TV DeathRay Archive

November 10, 2010

‘No Ordinary Family’ Recap: In-Laws Invade in ‘No Ordinary Visitors’

Filed under: featured,Recaps — Tags: , , — Aaron Broverman @ 4:05 pm

The Powell family has learned that trying to hide super powers is no picnic at the best of times, but throw in a visit from Jim’s in-laws, Barbara and Allan Crane, and the prospect becomes downright torturous. Kudos to guest-stars Cybill Shepherd and Bruce McGill as the in-laws from hell. Their one-liners left everyone stinging with painful passive-aggression.

Watching the family stew over keeping their powers under wraps while Stephanie’s snooping parents kept making mysterious discoveries, (the huge number of shoes in her closet, tons of chocolate bars in desk drawers and holes in the walls) was truly priceless. I’ve never had more fun watching the show, as the family spent the entire episode playing keep-away while Barbara and Allan raised the tension so much that I thought for sure the Powells would break and spill the beans!

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September 28, 2010

Interview: David Blue Previews ‘Stargate Universe’ Season 2

Filed under: featured,Features — Tags: , , , , , — Mike Moody @ 3:50 pm

I spoke with David Blue of Stargate Universe recently about the show’s second season (premiering tonight on Syfy) and the history of the Stargate franchise for a post I wrote for TV Squad.

You’ll find the full interview below. We talked about his favorite episode, the challenges of season 2, and the new developments in store for David’s character, Eli Wallace. (Don’t forget to check out my interview with SGU co-creator Brad Wright).

Mike: I’m a big fan of the show, and I’m really looking forward to season 2.

David Blue: Yeah, me too!

Let me start by asking you kind of a general question: Why should people tune in to season 2 of SGU?

Oh, that’s not a high-pressure question at all!

Yeah, you’re welcome!

Well, from the beginning I think we really fell into the groove that is SGU, you know. I think that people are starting to catch on that we’re not trying to rip off SG-1 or Atlantis or Battlestar. We’re our own show, and now that people are comfortable in that, we can kind of explore. And I think that season 2 has a lot of the elements that people have grown to love, like a lot of the interesting character developments, amazing action, more aliens and special effects. Script-wise, because we don’t get to see a lot of the shows before they air, I think season 2 is some of the best stuff we’ve done. I know for a fact that episode six is one of my favorites that we’ve ever done.

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Trek Tuesdays: When Zombie Trekkies Attack!

Filed under: Features — Tags: , , , — Mike Moody @ 11:14 am

Star Trek! It’s awesome! OK, sometimes it’s crap (I’m looking at you, ‘Insurrection’), but sometimes it’s the best thing ever (Remember Senator Vreenak’s intense hate of faaaaaakes!?). Hopefully there’s enough Star Trek awesomeness in the world to last us a very, very long time, because every Tuesday, TV DeathRay will celebrate the franchise by revisiting one of our favorite episodes, characters or moments. This week, it’s a twist on the fan fic craze …

In anticipation of our full review of Kevin David Anderson’s and Sam Stall’s Night of the Living Trekkies, here’s the amazing trailer for the book that got our attention last week. Enjoy:

September 27, 2010

Interview: ‘Stargate Universe’ Co-Creator Brad Wright Previews Season 2

Filed under: featured,Features — Tags: , , , , , — Mike Moody @ 6:36 pm

I got a chance to speak with Stargate Universe co-creator Brad Wright about the show’s second season, premiering Tuesday night on Syfy. I interviewed Wright for a feature I wrote for TV Squad about the evolution of the Stargate franchise and what fans can expect from SGU this year. Read on below for the interview. (Head back to TV DeathRay on Tuesday for an interview with David Blue, who plays Eli Wallace on SGU.)

Mike: Why should people tune in to watch season 2 of Stargate Universe?

Brad Wright: I think season 2 is going to be answering a lot of questions that were building up and that people may have been wanting to know the answers to all through season 1, the biggest of which is “What is this mission all about?” and “What was this ship launched for to begin with?”

If season 1 was “We’re stuck on a runaway train and we don’t even know where it’s going,” then in season 2 we figure out how to steer the train and drive the train, and, of course, the question still remains whether or not we should, but also what the mission is, what The Destiny was launched for, and with that, our characters begin to understand that this isn’t all about getting home anymore.

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Rights Gone Wrong: Disability Groups Vs. Gleeks With Disabilities

Filed under: featured,Features — Tags: , , — Aaron Broverman @ 1:11 pm

When Glee’s producers cast able-bodied triple-threat Kevin McHale as paraplegic performer Artie Abrams, they sparked a continuing controversy between disability organizations and Gleeks with disabilities.

Much of the disability community is still smarting after too many years of feeling artistically insulted by seeing countless characters with disabilities portrayed by able-bodied actors (e.g. Hugh Laurie in House, Sean Penn in I Am Sam, Daniel Day Lewis in My Left Foot). But my own card-carrying membership in the same club (I have cerebral palsy) should qualify me to say that those who call Glee just the latest perpetuator of this problem are missing the mark.

Co-creator Brad Falchuck was quoted numerous times last year saying, “We brought in anyone…white, black, Asian, or in a wheelchair” when casting the show.

Falchuck may have failed to find a suitable musical multi-talented actor with a real-life disability, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t search hard enough. All actors may rightfully campaign for a turn in the casting director’s office, but whether they walk or wheel through the door, everyone still has to earn each part. If Falchuck had chosen an actor who actually used a wheelchair, but who was otherwise unqualified, that would have been nothing but a different form of discrimination – tokenism.

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September 22, 2010

‘Warehouse 13′: Are You Over H.G. Wells?

Filed under: Features — Tags: , — Mike Moody @ 7:38 am

Warehouse 13 put a cap on season 2 with a fun and surprising finale that finally revealed H.G. Wells’ evil agenda. For those who haven’t seen the episode yet, lemme just say *SPOILER ALERT!* … OK, where was I? Oh yeah, with the evil …

It turns out that H.G. is dead inside – a result of her daughter’s murder and finding out that the world has gotten stupider and uglier since the late 1800s. So what’s a super sexy, time traveling and ultimately depraved literary figure to do? Why, try to kill everyone by spawning a new ice age with a magical trident, of course!

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The Buffy Bump: ‘Slayers – Every One Of Us’

Filed under: featured,Features — Tags: , , , — Melissa McEver @ 5:55 am

Welcome to The Buffy Bump, a weekly treat for fans still obsessed with Joss Whedon’s groundbreaking series about a girl, a mission, and the apocalypses. This week, we revisit the series finale, ‘Chosen.’

“You know me – not much with the damseling.” – Buffy, ‘Chosen’

From the first scene to the last, the series finale of Buffy the Vampire Slayer maintains the central message of the entire series: Women are stronger than they might seem at first glance, and they really can save the world.

After all, the series’ whole premise is based on the contrast between society’s expectations of women and their true strength. Buffy – a name that “strikes fear in nobody’s hearts,” according to Xander in one episode – is bubbly, petite and blonde, a former cheerleader who looks more like she’d be too worried about her manicure to take down a vampire. But it turns out she’s the Vampire Slayer, a true superhero with special powers and a strong heart to top it off. She saves the world, again and again and again, with not just her outer strength but her inner strength, too.

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September 21, 2010

Trek Tuesday: Mr. Spock’s Dangerous Hands

Filed under: Features — Tags: , , — Mike Moody @ 11:45 am

Star Trek! It’s awesome! OK, sometimes it’s crap (I’m looking at you, ‘Insurrection’), but sometimes it’s the best thing ever (Remember Senator Vreenak’s intense hate of faaaaaakes!?). Hopefully there’s enough Star Trek awesomeness in the world to last us a very, very long time, because every Tuesday, TV DeathRay will celebrate the franchise by revisiting one of our favorite episodes, characters or moments. This week, we learn just how dangerous Mr. Spock’s hands can be.

What can I say? It’s premiere week! We’re swamped and looking for a quick and easy laugh. Thankfully, this German TV commercial featuring Mr. Spock giving his date the Vulcan version of a roofie did the trick!

Head back next Tuesday when we dive into Night of the Living Trekkies.

September 20, 2010

5 Things We Loved (And Didn’t Love) About The ‘Chuck’ Season 4 Premiere

Filed under: featured,Features — Tags: , , , — Mike Moody @ 11:55 pm

Poor ol’ Chuck Bartowski. It seems like he can never really get ahead no matter how hard he tries.

The season 4 premiere of Chuck reset a lot that was undone during season 3: Chuck is back in the spy game, he rejoined the Buy More, he’s lying to his sister again, and he was reunited with Morgan, Casey and Sarah for another season of spy-hunting action. But the premiere also set in motion an intriguing new arc – the search for Chuck’s mom (Linda Hamilton) – and offered some fun surprises amid all the EMP blasting and globe-trotting goofiness.

There was a lot to love about Chuck‘s return to the tube, and, sadly, there was also a lot not to love. Here are 5 things we loved (and didn’t love) about the season 4 premiere of Chuck:

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September 17, 2010

Weekend Poll Results: And The Geekiest Reality Show Is …

Filed under: featured,Features — Tags: , , , — Mike Moody @ 5:38 pm

Last week, we asked you to help us find a new TV obsession by choosing the geekiest reality show on TV right now. We excluded Mythbusters for obvious reasons, and also because I’m already a huge fan of the show, and listed six shows for you to choose from: American Pickers, Billy the Exterminator, Chasing Mummies, It’s Effin’ Science, Pawn Stars, and Stan Lee’s Superhumans.

First off, I gotta say thanks, really, from the bottom of my little nerd heart, for not choosing It’s Effin’ Science. I can’t even stand watching the promos for that show.

Now let’s get to the results. One show clearly took the lead from the beginning and held on to the top spot until the very end. It should come as a surprise to no one – except my mom, who only turns on the tube to watch her “stories” — that the title of Geekiest Reality Show went to Pawn Stars.
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