Saturday July 16th, 2011

Captain's log... oh wait, scratch that. This ain't no Star Trek fan blog.

UWTL talking bout the best bald protagonist on TV since Patrick Stewart. That's right, Mr. Bryan Cranston (though mind you I never actually watched THE SHIELD). The best show that will air on television this year (as we continue on in the year without MAD MEN) returns tomorrow, or technically tonight. I'm currently on the home stretch of catching up to date with the series that goes to deeper, darker, and even occasionally funnier places than any show in recent memory, if ever. The transformation of a mild mannered father and chemistry teacher, into an increasingly powerful drug manufacturer and kingpin, all while battling cancer, has been an awesome thing to watch. BREAKING BAD is so damn good, that it wins fools over before they've ever even seen a minute (well, at least for this fool).

Like plenty of other great gems, I was definitely late to the party and I've also lagged behind in my arrival to said party. I got my hands on the pilot script and the first season of the show a good 12-18 months ago. I read and watched the pilot then, and was instantly hooked. Actually, in a weird way I'd felt as if it was one of my favorite shows before I ever even read a word or watched a frame. There was something about the hype, and the vibe of the show that just clicked with me before I was ever even exposed to it. The danger, the drama, the tragedy, the comedy, a show's got to be pretty unbelievably rich in these departments in order to win fans such as myself, at such an early stage.

After reading the pilot, I was absolutely blown away by the attention to detail and care that was put into the portrayal of this man, Walter White. I loved the emptiness of the Ontario, CA setting, and how that really informed the direness of the characters predicament. When I sat down to watch the filmed version, I was pleased with the change of setting to Albuquerque, NM which is a choice that really opened the world up to endless visual possibilities that the previously scripted section of California couldn't really provide. One thing I found, and maybe this is a testament to great writing in general, is that the read was much stronger than the filmed end result. I was a little underwhelmed by the look and feel of the pilot, especially when measured against my imagination of what it would be like, based on the superb words. That being said, this was super low budget TV without a doubt, and with that in mind they did a really great job and have pushed and evolved the visual aspect of the show as it went on.

I'm sure I could talk about this stuff for days, but alas it's 2:17 in the morning, I plan to get another episode in at least to find myself 3 episodes closer to catching up before tomorrow night's season premiere. That and I'd like to get to sleep at a not too absurd hour.

I highly recommend this show for anyone who can handle a little edge, and who loves great television. From what i've read and heard, this fourth season is as dark and compelling as ever, which is a crazy awesome accomplishment considering the show has already had those two things in spades during it's first 3 seasons.

Friday July 15th, 2011

UWTL talking about fear and loathing in Los Angeles. No this is not the title of a long lost sequel and or companion to the Hunter S. Thompson text or Terry Gilliam film of a similar name, different city. What it is, is a re-appropriation of this counter culture touchstone, that applies to the current state of our over the top, unreal and occasionally out of touch city. With the onset of the cleverly named “Carmageddon” considering there’s a explosion packed, earth shattering Michael Bay movie in theaters at the moment, we as a city found ourselves fearful of the unknown complications of the closure of a crucial stretch of freeway, and loathing of what we always loath, being the oh so wonderful prospect of being caught in a clusterf%$ of LA traffic. If 12:01 tonight was truly the end, it likely ended with a bang rather than a whimper. Remember y2k? Yup, that shit didn’t happen. Remember The Rapture? Yup, didn’t happen as far as this town of Jews knows (for those good Christians who evaporated on that fateful day, I apologize that we barely noticed thy disappearance of thee).

We live in a fear based culture where decisions are influenced by it, lives are lived in it, and we miss out on a shit lot because of it. The loathing, everybody has a little of it, towards themselves to varying to degrees as well as to other people, places and things. All I know is that driving home from work at 7:30 this evening, I’ve barely seen fewer souls on the road. Mind you I had the simple commute from Culver City to Santa Monica but the good old Google map showed clear sailing just about everywhere save for a few patches of Hollywood (which, let’s be honest, can always be a little slow to go). All this worry and talk about the delays, and need to stay home, and avoiding the opposite side of town, forced people into their homes and free’d traffic up immensely. It remains to be seen how the rest of the weekend will go, but my hunch is that if you’re smart, you’ll go about business as usual (that is, unless you’re trying to get from the Westside to the Valley of course).

I personally am not gonna try to make any big bold driving moves if I don’t have to, but I will be trekking over to west Hollywood on Sunday afternoon out of semi-academic necessity (Improv class).

Save for that hopefully will get some welcome R&R and some much needed creative and viewing productivity in (writing and BREAKING BAD catch up before Season 4 kicks off Sunday). How’s your weekend lookin?

Friday June 24th, 2012

UWTL yet again but you already knew that. It's almost 4am and I barely have anything to show for it. I blame the week, the pizza, the booze, the smoke, the hot-dogs, the Dodgers, the chair and the me for this all.

Ohhh, 4 dings. It's official, it's so GD past my bedtime you have no idea. Rather than regale you with additional paragraphs of nocturnal mundanality (that's right, new word, i'm using it), I am going to take this opportunity to cash in my chips yet again, and hit the reset button on this semi-successful day I've just had.

Goodnight but more accurately good morning.

Friday and Saturday June 17th and 18th, 2012

It's been a real UWTL kind of weekend. Consolidating both into one post due to the fact that I may have passed out in this very seat at 3 in the morning.

Friday's UWTLness was a result of a bday shindig. Hollywood nights and such. Saw/ met some good people, and a few not so goods. Had a few drinks, went to a few bars. Although going out is not my usual favorite activity, pretty fun night, that one.

Tonight was a little more my speed. Took it pretty easy during the day, then grabbed din and saw a movie with the Sis which is always nice. SUBMARINE was the film. It will be difficult for you to find as it's a mighty Indie that's quickly disappearing from theaters but I'd highly recommend it if you can.

Then spent the later part of the evening writing up a small storm and finally finishing up season 2 of JUSTIFIED. Man that's an awesome show.

TV is amazing right now! The big season 1 finale of THE KILLING, coming up tomorrow! Pretty stoked for that. GAME OF THRONES, another fave, is finale-izing too but I am so far behind on that shite that it's gonna be a little while til I find myself enjoying that.

Looking forward to a mellow sunday/ Father's day. Happy day to all the Dads of da world, most of all mine!

Saturday June 11th, 2011

UWTL and i'm tired as hell. Need to sleep, two late weekend nights equal minimal productivity for myself.

Go Mavs!

That is all.

Friday June 10th, 2011

UWTL because I left work an hour ago. Did I start a post with that exact same sentence last month? Maybe, but so what? Who cares? I do what I want.

Another lovely evening in the writers' room, observing the pros at work. This time I was the note taker for better or worse, and after a good hour of overwhelm, with some food ordering and pickup sprinkled in, I caught up and got my bearings. I even piped up a few times to offer a suggestion or ask a question. Always a bit of a conundrum for a lowly assistant such as myself. When to make creative suggestions or contributions and when to bite my tongue so hard that it bleeds? The latter is definitely the safer and expected route, but when a solid idea arises sometimes you just gotta take a shot.

Anywho, a good night overall, and this time it was involuntary which may lead to a little OT (never a bad thing). After weathering the early storm and a few bouts of exhaustion after a long day/ sleep deprived week, I felt comfortable in there and started to actually think a little bit like a TV writer, which is difficult to do most of the time considering at this moment, I'm not one. Hopefully will be getting in the room more often on these last few episodes.

Happy to have this week over as it was long and ebbed and flowed productivity-wise. Now I must sleep to face the weekend which could benefit from being productive.

Goodnight, chat more tomorrow night perhaps?

Saturday June 4th, 2011

UWTL and damn am I tired. Nothing too interesting to share other than solid day, golf was played, mosaics were viewed, drinks were drank and I miss Hamburger Helper.

Going to sleep now, busy Sunday to follow.