bloggie blog

I am just now watching episode 10 of season 3 of Breaking Bad. It’s the episode about a fly. You know the one! It aired on May 23, so I’m a little behind. (I like to savor delicious things — or save delicious things for later.)

Pretty much only Mr White and Jesse have any lines. More significantly: It’s hilarious (for a while). I am laughing out loud and BB is not a Laugh Out Loud show. BB is a Freak the F Out show.

Anybody else remember and lurve this lovely episode about killing a fly? From pre-credits thingy, to whacking each with an impromptu flyswatter, this episode rawks. (Insiders, read this, too.)

Frequently, people tell me I remind them of Darrin Stephens on Bewitched. It’s confusing because Darrin Stephens was played by Dick York for 156 episdoes then by Dick Sargent for 84 episodes. Two Darrens, two Dicks.

Which Dick do I remind you of most? Links in Dicks’ names are to Google Images. Click, look, and weigh in via the comments.

From Bradley Whitford vomiting to clear a crime scene, to the poster art for the show, to Billy Squier’s “Stroke Me” introducing a sexy hot rod car, The Good Guys tickles my funny bone. Many months ago, I worked on the script for the pilot in an acting class, and I was hooked. I hope it lasts! Sometimes the good shows don’t, but The Good Guys, like Modern Family, could be a show we’ll be talking about for years to come.

It’s written by Ginsburg & McIntyre, and you can follow their shenanigans more on the Twitter.

Lena Horne was a wonderful singer. Her most famous song, I suppose, is Stormy Weather, which I was introduced to via M*A*S*H. (Dang, that show made me smart. Do sitcoms do that anymore?)

But Lena also sang some cheesy, fun lounge classics. On this day of her funeral, take a moment to enjoy these two songs that appeared on the Ultra-Lounge compilations. Wives and Lovers. It Had Better Be Tonight.

RIP, Lena. Rest in peace.

I was thrilled to see a Breaking Bad billboard the other day. I hate billboards, generally speaking, so there was that. But I love Breaking Bad!

My love of BB had actually caused me to stop watching the show. You know, keep a few episodes on the TiVo because watching them all means it’s over, and you don’t want it to end. So now, in glorious anticipation of season 3, I have plunged into the end of season 2.

Episode 11 starts with horrifying violence from a youth. Dear lord, I hope New Mexico doesn’t have such horrible murderous children. As for the rest of it, let me just say this: “Bob Odenkirk!!!!!! Anna Gunn prego singing — schwing!!!!!!”

Episode 12: Whoa. More Krysten Ritter!!!!!! and more John de Lancie!!!!!! Then there was the me watching the very end saying, “Holy sh*t.” Whoa.

Episode 13, episode the last: It starts with the B&W montage that reminds me once again of Sunset Boulevard, a montage we’ve seen a few variations of throughout the season. It is awesome. Perhaps you have to be into the show to know it’s awesome, like viewing a subtle work of art you might pass by at the museum if you didn’t see on the plaque that it’s by Famous Artist. This montage of doom segues into an opening scene of more death. It’s grisly. And it’s an awesome season finale.

And now … I await season 3. Bring it! (And please use actual element symbols for every credited named. Michael Slovis deserves as much.) Season 3 happens on Sunday the 21st!

My friend Stephen Katz appeared in a commercial during the Super Bowl. He’s the one that gets slapped as he graduates, slaps back, and then has a slapping moment with a dog, too!

It was a great experience to watch him watch himself. I spent that Sunday at his apartment, and after this spot aired, we high-fived and generally celebrated. We did not slap each other in the back of the head — he was too busy responding to the onslaught of text messages from his peeps. Good stuff. Congrats, Katz!

“Hold tight” for a few quick, random, unrelated comments on current television programming. I don’t care for Big Love’s new opening credits, but I’m loving that the show keeps being what it is, and am 100% into this new season.

Caprica, I can’t get into it. Despite my deep deep love for BSG. I have to say the strongest SyFy show now is SG-U.

Archer is a well-done cartoon on FX. People aren’t talking about it in my world, but they should. TV-MA ratings and cartoons can be a strange combo for viewers that aren’t immature men like myself, but check it out.

Modern Family is strong, strong, strong.

The Super Bowl was awesome.

And the two shows I never, ever miss continue to be The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, because they make me a better person.

What shows do you never miss?

Several days ago, I wrote on this here blog about having booked a role on 24. Several days ago? Weeks ago. Last year.

But now the day has arrived. Now I can say, “I am working on 24 tomorrow.” Excellent.

Script revisions (they always happen, in case you’re not familiar with the TV process) have given me a much bigger chunk of dialog to memorize, it turns out. So no more blogging, I’ve got work to do!

I booked a role on 24, the well-known Fox drama with a never-changing number of episodes from season to season. Many thanks to Peggy & Debi and Michael & Brad!

Yesterday, Friday, 18 December 2009, I visited Jim & Jean in the wardrobe department for a fitting, and then I’ll shoot my scene on 24′s next working day. This is a common way to schedule things in TV work, but there’s something quite uncommon about it in this case. The entire production team is taking an extra-long holiday hiatus, so their next working day is Monday, 18 January 2010. In fact, Season 8 premieres one day before my scene shoots. It will be thrilling to watch, I am sure, so watching it will not be a good idea. Thrilling TV keeps me up at night, and I have an early call time!