So, the first two episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars have aired on Cartoon Network (Oct. 3 9pm) and I have to say that I am one happy fanboy!

The first episode airing was the best of the two and followed Yoda and 3 clone troopers as they make their way through battalions of battle droids, commanded by the evil Sith apprentice Asajj Ventress, to reach the leader of the planet Toydaria so they can be made allies of the Republic. The action was kinetic and the characters really shine here in many ways better than they ever did in the prequel films. The second episode involved jedi Plo Koon commanding clone troopers in the quest to take down a Separatist weapon commanded by Count Dooku and General Grievous. The weapon destroys Plo’s fleet of ships and he ends up in an escape pod with some troopers as they are hunted by Grievous’s droids. Anakin and his new apprentice, Ahsoka, rush to rescue Plo and crew. This episode was very good but lacked the action that the first had. Still, Star Wars fans should find much to be geekily happy about here. And that brings me to what I have to say about certain so called Star Wars fans…

It’s always been known that mainstream critics usually dislike a Star Wars property. Now, I’ll give them some credit. The prequel films did have a lot of problems and they did not measure up to the fun of the original trilogy. But there is also a lot about them I like and I found them entertaining. This animated series basically had it’s pilot shown in theaters around the world in August as a feature film. I loved it. I thought it was better in many ways to any of the prequels. Hell, I actually liked Anakin for the first time in this flick. But, the fanboy community ripped it apart complaining that it didn’t have any depth and complained about the humor (mainly the exchanges between battle droids). All I got to say is why don’t you just sit back and enjoy a Star Wars film for what it is. It’s supposed to be entertainment, not a religious experience. And George Lucas has said time and again that this series is supposed to be for kids and the young at heart. All of you 30-ish year olds need to realize that this animated Star Wars is aimed at kids. If the adult fans like it, that’s awesome but the truth is that this is for the young and it’s just entertainment, nothing deeper than that. Yeah, it does deal with some mythological and dramatic themes but we’re not talking about the Bible or Shakespeare here. Now, it seems to be the cool thing to hate Star Wars. If you take it for what it is and still don’t like it, that’s cool. But if you are making this out for more than what it is then you really need to get a life.

Critics were definitely kinder to these two episodes that have aired on Cartoon Network but still there were a good bit of haters out there. And, of course, the fanboys put in their two cents and I guess they want the second coming on television. What I watched has me really looking forward to the coming episodes. This is an action packed show that promises to present some great characterization and finally will give the clone troopers some of the spotlight. The only flaws I can see so far is the length (30 minutes w/ commercials is pretty short) and the humor with the battle droids (which really isn’t that bad). Overall, this is good stuff!

So, if you’re not really a Star Wars fan but like wonderful animation you should check this out. The visuals alone are beautiful. If you are a Star Wars fan, quit being so anal about it, get yourself a girlfriend and enjoy the further exploration of the Star Wars universe. This show actually gives us a lot of the fun that was missing in the prequel films and enriches this particular universe.

Remember — Cartoon Network Fridays at 9pm.

May the Force be with you…

OK first things first, Baby Mama is out on DVD now so go check it out if you didn’t see it in the theatres earlier this year.  Second, my little geek crush Tina Fey and her friend Amy Poehler were at it again this past weekend on Saturday Night Live.

In the video you will see Tina and Amy poking fun at the two top women this year in politics – Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin.  The sad thing about this video is how much Tina really looks and sounds like Sarah Palin. 

It’s creepy I tell  you.  Sexy but creepy none the less.

Let me start this post by saying that if I’d known that this is how I’d be affected by the current Writers Strike, I might have been more sympathetic to their plight.

It has now been about three weeks since this series was started on Fox and I kept telling myself that I would wait to pass judgement on this show until I had a chance to watch several episodes.  Well after I tried to watch the latest offering in this show last night and was instead treated to a re-run of the pilot episode I feel like it’s time to speak my mind.

First up if you’d watched the second movie you would realize that this series has a lot of explaining to do in the form of by the end of the second film every thing at Cyberdine Systems had been destroyed courtesy of Linda Hamilton and the Govenator, then how would this show even be possible?

Second, if these machines are so advanced that they have mastered time travel, and they have failed at least twice to stop John Connor and Co., then why not go back far enough to kill all of John’s ancestors thus ensuring that he never exists.

And third, if through both movies (I don’t mention the third since this series seems to indicate that that movie didn’t happen) we are taught that John Connor is the future savior of mankind after the machines take over, then why don’t we have a show focused on him instead of his mom?  Better yet why is this series using the overused time travel plot device instead of showcasing John’s rise to power and the struggle mankind has against it’s cybernetic counterparts by basing the show after the events of Judgement Day?

I would think that a premise such as that would leave writers wide open to explore what makes John tick, as well as trying to show us the error of our ways of always trying to create life in the sense of creating an intelligent being (Skynet) that ultimately makes the decision that humans are inferior and thus decides to kill us all.

I say all of this to convey my disappointment in Hollywood once again creating:

• an unnecessary show that no one asked for
• not taking stock of the movie plots that the show is supposedly based on
• not willing or unable to answer the questions that their show’s plot holes have created
• and then casting it with actors that are either uninterested in the subject matter to give a convincing performance or using actors that I can’t tell if they really are doing a great job conveying the emotionless killers sent to destroy us or are so wooden in their approach (*cough Summer Glau cough*)that I long for the company of a 6 foot tall, shiny metal killing robot with a .50 cal Desert Eagle pointed at my temple.

Okay, most of the time when a movie concept is turned into a TV show, it sucks. But from what I’ve seen and read about this one I think it might actually kick some ass.

On January 13, 2008 the pilot episode for Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles will premiere on Fox. Since it appears that 24: Season 7 is not going to be coming in January due to the Writer’s Guild strike, Fox is putting this on in place of the adventures of Jack Bauer.

The show takes place after the events of Terminator 2 with Sarah Connor (played by Lena Headey of 300) trying to protect her son and the savior of the human race, John Connor (played by Thomas Dekker of Heroes), from assorted dangers including the robotic Terminators that are sent back in time to eliminate him. There is a Terminator assigned to protect him played by Summer Glau (Firefly, Serenity)

which ensures some hardcore Terminator on Terminator action. Also starring is Richard T. Jones (Event Horizon and Judging Amy ) as an FBI agent on the trail of the Connors. Will it suck or will it rock? Tune in and find out!

Is your favorite show’s proverbial pale, skinny neck on the line? Here are some alternatives that you can start DVRing now!

If you like Reaper…try Chuck. (or vice versa).
Both shows posts similarly interesting concepts – reluctant super geek unrealistically wins the affections of the incredibly hot leading lady while living a 007 kinda life. While every nerd gene in me wants to like both of these show, they haven’t even made the DVR cut and it’s a toss up. But if you like one, chances are you’ll like the other. Chuck airs Mondays on NBC at 8, Reaper airs Tuesdays at 9 on the CW.

Here are the pros and cons:

Reaper Pros:
Taylor Labine plays sidekick “Sock” with the comedic genius of Chris Farley and the political correctness of Gregory House – hysterical. The show is scheduled for a full 13 episodes, so you won’t be caught on a cliffhanger. The aforementioned love interest is much less annoying than her counterpart. Ray Wise (previously a VP on 24) plays an excellent satan.
Reaper Cons:
Call me old fashioned, but I like my superhero-ish type people to retain their secret identities. Here, everybody but Mom and Girlfriend know – ain’t that how it always is? Lead, Bret Harrison just isn’t a good actor and his character is written rather whiney.

Chuck Pros: Leading man Zachary Levi is more charming than his counterpart, there is considerable less whining from this character and he is a better actor.

Chuck Cons:
All the whine in this program comes for sidekick “Morgan”. The female lead is unbelievable and annoying. The show’s premise of information implanted into Chuck’s brain is theoretically more plausible than Reaper’s dealings with the devil, so why do I believe it less?

If you love Heroes…you might like Pushing Daisies.
These two shows have only a vague commonality in that they both deal with the “supernatural”. If you’re not up to date on Heroes, then you should immediately flog yourself and then go here. Good, moving on…
Pushing Daisies has stolen my cold dead heart. Its tender love story, quirky mysteries and Technicolor landscapes make for a phenomenally well crafted show. Supporting characters are just as interesting as the leads and the overall good-hearted themes are endearing and refreshing. Daisies has been picked up for a full season, but you’ll have to DVR the repeats until the strike is over.

Pushing Daisies airs Wednesdays on ABC at 8pm.
If you like Dancing with the Stars…you’ll need to leave now. No, seriously, get the f#ck out and go watch some Next Top Model or some other sh#t, cause you’re in the wrong place.

If you like any of the CSIs…you’ll love Criminal Minds.
I think most people agree that the original is always the best. Now, with the departure of our first original CSI, Sara Sidle, we’re at risk of having someone decidedly grating to replace her. The jury is still out on the new chick – we’ll see. If you haven’t been watching CSI: NY, check it out again, they’ve really gotten their stuff straight since Season 1, but if you’re already watching both and you’ve missed Criminal Minds, start watching this show NOW! This is not on my DVR lists because it’s just too good to pass up and I have previously touted the merits of this show. One of the best aspects of any crime drama is the psychological motives behind the very bad things that these very bad people are doing. If you’re thinking Criminal Minds would be too mundane or cerebral for you consider this: this past week’s episode was about a cannibal who ended up serving soup to the search party of the girl that he had killed. Guess what was in the soup? OH yeah baby, the girl that they were searching for. Criminal Minds kicks it up a notch – BAM!

Criminal Minds airs Wednesdays at 9pm on CBS.

Other good bets:

Women’s Murder Club – based on my favorite James Patterson novels, women will love the dynamics between these characters, men probably not so much. Fridays, ABC 9.
Numb3rs – great casting and characters make this show good. Fridays, CBS 10.

The best serialized show on TV is back and the Season 2 premiere didn’t disappoint. Taking place 4 months after last season’s finale we catch up with Hiro, Claire, Parkman and the rest of the gang as they try to get their lives back on track after saving New York City from nuclear annihalation last season.

Claire and family have relocated to Southern California but seem to be having some difficulty fitting in. The scene with Claire’s dad (aka H.R.G.) as he deals with his new boss was priceless. Hiro finds out that the legendary Japanese hero, Takezo Kensei, is actually a drunk English opportunist and when Hiro saves Kensei he actually changes history. Hiro is on a mission to set things right and as always the character is the heart of the show. Hiro’s father is apparently killed by a hooded superpowered attacker that he knows and the elder members of The Company look to be on a hitlist of some sort. Nathan Petrelli is still alive and looking very “rough”, beard and all. The smooth politician we knew last season is gone and he seems to be consumed by sadness over his missing brother Peter. In the last few moments of the show we see a disoriented Peter chained inside of a cargo container in Ireland surrounded by some men—do they work for The Company? Stay tuned….the show will get better and better I’m sure.

Also, concerning the upcoming spin-off show, Heroes: Origins, it was announced a while back that Kevin Smith (Clerks, Chasing Amy, Dogma) would be directing an episode but now two more have joined up. Director Eli Roth (Hostel) and Michael Dougherty (writer of X-Men 2 and Superman Returns) will be handling episodes respectively. The show will air during the mid-season hiatus of the original show and will introduce new characters which viewers will get to vote for their favorite and they will appear in season 3 of the original show.

Keep watching!!

CBS’s official 2007-2008 season starts September 24th.

CSI: Thursday, September 27th. The return of the minitaure killer. Do you think it’s the lab geek? Me too. Let’s find out together.

CSI: New York. Wednesday, September 26th. After the first season, this show really found its groove and with a few cast changes, quickly edged its way up to one of our favorites.

Criminal Minds: Wednesday, September 26th 10pm. Now in its fourth season it is easily one of the most underrated shows on TV. If, like me, you are always more interested in the motivations of killers rather than their means, you must start watching this. It’s CSI for shrinks.

House: Tuesday, September 25th. Oh Gregory, what will we do with you? Fox’s hit will be back soon and I gotta tell ya – I’d be happy with a total staff change here. Omar Epps’ character will be greatly missed, but the other two, not so much. Let’s stir it up a little bit, fling it out there and see what sticks. I’m game, and I know you are, doc.

Comedies:

30 Rock – October 4th

My name is Earl – Sept 27

Scrubs – October 25

Next week we’ll be showcasing some new shows – tune in!

I think this pretty much sums up how everyone feels.

Hit the links above for some more RoosterTeeth goodness.