Bastet

That may be a side effect of so much television programming being filmed in Los Angeles; unfortunately, there are a fair number of young-ish people here who speak that way.

I was watching the mini-marathon of Cold Case last night as I do every Wednesday night - thank you, ION Television - and realized what a crush I have on Danny Pino. I think because I originally came to the series late, during episodes in which his character annoys me a lot, I never really thought about how attractive I find the actor despite the character's antics. But watching earlier episodes, with a likeable Scotty ... hoo boy.

<sniff> Bye, Fresh Bones <sniff> S2: Red Museum Aubrey Firewalker S3: Oubliette Avatar Grotesque

Fatima was the only one I recognized, and I have only vague memories of her episode; I remember viewers being upset with her victory and me feeling it was justified, but that's about it. So I was rooting for her on familiarity alone. Alas. I don't quite understand - or should I say, relate to - having the pros go first; clearly FN feels the "special" contestants are the draw, but not for me. Grandmas and firefighters and celebrities, oh my. Hooray for them, and I do mean that sincerely, but it's the professional chef's game to lose. So shouldn't they (or, you know, he - of course) be chosen last?

"You're over me? When were you under me?" Ah, back when Friends was tolerable. I'd venture to say no one speaks correctly 100 percent of the time, so I take no issue with the occasional grammar faux pas and find it a nice touch if a character for whom it makes sense makes a number of small, common errors. But when well-educated, articulate and deliberately precise characters speak in ways that make clear the writer simply screwed up, it bothers me. Case in point: C.J. and Sam on The West Wing. Two adorably pedantic characters will not naturally engage in the following exchange: Sam: Where'd you get the bathrobe? [C.J.'s assistant]: The gym. Sam: There are bathrobes at the gym? C.J.: In the women's locker room. Sam Seaborn: But not the men's. C.J.: Yeah. Sam: Now, that's outrageous. There's a thousand men working here and 50 women. C.J.: Yeah, and it's the bathrobes that's outrageous. For its message, it's an in-character - and terrific - conversation. And while any number of characters might say, "There's a thousand men ...," Sam Seaborn would say, "There are a thousand men ..." And C.J. Cregg would follow suit by saying, "Yeah, and it's the bathrobes that are outrageous."

As soon as I saw his picture, I knew I'd watched him in numerous things and a scan of IMDb confirms -- Roseanne, Who's The Boss, Remington Steele, Scarecrow & Mrs. King, Sisters, Cybill and, most of all, Seinfeld -- the guy redoing Jerry's kitchen. He was only 58.

They're pretty horrible about it on R&I. I don't so much mind the more typical product placement, like lingering on the beer bottle's label (and Peroni is pretty good beer), but it's the in-show commercials where characters start randomly extolling the virtues of things like Dr. Scholl's, AutoTrader, Rosetta Stone, whatever car they were waxing on about in multiple episodes a season or two ago, etc. that drive me crazy.

Its only redeeming value is, "Did you learn about wind in kindergarten?"

Let's hope the show responds to this better than they did the Jezebel piece several years back; I had to quit watching for awhile after that debacle.

As soon as I heard "rent control," I also thought that's where they were going.

S2: Sleepless Red Museum The Calusari S3: Oubliette Teso Dos Bichos Hell Money

I may have my issues, and will continue to note when I do, but there are so many times I absolutely love Jon Stewart and TDS. Tonight was a shining example. There was so much to cover in light of the show's absence, I think focusing on one story was the way to go. And, boy, did they do it well -- the perfect blend of earnest "WTF is wrong with you people?" commentary and "space is the only safe place for a black man ... really, even here?!" comedy. Welcome back, show.

Because I was puttering around when I got home, I watched this one on a small TV -- was Jane wearing a black tank top or similar under her "librarian" blouse and I just mistook it for a bra, or was she really walking around with a shirt unbuttoned so low her bra was hanging out and NO ONE commented on it, nor did she button back up once she got the info she was seeking? Please. And as if a suit tailored for Maura would fit Jane. Angela is just unbearable lately. If my mother steamed open and hid my mail, especially a document letting me know when I could return to the job I love, there are a number of possible reactions, but inviting her to watch a movie is not on that list.

Korsak calling the dog "Sipowicz" gave me a good laugh. That's about all I remember, and it has only been three hours since the episode ended. Oh, and Frankie panting like a dog. That was funny, too. I will say that the "If [Hot for Jane Dweeb] shows up, tell him I'm spending the night at your house" style of pandering to a fan base the show has no intention of satisfying is somehow less annoying to me under this new showrunner than it was the last. I don't ship Maura and Jane - although I'd have no problem with such a relationship being established - but I was so often annoyed with the "ha ha, we'll pat you little lesbian shippers on the head with deliberate teases even though we're committed to the canon they're "just" friends [HATE friendships being reduced that way, but that's what is said]" stylings in the past. This season, it just gives me a chuckle.

Ooh, chicken cordon bleu. I haven't made that in ages, but I love it. I'm going to stop off for some prosciutto and Swiss cheese, and that's what I'll be making. Thanks for the idea.

Jane was Frost's partner; it makes sense to me for her to be more affected. And certainly for her to be more visibly affected, since his absence in the squad room, on the streets, during interviews, etc. is a constant reminder. Working separately, Maura doesn't have the same daily reminders that he's gone. I should be home in time to catch tonight's repeat, since I missed this episode last week, but I'm not looking forward to Angela annoying me again -- she's been doing it all summer season.

The Blonde Ambition show is the one I was thinking of when putting her on my favorites list, but I enjoyed a later show as well (I can't remember what year, but mid-00s) even though I like the earlier music better. I may not listen to Music and later albums very often, but I do enjoy seeing songs from them live because she's such an interesting performer.

3 Blood Sleepless

I think she should have wound up alone so no one would be subjected to her vapid, baby-voiced self. (I saw a promo for some Jennie Garth reality show and it was so nice to hear her speaking normally rather than with that affected cutie-pie bullshit she used as Kelly every time a guy appeared.) I'm not a fan of either Dylan/Brenda or Dylan/Kelly (Brenda and Dylan were fine as a high school relationship, though) -- once he played them both, they should have told him he need not bother taking time to choose between them because they'd make it easy on him by saying neither one wants his sorry ass anymore.

Another syrup snob reporting in. I have a chicken breast (bone-in, with skin) that needs to be cooked, so I'm marinating it in tequila, lime juice, orange juice, jalapeño and garlic and will bake it (I don't want to heat up charcoal for one chicken breast). I make a cucumber, herb and peanut salad with a dressing that relies heavily on lime juice, so I figure that will pair nicely. I'd normally make a side dish of some sort, but I'm feeling oddly full from (early, fairly light) lunch. I'm sure I'll wake up ravenous.

I had to turn it off. Mostly because the houses were so interchangeable and boring, but also for her ridiculous space requirements and twisted definition of the word "small." I just was not in the mood to suffer her, and when I find myself grumbling at people through the TV I know it's time to quit. HH: This bedroom is kind of small. Very small. Me: There is an entire bedroom set it in with ample move to walk around in between. HH: Oooh, I like these double sinks. Me: There is only one of you. HH: [3,000 square feet] That's more like it. Me: Are you running a group home? Then there was the nonsense about wanting something newer, when she was looking at a house constructed about 10 years ago, and needing new construction so nothing will break down on her. Good idea, because things are made to last today, compared to back in the days of a disposable society. Oh, wait ...

People have been commenting on her weight ever since she came into the public eye, even though she has never looked anything other than healthy to me. She has always had a great attitude about it in the press, and I hope that reflects reality because no matter how much one knows it's all bullshit, it has to be hard to hear that crap over and over again.

This is exactly why I'm disappointed to hear she'll be appearing again. I don't know enough about her as a person or her chosen charity to like or dislike either one. But as a presence on a televised competition, she is horrible due to the above.

Beyond the Sea

Yes, please. I have yet to recover from the TCM thread being created with a "No Spoilers" tag. And, yes, if I can endure spoiler tagging discussion of 80-year-old films, I can manage to spoiler tag discussion of 20-year-old episodes. I'm really quite good with that in the case of season threads. But if we're going to create 200-something episode threads rather than using season threads, I'd really rather not have to be so limited. So that's my vote.