I'm really happy to hear that so many of the people that came out to see the show enjoyed it. I even ran into someone randomly tonight that told me I had done a good job. I wouldn't have expected that (the getting recognized by someone on the street, that is; I'm slowly learning to accept praise as a good and normal thing.).

It reminds me, though, of what so many others have said with regard to the show. Until we actually got feedback from the performances, I don't think that the word I would have attributed to the show would have been "bittersweet." After all, there are plenty of humorous moments to be had with the characters. And while there are quite a few sad or even tragic moments, I'd like to think that they are outweighed by the positives.

And yet, so many people have said how sad parts of the show have made them. Many people, my friend Tina included, have mentioned how they were moved to tears at points. I wouldn't have expected that. I guess somewhere along the way with all the repetition of lines and movement, it was easy to tuck the overall emotional impact of the show into my back pocket. And while I may have joknigly said so at one point in the production, it wasn't my goal to make people cry.

But it's nice to know that so many people were able to be touched by the show. It's really, refreshingly surprising, and a wonderful thing to take away from the end of tough, but fulfilling production.

Still, "bittersweet" is the word of the day. Bittersweet that our success came at the expense of so many tears. Bittersweet that what became such a heartwarming experience could not be shared with more people. Bittersweet that it will likely be a while before I attach myself to a project like this again.

But remember, even in the bittersweet, there is still some "sweet". Perhaps I'll try to take more of that with me as time goes on.

Wrapping Up The Boys Next Door

I find myself going into the final week of performances for Bay Street Theatre's The Boys Next Door, and it has been a phenomenal experience. It's been a silly, stressful, melancholy, funny, crazy ride, and I've loved every minute of it.

When I accept a role in a show, there's always part of me that quietly wonders what I'm getting myself into. I've only been in a few productions since returning to stagework about a year ago. And while I'm fairly confident in my abilities, it's still a little daunting to put my talents to the test.

It's always a strange point in the show's run for me. The desire to finish the final few runs of the show are tempered with the bittersweet realization that soon it will all be over. Part of you wants the show to go on, while the other part of you is quietly planning what, if anything to do with all the extra hours in the week you're about to get back.

But most of all, I find myself really proud of the show that we've put together. I'm usually not one to get all sappy about a show (and I'm still not), but I really find myself wanting to share the experience with others.

(And I'm not just saying that because everyone that's come to the show already absolutely loves it and it's given my confidence a huge boost. Although I'll admit that fact doesn't hurt...)

So if you have a few spare hours this weekend, and happen to find an extra buck or two in your pocket, take the time to check out our last few nights of the show this Friday and Saturday at 8PM. And if you can't make it for whatever reason, try to help get the word out about the show. Your friends and family will thank you for it. I hope.

(What? My confidence can't soar forever.)

I Don't Want to Be "That Doctor"...

I've thought about this one. I've really put some thought into it. And this is the thing that really bums me out: I think I'd be a dull Doctor.

Don't get me wrong. I don't believe that there's a way to play the lead character in the BBC's scifi series Doctor Who without in some way being a little crazy, quirky, and/or cool. But somehow, I feel like instead of being the goofy, madcap Doctor that everyone would expect of me, I'd end up being a little bit flatter.

I'm not sure how that particular Doctor would go off right now. Sure, I liked Eccleston during his run as the Doctor. I'm even in the silent minority that, to this day, still like what he did with the character. But in the shadow of David Tennant and now Matt Smith, it seems as if there just isn't a place for the more serious but still occasionally funny version of the character.

Not to mention that's not the version of the Doctor that I want to be. I want to be the craziest, zaniest Doctor that there ever was. Doesn't that sound like fun? But nope, I just don't think that would be a fit for me. I can't explain why, but it just feels like it would be wrong.

Of course, it's probably all a moot point. Because between the amount of time it would take me to be famous enough an actor to land the role combined with how long it would be before the show's runners would even bother holding an international search for a replacement, I doubt I'll ever manage to have the opportunity. That, or I'll be so old that playing a more subdued Time Lord would be the only thing that makes sense.

Don't ask me why I have thoughts like this first thing in the morning.

Overcoming Obstacles

If you've heard me talk about my larger scale writing projects or even been around when the topic of writing comes up, there's a pretty good chance that you've heard me utter some form of the following words: I hate editing.

But the thing is that I truly do enjoy writing. So why then would something related to the process bother me so much?

I suppose you could say that it's a few things. First of all, editing is an entirely different beast than simply making a draft. Drafts, first drafts in particular, are made with reckless abandon. The process appeals to my track-skipping, bounce-around, scatterbrain, giving it the opportunity to go down avenues that straight-line, focused thinking wouldn't provide. A longstanding practice of mine when making drafts is to write until I get bored, then skip to the next thing that interests me in a given section or chapter. After all, it isn't really a big deal if a scene or two never gets covered.

Of course, the larger issue rears its head when it comes for editing. Those gaping holes in the story have to be addressed one way or another, leading to the obvious question of whether or not the idea was worth writing about in the first place.

And really, part of me wants no part of this process. No matter how flawed I may know my draft might be in reality, there's still the notion that most of it is pretty good work. The thought of having to go back and cut out huge swathes of words simply because they don't fit the greater vision is a tragedy I hate to face.

Likewise is the time taken reflecting on what needs to be added. There are the gaps in story that I may have skimmed over when writing a first draft, but there are also the extra parts. They are the ideas that came after I had already gone through that particular section, or things that crossed my mind as ideas after the fact. They are the characters that didn't seem important until later, or who weren't even concepts until the process hard started. They, too need their fleshing out and work done.

I realize that the work is a necessary evil. I understand that to reach - truly reach - the next level of my work, I have to get over this hurdle and build a solid second draft. And scarier still, most likely a third, possibly a fourth, and so on.

It's a daunting task, but it's one that I want to do. So in this regard, I set a simple goal, and make an honest pledge. I hereby declare that before the end of March (and the beginning of April and the inevitable chaos of Script Frenzy), I will complete a second draft of at least one long term project that I've worked on. It's the very least that I can do. Well, short of nothing. But I've done that for a while, and it doesn't sit well with me.

Let's Try This Again...

Hi. I'm Thomas Houston. You may remember me from such strange endeavors as "House Rules!", this very blog page. And of course, a silly little thing called "Planet Houston Podcast."

Both projects were started for similar but differing reasons. House Rules! was my attempt at expressing myself through writing. At the time, I had fiddled with various writing projects and concepts on other blogs and message boards, but I didn't have one that was just me. Heck, even my initial attempts at blogging had fallen short, as for some reason I was locked out of the page I was trying to create. But after a brief while (and after some "gentle nudging" from my friend, the late Sam Johnson), I started the blog in earnest. And while it never quite became what I envisioned it, it was my baby, and I loved it all the same.

Planet Houston Podcast? I guess you could say that was a need to express myself in a different way. Yes, I'm pretty good at turning a phrase or two when I'm writing, but it's not the same as an an active performance. In a perfect world, I suppose I could have tried to do the whole video thing, but honestly, I knew that would be way more work than I wanted to put into it. And really, I couldn't have done a video podcast in my underwear. (Not that I actually did that at any point, mind you. I'm just saying, sometimes a man likes to have his options.)

But for a number of reasons (some of which I may expound on in more detail someday) both projects fell off the radar. I have tried to get the old blog page back to a more regular posting schedule, but it seems like it wasn't in the cards until recently.

So what changed? Let me tell you what changed. It was something very subtle that occurred over the course of the past few weeks. I started to notice a friend or two on Facebook talking about the blog they were starting up. And yeah, I was a little curious about it, but I put it in the back of my head as something to check out later.

But then, it spread. Seriously. All of a sudden, this huge chunk of people that I know were either starting new blogs or reviving old ones. People... blogging thoughts and ideas... and then putting up links on the internet?

"That's my thing. The thing that I do. ...I feel like I'm gonna explode!" (My apologies to Milhouse for borrowing his angsty retort.)

So once again, we're going to give this wacky crazy blog of thing a go. Goodness knows I've got plenty of random thoughts and ideas to tack on here. I just need to get myself back into the flow of updating on a regular basis. So we'll see how that all works itself out.

... or I'll see you in my next post six months from now. One thing or the other will happen.

HouseTV Review: The Event "Pilot"

After months of waiting, it finally arrives. But after all of the wait and the buildup, did the new show The Event live up to the hype. The answer for now will have to be, "So far, so good."

It's hard to say what the new show has going on. Part of that is not giving away details that might spoil the program in question. But the rest is tied up in the storytelling of the first episode, which bounces back and forth between present and past storylines.

The main storylines revolve around a small handful of characters, but focus primarily on a young man named Sean Walker (Jason Ritter), who gets dragged into a conspiracy that somehow involves an enigmatic woman named Sofia (Laura Innes) and a cover up so elusive that it not even the President of the United States (Blair Underwood) is aware of it at first.

It is here that the episode shows both its strength and its weakness. The sporadic back and forth of the storytelling between the lead characters does work. The unraveling of the initial mysteries behind "The Event " are strengthened by the jerky, but well structured web of a timeline that is created here. But despite enjoying the episode as a whole, I still feel like continuing that pacing for an entire season would be a mistake. It made for a nice hook, but it's not something I'd like to see every week.

What swings the episode into higher favor is the ending, which doesn't answer the big question but does answer a smaller one. It stands to reason that most viewers figured that they may not find out what exactly "The Event" is by the end of the first episode. But the pilot makes a strong point of dancing around the question of what type of event it even is. it isn't until the final moments of the episode that part of that question is answered, along with the question of whether or not there will a scifi element to the show.

Of course, the greatest mystery of the show remains unrevealed. And it is on that note that I've taken a positive, but "wait and see" approach to how I think the show will do. It's all well and good form a small handful of unanswered questions that lead to more questions. But some shows, this one in particular I feel, needs the strength that establishing a clear foundation will bring. I sincerely hope they don't intend to drag out some of the larger mystery points for the entire season, because I think they will lose viewers and their fanbase by doing so.

So if you haven't checked out the show yet, give it a test drive. It might actually be better to pick it up from this week, as apparently this week's episode answers at least a few of the questions presented last week.

Rating: 7.5/10 (It's a solid start, perhaps better or worse depending on how the show continues on.)

5 New Shows That I Am Not Interested In (But Probably Should Be)

With the new Fall TV season right around the corner, there are tons of new shows popping up all over the place. And while the mad TV-phile (is that a real word...?) that I am will no doubt check out dozens of shows this seasons (some of which I’ve already talked about), there are a few that just don’t dazzle me. Don’t get me wrong; some of these shows I fully expect to be good. At the very least, people will ramble about how good they are. But for me, just looking at what’s available on them so far, I’m not impressed.

And so, without further ado, and in particular but not specific order, here are five shows I expect to lose interest in within a few weeks. Assuming I haven’t lost it already...

Honorable Mention

Outsourced (NBC): I don’t know what to tell you. When I first heard the premise for the show, it sounded much less like a comedy and more like a quirky drama series. Hey, it worked for Northern Exposure. I’ll give it points for originality, but this show will either survive on a surprisingly refreshing appeal or fade very quickly into television obscurity.

The List

5) Blue Bloods (CBS): “Hey! You got your cop show in my family drama!” “Hey! You got your family drama in my cop show!” “Hey!” “Hey!” “...heeeeeeey...”

I know point blank that the show will probably be good. You don’t normally get as many big names together on a show as you have with this one only to have it suck. That still doesn’t mean that I want to watch a cop show. Or a family drama. Or even a family cop drama. At least Cop Rock had musical numbers. For all three people that watched Cop Rock...

4) Undercovers (NBC): On its surface, the premise of NBC’s new spy show appears sound. And if J.J. Abrams hadn’t sold me on his ability to spin a good yarn before, his relaunch of the Star Trek franchise certainly would have. (And then there’s those other shows he worked on before, but it’s not like anybody really watched those, right…? Oh…)

But somehow, I just can’t get behind this show like I want to. The premise of a couple that shares (and subsequently has to balance) their married life and their spy life, while interesting, feels too generic for its own good. Granted, it’s got some star power behind it, and It’ll probably be jazzy, thrill-filled, and tons of fun. But it will also probably be the first show on the schedule that I get too busy to check out.

3) Law & Order: Los Angeles (NBC): What? Is there some new rule that says that if a show is really popular, it should not only get a spinoff, but that said spinoff should be based in Los Angeles? Is it just a really cheap way to save on travel expenses? Is LA really that different a place that it warrants its own flavor of L&O?

Still, the California variety of the long-running, Emmy winning drama is prepared to make its entry this fall. But as a longtime fan who has slowly but surely lost interest in keeping up with every variant of the franchise, I’m not sure that a change of venue will be enough to sway my verdict of “wait and see”.

2) Hawaii Five-O (CBS): With regards to this show, there are only two groups of people left in the world. The people who are old enough to remember the original show (and I mean remember as in actually remember plots and characters and the like) will probably find this revamp completely unlike what they saw before. People too young to remember the old show at all may find the show’s premise interesting, but to them it will have nothing to do with the nostalgia factor.

In either case, I expect both groups to do about the same thing: hum a few bars of the theme song, mumble, “Book ‘ em, Danno!” just enough times to make it a short lived internet fad, then promptly forget that this show ever existed. It’s just a theory, though.

1) $H*! Mt Dad Says (CBS): It started as a thoroughly entertaining Twitter feed and has since become a book, and now a television series. Will the net phenomenon about a man and his curmudgeonly witty father stand up as a small screen series?

Probably not. When it’s all said and done, this idea has been done in several... no, a few... sorry... virtually every other sitcom ever made features a cranky dad who mouths off to his kid. It’s a staple of the medium, and hardly something to tout as an original idea. That means that the entire success of the show depends on two things: the ability of net fans to translate into real life fans (which is dicey at best) and the draw power of show star William Shatner (who frankly, I think was the wrong choice for this show).

Let’s face it: Shatner’s only here because they think he’s a draw, and clips I’ve seen of him, while sometimes chuckle-worthy, don’t seem to capture the nature of the actual “Dad” whose quotes were such a welcome diversion from an otherwise dull day. But hey, it is a network sitcom. It’s not like it actually has to be funny or entertaining in order to stay on the air...

So that's that. Without a doubt I'll probably be here again at the end of the year apologizing for doubting at least one of these shows. Then again, I'll probably also be here at the end of the year saying, "I told you so." Such is life. Next time, we cover some of the shows that are returning and maybe even a few that have been around forever (or maybe it just feels that way...)

HouseTV: 5 New Shows That I'm Interested In Checking Out

The Fall TV season is just around the corner, so it's time to list the five new shows in the lineup that I am most interested in checking out. For rules on the what, whys, and hows of this list, feel free to read this. Without further ado, and in particular, but not specific order, here is the list:

Honorable Mention:

The Cape (NBC): One could argue that it is easier now than it was before to put a superhero themed show on the air, but the truth still remains. Despite some success on the small screen, a hero show is hard to pull off, and can be a dicey prospect at best.

So it’s encouraging to see NBC stick with the genre with their new show The Cape. The show follows a police officer and family man who is framed for crimes that he didn’t commit and almost killed. To find justice and to protect his family from retribution, he becomes a costumed crime fighter. Corny, sure. But I’m a sucker for anything that resembles a superhero show, so I’ll at least be curious to check it out. Assuming, of course, that it actually shows up mid-season and doesn’t fall completely off the radar.

The List:

5) Mike and Molly (CBS): I both like and dislike the premise of this new sitcom. On one hand, both of the primaries look like they’ll deliver plenty of laughs as a pair of average (and above average sized) people who fall in love. On the other hand, what does it say about our culture that we have to be bludgeoned with the point that these are “average joe” type people that we can relate to? Please stop acting like you’re tossing us a bone on this one...

4) Outlaw (NBC): I can’t think of a single person that was sitting around saying to themselves, “Boy, I hope Jimmy Smits will come back to television this year...” And yet, this was how NBC decided to market Smits’ new show. It’s shades of Benjamin Bratt in E-Ring, only hopefully someone will actually remember this show in two years.

But despite the folksy, forced feel good that a Supreme Court justice who resigns from the highest judicial level in the land to fight for the little guy is supposed to bring, I still feel like this could be a pretty good show. Because it’s not like there are a ton of procedural dramas based around courtrooms already out ther... oh, yeah...

3) Top Chef: Just Desserts (Bravo): Yes, I promised that this list would be relatively free of reality shows (who should probably have their own list... hey, there’s an idea...). But after catching snippets of Top Chef here and there and following a mini-marathon or two, I know that I usually enjoy the show when I can. So hopefully this new incarnation, based entirely around everyone’s favorite meal course, should produce some truly sweet (pun intended) moments. Now if only it wouldn’t lead to excessive late night dessert munching...

2) No Ordinary Family (ABC): It’s the show I’ve heard described as a “real life Incredibles” by people who probably don’t realize that that film is pretty much an homage to the Fantastic Four. It’s a much better comparison overall, even if it does end up giving the impression that Michael Chiklis is being typecast.

The show centers around Chiklis as the father of a rather ordinary family (at first) that, after suffering a mysterious accident during a plane trip, all discover that they have developed superpowers. And while I’m usually a sucker for any old superhero story, I feel like this show might have enough quirky humor topped with a dash of heart to endear it to any audience. But good luck winning any big numbers in that Tuesday night timeslot…

1) The Event (NBC): By all rights, this is the show that NBC is banking on to create the same kind of buzz that Heroes did when it premiered way back when. But after months of teasing and buildup, can discovering what “the event” really is possibly live up to all of the hype?

Of course it can’t! But with any luck, the storytelling will manage to hold people’s attention long enough for it to build a fan base. But I swear that I will rage profusely if people start to complain about it “not being enough like Lost”. Or anything Lost related for that matter. Seriously, folks, let the show go. It’s over now...

And speaking of over, so is this list. But stay tuned, because when I come back, it's all about the new shows that aren't giving me a buzz. Although oddly with some, I feel like they should be...

HouseTV: Project Fall Preview: Prelude

The new Fall TV season is just around the corner, and as everyone knows, I am an avid TV buff.

(Incidentally, it’s probably the only time the word “buff” can be associated with me, but that’s a whole other story...)

So with that said, it is time yet again for a new set of lists. But it occurs to me, in part because I haven’t done a list in so very long (wow, has it been that long...?), that people may have forgotten the rules for these lists. So I figured I’d spend the first part of this feature explaining just what my philosophy on list-making is (at least the majority of the time...).

My lists are, as it should go without saying, my opinion. They are not intended to be definitive truths. In fact, it’s entirely likely that my own opinion on them would change if I gave it more time. Despite this, I will defend my choices, for better or worse, as being valid.

The lists are made in no particular order, although the top listings are generally better than the lower listings. This is generally because I list things based on my general interest, with the shows with the most detailed write ups ending up at the top. Hence, shows that make it to the top spots of the list are (presumably) the ones I have more interest in (or less, depending on the list).

In short, you should just consider any lists I make to be fun items generated for entertainment or possible discussion. It’s hardly a matter of life or death.

Anywho, here are the lists I’ve been working on, which should come out slowly but surely as the week progresses:


5 New Shows That I Am Interested in Checking Out
5 New Shows That I Am Not Interested In (But Probably Should Be)
5 Returning Shows That I Am Waiting For
5 Reality Shows I Know I’ll End Up Watching (For Better or Worse)

Note that reality TV has its own category mainly to keep a huge pile of reality shows out of the other lists. That doesn’t mean that a few wont’ pop up there, though.

So that’s that. Expect those list to filter out through the next week, presumably before the new season starts and makes them less relevant than they already are...

MasterHouse Theater: Review: Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog LIVE!

As talented as the Odd Lot Comedy Troupe is at improvisation, it's easy to forget that they are quite skilled in scripted performance as well. With Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog LIVE!, the Odd Lot ventures into the world of scripted theater. And what happens is exactly what you'd expect: a "horribly" good time.

(Note: For the purposes of this review, I have limited myself to exactly three uses of puns involving the word "horrible"... So that's one.)

Every geek or nerd worth their salt knows of Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog. But even if you aren't "horribly" familiar (that's two) with the details of the Joss Whedon story, the live show presents a similar version of web story.

The tale follows the often musical trials and tribulations of the titular Dr. Horrible (played on stage by Justin P. Kent), a super-villain trying to elevate his status by gaining entrance into the Evil League of Evil. His attempts at notoriety through evil are perpetually foiled by his infatuation with a girl in his apartment (Lynita Spivey) and the perpetual interference of his arch-nemesis, Captain Hammer (Ryan McConnel).

The show also features Gabe Reynolds as Horrible's roommate/henchman Moist and a small, but effective supporting cast (Trish McKay, Tim Reynolds, Megan Jones, Timmy Vo, and Hai Dang) who take on various roles and parts as needed to fill in the gaps along the way.

Kent is truly remarkable as Dr. Horrible. His interpretation of the character manages to convey all of the conflicting emotions of the megalomaniac without ending up a cheap impersonation of Neil Patrick Harris in the role.

The rest of the cast performs admirably as well. Spivey's Penny plays as the sweet, innocent girl-next-door she is supposed to be, and McConnel's Captain Hammer is every bit the strong and sometimes too smug hero that you'll eventually love to hate.

Director Chris Soucy manages to master stage space, utilizing selective props, a small smattering of back panels, and even the cast themselves to convey a variety of indoor and outdoor spaces. Fans of the original Sing Along Blog will be hard pressed to find many venues that aren't covered in some way, shape, or form onstage.

I was particularly impressed with the van scene, as it was something that could have been logistically difficult to pull off without... you know... a van. Or streets. But that and a good many other surprises await in the show. Expect a pleasant surprise or two along the way, including a few improvisational games from the Odd Lot Troupe to help flesh out what is a "horribly" short production (and three... I'm done with that).

All in all, the show makes for a fun, entertaining experience of improv, singing, dancing, and comedy that was completely worth seeing. While I will always enjoy the web production in all its glory, this was definitely an experience that I am glad I had the chance to check out. If you have the chance to see it, it would be "horrible" of you not to.

(... Yeah, I know I said only three. But in true evil fashion, I broke my own rule. You can't get more evil than that. I'll get League membership myself one day, I will. You hear me, Horse!)

Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog LIVE! happened Friday, August 27th at 8PM and midnight. It will happen again Saturday, August 28th at 8PM at Muse Arts Warehouse. So you should try and catch it then (or build a time machine).

HouseTV: Stargate: Universe Episode 17 "Pain"

I have to admit that I was shocked to find that this episode was not about the strange pang of regret I feel at the end of almost every episode of SG:U.

No, this episode revolved around the crew falling victim to a new strange phenomenon. After a gate mission, several members of the away party begin to fall victim to hallucinations. These all revolve around images of an intense nature for each of the concerned parties. Fears, insecurities, even regrets involving loved ones are exposed as members of the crew face the demons inside their own souls. The whole thing ends up being an infection of sorts, with the cure not as easy to come by as taking a few pills. But of course, in true Universe fashion, this concept seems to fall flat just in time to wrap things up cozily.

Don't get me wrong, there are some solid moments in the episode. The opening volley of Lt. McChesty... er, James and her um, intense but bizarre encounter with Scott certainly set the odd bar up there. And Chloe realizing that she was ill but refusing to seek immediate help because she was too attached to the image of her dead father was a novel twist to things. Eli once again breaks a confidence in the best interests of others (namely Chloe) and shows that he'll stand true to form when it comes to certain things.

So really, I don't ahev huge faults with the episode aside form the usual. The pacing gets a bit slow at times, and the resolutions seem a bit conveniently contrived in places. This is nothing new for anyone that's heard me ramble about the show before. But, at least this episode manages to do what the time warp episode didn't do, which is manage to expound on some of the thoughts and fears of the crew and actually leave those impressions with the crew to chew on.

Although ironically, of all of the characters that we get more insight into, it is James' vision that is the most telling. For someone whose greatest character trait displayed so far has been "used to bang the action lead", it was at least an interesting introspection to see that she clearly thought that it was more than a simple fling.

But then, any diversion related to Scott that keeps us from actually having to see or hear him do anything is welcome to me. Maybe one day they'll finally make me care about him. Or half of the other characters on board. We'll see.

So I trudge on and keep on trudging, taking the good with the bad and hoping that things will pick up. And just in case I was thinking about giving up on the show, they decide to give me the promise of not one but two SG-1 cameos next episode. Here's hoping it's not some lame dream sequence like last time.

Rating: 6/10 (Yeah, yeah, I know...)

HouseTV: Stargate Universe: Episode 16 "Sabotage"

Do the writers of Stargate: Universe take their plot point resolutions from old 50's film serials?

After setting up a small handful of situations and obstacles for the Destiny crew to overcome, this episode pretty much walks all over them and finds the quick and dirty solutions to everything.

Take, for example, the primary point from the past few episodes. The crew has still been reeling from the fact that they've had to permanently abandon Scott, Chloe, and Eli on a planet, since they were left behind and the ship is now jumping between galaxies. They've just started to accept this fact when a new problem presents itself. Destiny apparently won't have the power to make it across the void between galaxies. Then, of course, is the titular sabotgaging of the FTL drive, leading the crew to procure the help of an engineer whose intellect rivals Rush's, but that provides its own set of challenges and difficulties.

I want to say primarily that while the sabotage itself was a novel idea, it would help if the act didn't magically solve every other problem the crew was having. The ship conveniently drops out of FTL just close enough to the planet Eli and company were stopped on, allowing them to gate back to Destiny. On top of that, the one engine that blows up just happens to be the least efficient one in the drive, meaning that if they bypass it, the drive will actually become more power effective and be able to make it to the next galaxy. The latter I'll excuse as it made for the foundation of the episode, but the former was cheap writing at best. Don't make a big deal out of an issue at the end of an episode only to completely gloss it over in the next one.

That said, there were a few bright spots to the episode. The notion that bringing in the tech specialist required a member of Destiny to sacrifice time on Earth in her crippled body was an interesting twist. Interesting also was the fact that Camille would volunteer to take all of the time just so that she could spend time with her significant other. These led to a handful of well crafted scenes that taught us a little bit about all of he characters involved.

But still, despite the high points, the story feels like a drag at points. And much like it always does, yet another convenient plot twist swoops in at the end and saves us from dealing with a two-part episode. If the folks at SGU learn anything, I hope that it will be this: pacing, pacing, pacing. Stop dragging your heels in the interest of "dramatic exposition." The drama will find itself even if you speed the plots up a little.

Rating: 6/10 (Good character development, but the show should be doing better at this point.)

A Note to Highway Drivers...

The right lane for slower traffic. The left lane is there to allow faster traffic to pass slower traffic.

If you are driving 73 miles per hour when the posted speed limit is 70... you are slower traffic. Stay in the right lane.

If your attempt to pass a vehicle in the left lane takes more than 10-15 seconds, you weren't going fast enough to actually pass them. You are slower traffic. Stay in the right lane.

If you find yourself actually traveling side-by-side with the traffic in the right lane, you had no reason to be in the left lane in the first place, and you're holding up people with places to be. You are slower traffic. Stay in the right lane.

If there is a line of cars trudging along trying to get by in the left lane, and someone (an astute someone who doesn't think he's in a NASCAR race) decides to leave a car length or two between him and the car in front of him, this is not your signal to slide in. Especially when there is nothing but open space behind said vehicle. Stay in the right lane.

If you decide to pull in behind the above astute driver, especially when there is no traffic behind him, remember that there is no traffic behind him, that you can, in fact, wait a few seconds before pulling behind him, and that you will not receive any sort of point bonus for driving up another car's exhaust pipe. You know what to do...

Seriously. I haven't really been on the highway in a few years, but I swear that drivers there have actually gotten worse, which I didn't think was possible. And I didn't even get near the Atlanta area. Yikes...

Things I've Slept Through on Cable: West Wing? Again?

So I watch a lot of West Wing. Leave me alone. And as I am wont to do, I occasionally talk about the episodes that come on while I'm sitting around at home.

Today's episode, particularly well timed and titled "The Stackhouse Filibuster", is a good example of how a singular event can tie the entire Oval Office gang together. The episode centers around a senator, Howard Stackhouse, and how he holds up what everyone thought was a done deal of a bill by performing the ancient rite known as a filibuster.

Of course, it takes the gang (and of course, the fairly astute aide Donna) a while to stop pondering why a 70-something year old man would stand around for hours reading anything with words on it to stall a bill and to instead figure out exactly why he's doing what he's doing. And the why of it all and how the Wingnuts respond to it make for a truly feel good ending.

Granted, there's all other kinds of subplots floating around, but the filibuster itself is at the core of the episode. And while it has been given a bit of a stigma in recent history, it's nice to see the filibuster here is being used to press an agenda that anyone could really fall behind. The fact that it spotlights another essential truth - that sometimes government can be so busy trying to do business that they forget to pay attention to the details - isn't lost on me either.

(Note: This article is here because I happen to enjoy this particular episode of the show. It should not be considered a commentary on any particular government issue currently taking place. If you happen to think it shows how I feel about said issues, you'd probably be wrong. So there. Nyah.)

A Special Message to You Know Who....

Dear jackasses,

No one cares about your spam. No one is fooled by your half-cocked, pointless, and poorly written spam notes with links to more spammy goodness.

But congratulations. Thanks to you, anonymous posting on my blog is now over. Because I've been gone long enough for somebody to think they can just take up permanent spam residence here. They are mistaken.

Daddy is home. And it is time to clean house.