For Kimberlie...because I love you, you are awesome, and I can't seem to get to sleep anyway!

 So it's late, I've already posted once today, er, yesterday I guess, but I can't sleep and I keep thinking about something my old roommate, Kimberlie, and I used to talk about all the time: the "Hot Guy Wall".  Well, I remember she thought it was wicked weird that I'd talk about BSG and a few other uber geeky shows all the time (but mostly BSG) and then I showed her pics of Anders and Lee Adama...well, she agreed, they were HGW material.  So this post is for you miss Kimberlie, I'm going to give you HGW: Manda's TV show edition (btw, if you're not Kimberlie and you find this offensive, just don't read on, it's ok, no judging, remember that!)

Michael Trucco, Samuel Anders: Battlestar Galactica

Jamie Bamber, Lee Adama: Battlestar Galactica

John Barrowman, Captain Jack Harkness: Doctor Who

Cory Montithe, Finn Hudson: Glee

Mark Salling, Noah "Puck" Puckerman: Glee

Michael Vartan, Agent Michale Vaughn: Alias

Joshua Jackson, Peter Bishop: Fringe

Zachary Levi, Cuck Bartowski: Chuck

Chace Crawford, Nate Archibald: Gossip Girl

 

Ed Westwick, Chuck Bass: Gossip Girl

Adam Brody, Seth Cohen: The O.C.

Kristoffer Polaha, Nate "Baze" Bazile: Life UneXpected

James Roday, Shawn Spencer: Psych

Tom Welling, Clark Kent: Smallville

Justin Hartley, Oliver "Ollie" Queen: Smallville

John Krasinski, Jim Halpert: The Office

David Tennant, The Doctor: Doctor Who

Ian Somerhalder, Damon Salvatore: Vampire Diaries

So I know I've missed a lot of HGW guys, but meh, that's alright!  I mean it's right now 2:20 am and I'm finally starting to get tired.  So Kimberlie, I hope you like your present!  I miss you and can't wait to see you in the Fall!!!  It will be epic!

~Manda

Long Time, No Write (and lots of finales!)

So I just realized how long it's been since my last post....and oh my goodness: nearly a month!!!!  It's rather insane.  Since then I have seen multiple amazing season finales, caught up on all the Doctor Who, started watching Vampire Diaries (and was surprised that I kinda liked it), have seen Psych, etc. etc.  So yeah, time to catch up!

Season Finales (in alphabetical order):

The Big Bang Theory's finale was kind of a let down.  I love the show, and it is so incredibly funny, but the introduction of the female Sheldon was just weird.  I also really miss the Leonard/Penny relationship (stupid Wil Wheaton anyway...just kidding, he's cool).  But yeah, the finale, could've been more epic.

Chuck on the other hand was AWESOME!!!!!  The whole his dad dying and his sister learning about his CIA secret and the his secret about dying getting out to Sarah etc. etc.  I just love that show!  It was so intense and so epic (and it's been a while since I watched it so the details are not at all fresh on my mind, but) it was all around awesome! I do remember that the whole thing with Ellie taking care of Chuck and stuff, it really made me miss my little brothers, especially Davis.  I love how real the relationship between Ellie and Chuck is, it's one thing about the show that just makes me love it even more!!!  Love the show, the characters, the fact that it's gaining a wider fan-base (finally, it's about time!)  Oh yeah, and the return of the EVIL EVIL EVIL Shaw (didn't love that!)?!  Oh. My. Gosh!!!  This show just pretty much ROCKS!!!

The "oh my gosh that was the most intense season finale EVER" award definitely would go to Fringe!  Peter and Olivia FINALLY admit feelings and it looks all happily ever after, then WHAM!  She gets locked (literally) in an alternate dimension?!?!?!  Nooooooooo!!!!!  But really, the suspense is KILLING me for next season!!!!  That was one crazy season finale!

  

Glee, oh Glee...I'm sure a lot of people are sick of hearing about that show, but I love it!  I have to admit it's an odd feeling loving a show in it's freshman year that is such a big hit and isn't on the brink of cancellation.  It seems there are a lot of people who were not impressed by the finale, and I'm kind of a fence sitter on the matter.  I mean, the show is great because of the music, everyone should've realized that by now.  The story is cheesy, rather predictable, clichéd, and all sorts of lame, but the music, the talent, the energy, that's why the show is good.  Yes the season finale felt like every other episode, but really, why wouldn't it?  I love that they went back to Journey...and Faithfully?  I totally LOVED it!!!  But I think my favorite part would have to be the little convo between Rachel and Finn (her saying, "Break a leg," and him replying "I love you"....yup, squealed with delight right there!!!)  And I'm so glad that Jesse is out of the picture (I'm a die hard Finn fanatic...freaking LOVE that guy!!!)  I didn't like the Bohemian Rhapsody/giving birth sequence, it just felt totally awkward and weird, but oh well.  (Oh, and Will telling Emma he loves her, that was fun too.)

The HIMYM finale was cute.  I love how Barney made himself his own doppleganger...I just like that show, it makes me happy.  I love how Lily thought that weird looking guy looked like Barney.  The finale wasn't epic or anything, but it was good.  I love that cast for that show, they're always so much fun.  And I honestly can't wait for it to return in the fall.

Ok, Life UneXpected has surprisingly become a favorite of mine.  I'm surprised mostly because I really hated Shirri Appleby in Roswell (if you ever get the hankering to watch that show, I'm warning you, DO NOT CONTINUE PAST SEASON ONE!  And if you do, remember, I warned you!!!)  But I really, really like this show.  I love the cast, Baze especially!  I love the dynamics they have between all the characters (Baze/Cate, Baze/Ryan, Cate/Ryan, Baze/Lux, Cate/Lux, Ryan/Lux, etc.)  I think it's a really charming show and I love how its more of a family dramedy and how it doesn't feel as skanky as say Parenthood (I really dislike that show!  Like serious dislikeage!)  But the finale...I have to admit...I did cry.  (I tend to do that during TV shows, don't judge...I bawled during the season 2 finale of the Office, cried in the series finale of BtVS, multiple other episodes of BtVS, a select few episodes of Smallville, the pilot of Lost...I could go on and on, and I surprisingly have a much shorter list of movies I've cried during...go figure.)  It was so heartbreaking when Baze looked at Cate with that ultra pathetic, adorable, puppy dog face and she still chose Ryan...bawling like a baby.  It was so good, love the show, can't wait for season 2!

Modern Family really surprised me.  I had talked to my brother about the show over Christmas break and he felt ashamed that he had seen a few episodes.  I decided to check it out and I instantly fell in love.  I love how it's all mockumentary style a la the Office, but with more of a TV show feel between head-shots.  I really like it and although the finale just felt like the rest of the show (a lot of first season finales are like that) I can't wait till season 2!

The Office isn't as good as it used to be.  I've seen every episode, a lot of them multiple times, and I have to say, season 2 has always been and probably always will be my all time favorite.  This season was good (a lot better than the pre-strike episodes in season 4 anyway) but I think I'm only really watching it out of loyalty.  Don't get me wrong, I love the show and I think it's really funny pretty much every week, but I think it's getting old.  I'll probably see every episode even if it lasts another six seasons, but I think its prime was back in 2006.

New Shows (for me anyway):

So, I've now officially seen all the new Doctor Who episodes.  I'm practically in love with David Tennant, I loved all the story lines, I felt smart knowing who Billie Piper was when I was talking to my British friend, Debbie, I now understand the obsessively compelling nature of the show, I think Matt Smith is a funny and slightly adorable Doctor (but I think its weird because even though he's quite a bit younger than David Tennant...and all the other Doctors for that matter...he seems more...I dunno, ancient and old and stuff...maybe its the fish fingers and custard), and I absolutely ADORE Karen Gillan...she is so cool! (I hope I can grow up to be like her one day).  Yeah, Doctor Who is molto bene!  Oh, and Saturday's episode?  How on EARTH is he going to get out of the Pandorica and is Amy REALLY dead?!  That's just so sad!  I mean she and Rory were finally back together (at least sort of).  So, the Doctor got super dark at the end of the David Tennant era, and so I guess I was just a little surprised with how dark the new series is already...but I have to admit, it was cooool!!!!

Ok, Psych.  It's so funny and the Shawn/Gus bromance is hilarious and the one liners are priceless, the Shawn/Juliette pseudo relationship is adorable...I have to admit, I like it all very much!  I just finished season 4 today and was so sad when Juliette started crying in Lassie's arms at the end of the episode...and it was just freaky, the picture of little Shawn with Yang....creeeeppy.  And it was sad what happened to Mary (but the funeral, how sweet!)  I'm excited for season 5.  I dunno if it's going to become one of my week to week shows (like Chuck, Fringe, Life UneXpected, Glee, etc.) or one of my "watch the whole season marathon style" shows (like Lost, Heroes, and Smallville) but regardless, it's a great show, and I have to thank my friend from work, Spencer, for turning me onto it.

Last is Vampire Diaries.  I have to admit, my friend, Ruthie, knows me pretty darn well.  We were making jewelry to sell at farmers markets around the valley and she turned this on.  She was smart and started it off with the disclaimer "Ok Amanda, don't worry, this show is based on books that were written 1991."  I immediately became less skeptical (and for those of you who don't already know this, the Buffy movie came out in '92 and the series didn't start till '96).  Well, if there is one thing I probably hate more than vampire-y stuff coming out because of (and based on *gag*) Twilight it's got to be Buffy wanna-bes (most especially the blatant ones and ones that admit that they are intentionally copying it *cough* Roswell and Charmed *cough*).  So, I decided, "hey, it's not based on Twilight and it's a pre-Buffy story, I guess I'll just try it out."  Well, it's good, not "oh my gosh amazing" but it's good.  And then there's Damon Salvatore!!!!  First of all I love Ian Somerhalder.  Loved him in both Smallville and Lost...he's got amazing eyes, a beautiful face, and really great hair.  Plus he can totally play the whiny, slightly incestuous, spoiled rich boy and make the character pretty hot, and he can also rock the villainous villain with a heart of pure evil as well as the boy who fits right in between...yeah, can't lie, I watch Vampire Diaries for Damon (and because I'm insanely jealous of Elena's hair...oh, and the fact that Damon is totally in love with her and it's more fun to watch than Stefan's love with the brooding and the complaining, that too).

So yeah, there you go...all the shows are pretty much over for a while (I guess they've already been over for a while).  So this TV junkie seriously can't wait till the fall premires (until then I have shows like Smallville, Lost, and the apparently disappointing final season of Heroes that I can watch).  Have a wonderful summer (cuz it officially started today!  YAY!)

~Manda

No Chuck this week :( ....But GLEE IS BACK!!!

Glee is back and I still haven't had any internal rivalry between my two favorite shows on air (I think Chuck would win!)  So sad that Chuck wasn't on this week, but the Big Bang Theory was back this week with some very sad development between Leonard and Penny, but other than that, it was great fun!  Monday night also showcased the heartbreaking season finale of Life UneXpected.  That show is leaps and bounds better than I expected!  People who know me know that I seldom cry in a movie, but I'm ALWAYS crying with TV, and I cried when Cate kissed Ryan after locking eyes with Baze who was trying to proclaim his love and stop the wedding....sooooo sad!!!!!

 
Well, yes, Glee is back for the final nine!  Personally, I found last night's episode to be kind of a let down.  The music was great as well as the comedy and the introduction of  Johnathan Groff and Idina Menzel's characters, but I felt like the whole thing was a little choppy.  In the "previously" section it just went straight into saying that Rachel thought she and Finn were dating and that he felt kinda weird about it....WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN?!  I think it's unfortunate that they pretty much completely glossed over that.  I did, however, end up liking Jesse Saint James a lot more than I thought I would...and now part of me is thinking that this whole Rachel/Finn on and off drama is feeling a little like Jim and Pam in the first seasons of the Office...but they move a lit faster (thank goodness!)  One more thing I just loved: Terry!!!!  She rocked!  She didn't seem quite so crazy, in fact I personally thought she made Will look a little crazier than we've seen him...she's what kept him sane!

As for the music...I love the Doors (absolutely love "Hello, I Love You" and Finn was AWESOME in it!!!) and the Beatles (so glad they didn't end up doing "Come Together"...only the Beatles can do that song, not Michael Jackson or Aerosmith! And the way Rachel pulled away from Finn and ran off stage at the end...she still likes him!!!  YES!!!!) and I think their Classic Rock songs are the best (especially when Mr. Finn is singing....mmmmm :)  wonderful!)  I hope that sometime in the near future they'll do some STYX, Foreigner, and something by the Cars.  Yeah, the main reason I watch the show: the music, most definitely!

So yeah, the choppiness is what I didn't like (and it's why, right now, Chuck is winning in the competition for my affections...cuz we all know that that's a REALLY important, cut throat competition...kidding!)  But that's all...excited for next week's episode and for when Chuck comes back again...I can't wait to compare the two on back to back nights!

~Manda

Can't wait till April!

So, I've loved my Buffy kick, and I've been watching Chuck, Life UneXpected, Fringe, The Office, and Caprica but there is one show that I really, really miss!!!  It's been interesting actually liking a show that has a guarantee renewal...it almost makes me more excited...almost. But boy do I miss it.

Of what show do I speak?  Glee of course.  I started listening to some of the J-Pop I loved when I was living in Japan, and that got me on the track back to Glee (not sure how, but it did).  I really miss it!  With Chuck getting so depressing all of the sudden I miss having a show that is pretty much a constant guarantee for...well, for glee!

So yeah, if you haven't watched any of it yet, you've still got time before it starts up again in April...so GO WATCH IT!!!!!  That's all

~Manda

Chuck vs. the sad spy-ness

So tonights episode of Chuck made me frown.  I loved it, don't get me wrong, and every totally awesome show needs some sad parts, but I was right there with Sarah looking at the screen with Chuck on it and wishing he could go back to being not a spy.

When I talk to friends about this season of Chuck they all have one concern: that the show will change due to the new intersect.  I do think the show is changing, but not cuz of the intersect.  The change is good...and rather inevitable.  Chuck couldn't always "wait in the car".  He needed to become self-reliant at some point, I was just hoping that it wouldn't end up so sad.

Well, the episode hasn't actually officially aired yet, so I'm gonna stop myself now (and yes, I am momentarily deluded enough to think that my writing any more would be cause for premature spoilers...I can pretend that my blog gets read by the masses even though I know it doesn't...what of it!)  So, enjoy Chuck tonight...it's good, but if you're a big fan, you will be sad at the end.

Also, if you're at all into shows like Gilmore Girls (the more family-type side of teen drama...y'know, the stuff that you aren't completely ashamed of admitting to the fact that you watch it, but a tiny part of you says you probably should be), the CW's new show, Life UneXpected, is actually pretty good so far.  I've seen the last two episodes and am looking forward to tonight's.

So, happy TV watching!  And I absolutely adore any and all of my readers...however nonexistent they may be.

~Manda