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Bullet Sunday 122

Posted on Sunday, March 1st, 2009

Dave!Ever since I got over being sick, I've spent every waking minute getting caught up on work. Because of that, I don't have much for Bullet Sunday except some stuff I saw while I was confined to bed this past week...

• Guy. Just when you think that The Family Guy isn't very funny anymore, they have Peter's obscenely wealthy father-in-law invite Bill Gates to a party...

Family Guy iPod vs. Zune

"Hey Bill, would you help me program my Zune? Oh... wait... I have an iPod, LIKE THE REST OF THE WORLD!"

BWAH HA HA HAAAA! It's so funny because it's true!

• Mode. In preparation for the imminent release of Depeche Mode's new album Sounds of the Universe on April 21st, I've been watching all the production videos posted at their website. In one of them, I was pleasantly surprised to see a NO ON PROP 8 sign in the background...

Depeche Mode in the Studio with a NO ON PROP 8 Sign

I guess when Depeche Mode sings "People Are People" it's more than just words in a song to them...

So we're different colours and were different creeds,
And different people have different needs.
It's obvious you hate me though I've done nothing wrong,
I've never even met you so what could I have done?
I can't understand what makes a man hate another man,
Help me understand.
People are people so why should it be,
You and I should get along so awfully?

• Mode2. In other DM news, the disturbing video for the first single, Wrong, has been released. Since MTV doesn't play music videos anymore, here it is...

• Shop. As if it wasn't enough that Depeche Mode has a new album coming out, The Pet Shop Boys are also releasing a new album, Yes, on March 23rd. A very cool video for their first single, Love, Etc., has also been released...

And, in case you missed their awesome appearance at The Brit Awards with a guest appearance by Brandon Flowers from The Killers, here's that as well...

I have no idea what Chris was thinking with that stupid pink wig, but the performance was brilliant.

• Dollies. Three episodes in, and I am still not much of a fan of Joss Whedon's Dollhouse. It's surprisingly boring. About the only thing that will have me tuning in again next week is the final 15 seconds of the show, which was kind of a WTF? moment. Everything else? Boring. Or infuriating. Mostly because there's one character on the show who drives me bat-shit insane... the tech guy "Topher"...

Topher

I think what Joss was going for was a character like "Xander" from Buffy The Vampire Slayer. He was kind of geeky-nerdy, but in an entertaining and lovable way that complimented the rest of the cast. Overall a great addition to the show...

Xander

But instead what we got was a retread of "Marshall" from Alias. A "genius" who somehow manages to be a complete fucking dumbass at the same time. He acts stupid. He talks stupid. He's a whiny annoyance whose only benefit on the show is to give you somebody to want dead...

Marshall

As if that tired cliche wasn't bad enough, Whedon recycled Agent Fox Mulder from the X-Files to create Agent Paul Ballard. In order to make the character sympathetic to the audience, Ballard is a brilliant lone wolf whose obsession with the Dollhouse makes him an object of ridicule by other FBI agents. But here's the problem... the audience already knows Ballard is right and the Dollhouse exists, so the humiliation of the character is pointless. It doesn't make the character any more sympathetic, it makes the FBI out to be an agency of total morons. Ballard is obviously very good at his job, so where are the agents saying "Hey, Paul, any luck tracking down this Dollhouse thing? Anything I can do to help?" Too logical, I guess. In interviews, Tahmoh Penikett says it takes 5 or 6 episodes for the show to find its footing... I hope the show isn't cancelled before then. Because with Alan Tudyk (Wash!) set to play the rogue Dollhouse killer "Alpha," better days seem to be just around the corner. At least I hope so, because Dollhouse is sucking ass so far.

   

And now... I'm off to finish up re-reading Watchmen for the hundredth time. Because, weather permitting, I'll be seeing the movie this Friday and I want to make sure I have the source material fresh in my head.


Categories: Bullet Sunday 2009Click To It: Permalink
   

Comments

  1. A Lewis says:

    I don’t care what you post…I’m just plain old giddy that you’re feeling better….that bad boy seemed to hang on, like, FOREVER!

  2. martymankins says:

    After about 15 listens to “Wrong” and watching the video almost that many times, I have to say it’s grown on me. Now to hear it live to see how well it’s performed on the big stage.

    I saw that NO ON PROP 8 sign in the background, too.

  3. Avitable says:

    I actually saw the tech guy as being a merge between Warren, Jonathan and Andrew. Xander was never evil – this guy is. I didn’t know that Alan Tudyk is going to be Alpha – that’s awesome.

  4. Eric says:

    *gasp* pre-reading?!?

    i have found that knowing a print version too well really detracts from the movie-watching experience… they can never include everything you are hoping to see, and the big-screen translation tends to misfire on a few cylinders anyway. better (for me) to enjoy the movie in a more naive state, and then revisit the source material later.

    glad you are feeling better – have enjoyed your davetoons in the meantime.

    re: dollhouse, i promised to wait to see them with my wife once she gets back from overseas, which will be late this week. the reviews do make it sound like it will go the way of “firefly,” which is unfortunate if it just needs a few episodes to build up momentum. given his fan base, maybe this time they will continue with web episodes if the network bails.

  5. Whitenoise says:

    What’s with all these ’80s bands suddenly attempting comebacks? DM, PSB and Duran Duran did some sort of tour/album thing last year. Amusing, but here at Disney- the ’80s are being used as the new oldies in some of the giftshops and restaurants.

  6. Nat says:

    As disturbing as it is, I really enjoyed the video for Wrong. I must admit I’d sort of written off DM — looking forward to this release though.

  7. Michelle says:

    While I value your opinion and generally agree with you, this time I think you are way off base. I like the Dollhouse. And I think it’s only going to get better.

    I don’t think Topher is supposed to be like Xander. Topher is callous and a genius. I wouldn’t call Xander “geeky-nerdy”. He was more ordinary joe, with a good heart, and occasional nerd tendencies. Topher is the one character on the show that I can really see Joss Whedon in.

    I don’t really care for the Ballard character. But I disagree with your assessment of how Whedon is trying to portray him.

    Joss Whedon’s genius, IMO, lies in his sense of humour. And in his ability to portray likeable, multi-dimensional characters. Even the bad guys have good aspects and can be quite likeable. Nobody is perfect, all good, or all bad. And the internal conflict that creates.

    Joss Whedon isn’t coming through as strongly in Dollhouse as I would like. I think he’s trying to make it appeal to a wider audience and keep Fox happy. But I do believe he will come through and it will get better. Regardless I still think the show is interesting and entertaining.

  8. Dave2 says:

    The problem is, shows don’t survive long enough to “get better”… networks regularly cancel shows after only a few episodes. These first episodes needed to come out kicking ass, but have just been boring to me.

  9. Habanerogal says:

    Just became a convert to Opera web browser in 10 seconds life just got 1000% easier and more visually pleasing. Thanks again for all of the great tech advice

  10. I am so glad you are feeling better!

    I missed the first episode of Dollhouse and when I tried to watch it after that I was lost and bored. I’m sure I’m not giving it a fair judgement, but I won’t be trying to watch it again. Which is a fairly good sign it won’t get cancelled. I have this uncanny ability to fall super in love with shows that get cancelled soon after I start watching. Since I didn’t like this one, it should be safe.

  11. After living in a cave I only discovered The Family Guy this year after seeing some re-runs on TV. Fell in love with it instantly and my girlfriend recently bought me some of the box sets. She’s good like that bless her.

    Totally loving DM’s Wrong video. More than the actual song I think ๐Ÿ˜‰ I’m loving those ‘in the studio’ teasers on their website too.

  12. Twinkie says:

    I think about you every time I see the promos for this show.
    “The critics love it” is pretty much what the commercials say. And I wonder, “what critics are THEY consulting with?” tee hee..

    Anyways, I have yet to watch it. Although I love whats-her-name.

    Well, I guess I don’t love her enough to even know her name, but love her nontheless. She’s a great actress and has sexy lips.

  13. Wow. That video was just… wrong. ๐Ÿ™‚

  14. *pixie* says:

    I just finished reading Watchmen (for the first time) last week. It was fantastic and I can’t wait to see the movie now. I’ve heard the end of the film is different from the book. Not sure how, just that it’s different.

  15. Topher is annoying, I agree.

    The head shake at the end is what convinced me to try a few more episodes.

  16. Hilly says:

    I’m very worried that the show will get canceled before it has a chance to pick up its momentum. I think that my boyfriend Tammoh makes a good point and ya know, it takes almost 5-6 episodes of a show like this (rich in character development) to actually get really good. I’m actually hoping that the cast helps that but who knows…networks are jerky like that.

    I can’t watch Family Guy anymore cause, as you know, I fucking hate Peter. I do watch clips with Brian and Stewie on Hulu though!

  17. SeaL9199 says:

    Wrong
    Right song, right time, & right lyrics – at least for me anyway. Thanks for reminding me about the new upcoming release. Where is my iTunes pass?
    Itโ€™s really odd, 2-3 days ago I was flipping through your Flickr photos ( I donโ€™t get out much I have to live vicariously through other people and their Flickr photos), I even left you a Depeche Mode comment on Christmas crown.

    Glad you are feeling better.

  18. Sarah says:

    I think they should’ve cast me to play Topher. I’d be an awesome evil nerdy genius. Also, my witty comebacks don’t suck ass.

  19. Ren says:

    I liked this third episode of Dollhouse best so far. And I liked the second better than the first, so this is a good pattern — if the show survives.

  20. yellojkt says:

    I’ve misplaced my new copy of Watchmen and its got me really pissed.

  21. Makes me feel a little (or a lot) old to see all these musicians from my youth making a comeback. But I’m betting I won’t care if the albums kick ass.

  22. NaysWay says:

    I hope Dollhouse makes it. TV just isn’t the same anymore. You’re wasting your time getting invested when networks just put it on the chopping blog a few months later. But I love Joss Whedon, so I’ll hang in there. Eliza Dushku needs to stop being so plastic.

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