Cinematic Arias

While I do own a television set I don’t get any television. I don’t get cable or a satellite. Hell, I don’t even own rabbit ears so I can’t catch the local news ( I’m pretty happy about that). Still, I have a couple of shows I can’t wait to catch.

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA – A bombardment of “you’ve got to see this” got me to Netflix the series. 17 minutes into the first episode, when No. 6 has that moment with the baby, I shot to my feet and I knew I was hooked. I’ve only seen the first two seasons, I’m waiting for season 3 to come out on DVD, but I might have to make friends so I can watch Season 4.

DEXTER – Speaking of making friends… well, I’ll get to that. I think a quick blurb in Entertainment Weekly sent me to the web. A Google search told me that I could stream the first two episodes. I did and I wanted more but damn it I couldn’t buy the season on iTunes (you couldn’t while the show was premiering; you can now). Cut to a few days later when I meet a cute girl at a party. I learn that 1) she gets Showtime and 2) she loves DEXTER. Guess who I start seeing? Unfortunately, it all fell apart before the 6th episode aired; DEXTER is currently in my Netflix cue.

HEROES – Last year, for some whimsical reason, I wanted to dip my foot into digital content delivery river. I knew I wanted to buy a season pass to a new television series I just didn’t know which. HEROES was on my radar, mostly because a few friends knew Masi Oka. Then the hype hit the fan and you couldn’t avoid it. Everyone was raving about HEROES. Being a comic book junkie, I bit. The show was fun, really great at first, but by the end I found myself feeling the same fatigue after a comic book title twists itself into one too many story knots. I said, “that was cool but I’m not getting season two.” Then I heard that the producers landed the lead from my favorites recently canceled show…

VERONICA MARS – I own the first two seasons on DVD and while I heard the third took a mighty slip I still plan on picking it up sight unseen. I think it was a top notch show that never got the respect it deserved. Plus I fell in love with Kristen Bell/Veronica Mars. Blond, spunky, dark, damaged, vengeful, how could a boy resist?

(I’m sorry, I couldn’t help resorting to cheesecake. And I realize I’m in love with the character more so than the actress. I don’t know Kristen Bell nor have I read any interviews with her but I think she’s a tremendous actress. Just allow me the fantasy for now.)

When I learned that HEROES had signed her for the second season I knew I would be renewing my iTunes season pass. Then iTunes and NBC had their spat. I sure hope the network streams that show.
Oh, one last show I’ll catch either via iTunes or streaming:

MISS GUIDED – Why? First, I have a terrible crush on Judy Greer (sorry Kristen). Second, and most importantly, my friend Caroline Williams is the creator/writer/co-executive producer. Many moons ago I directed a staged reading of one of her feature length script. People, what can I say, she’s funny and awesome.