Pysch

Psych - USA Network 

2020-21 Update: Well it looks like I might have to walk back some of what I said. Maybe even most of it. The pandemic and shelter-in-place changed all of our perspectives and our tastes. And this show seemed to fulfill a need for some mindless lightheartedness. But even that wouldn't have been enough without the delightful chemistry between the two leads. That friendship makes the show and helped me stay positive. So I binged. Go figure! #SorryNotSorry OK fine, I completely apologize. This was the exactly what I needed. Who knew? (Also now I'm in love with Timothy Omundson).

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Original Post:

I hate this show. Shawn Spencer (James Roday, pictured middle above), the pretend psychic, is obnoxiously cocky and every episode is the same exact scenario but with a different crime setting, kind of like a recurring Saturday Night Live character who does the same shtick but against different backgrounds. I just can't believe the other characters buy his act and I can't believe the viewers don't get tired of it. But then again, I detest arrogant smart-aleck men. Spencer was trained as an expert observer by his cop father, Henry Spencer (Corbin Bernsen, pictured above left). The oh-so-sly "wax-on-wax-off" wisdom passed down from father to son show up in flashbacks such as little Shawn wanting the toy prize in a box of cereal, but sadly resigning himself to eat the whole darn box. Lo and behold, the father flips the box upside down and now the prize is on top. That makes him smarter than the poor real-life cops Spencer tortures? Apparently it qualifies him to pretend to be a psychic private investigator, but he really just pays attention to obvious clues, like unbuttoned shirts or what have you, that anyone with two eyes can plainly see. Except for the bumbling police, that is. Tedious. Dulé Hill (pictured above right) plays Spencer's weary, stereotypically comic-relief partner Gus, who keeps saying this is the last time he'll put up with their extreme antics, but you know it's not true. They've got a show to sell. Just not to me. Great shows get axed ("Arrested Development"), but this one gets to stay. I even strongly prefer the universally panned "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip", also nixed. Boo. Actors: James Roday - Shawn Spencer (21 episodes, 2006-2007) Dulé Hill ... Burton 'Gus' Guster Timothy Omundson ... Carlton Lassiter Corbin Bernsen ... Henry Spencer Maggie Lawson ... Juliet O'Hara Kirsten Nelson ... Karen Vick Liam James ... Young Shawn Sage Brocklebank ... Buzz McNab Directors: Mel Damski (3 episodes, 2006-2007) Michael Zinberg (3 episodes, 2006-2007) John Landis (2 episodes, 2007) Tim Matheson (2 episodes, 2007) Writers: Steve Franks (21 episodes, 2006-2007) Andy Berman (5 episodes, 2006-2007) Kerry Lenhart (2 episodes, 2006-2007) Anupam Nigam (2 episodes, 2006-2007) John J. Sakmar (2 episodes, 2006-2007) Douglas Steinberg (2 episodes, 2006-2007) James Roday (2 episodes, 2007) Classic SNL: Saturday Night Live - The Complete First Season

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Monk

Monk - USA Network





"Monk" is in its sixth and possibly weaker season, but Tony Shalhoub is still amazing as the multi-neurotic former Detective Adrian Monk. Never having recovered from his wife's murder, Monk lives in isolated fear of everything, venturing forth to brilliantly solve every crime and inspiring loyalty among his peeps, even while driving them all crazy.

Natalie Teeger (Traylor Howard) is Monk's current and very patient assistant ever since his previous employee, Sharona Fleming (Bitty Schram from "There's-no-crying-in-baseball 'A League of Their Own'"), supposedly quit and moved away, though in real life there were rumors of a contract dispute. Ted Levine finally sheds his creepy serial killer from "Silence of the Lambs" as Captain Leland Stottlemeyer, Monk's loyal friend and supervisor and a man of integrity and dignity. His assistant Randy Disher (Jason Gray-Stanford) is less dignified and often the bumbling comic relief. John Tuturro is Monk's brother Adrian, and is even more reclusive and odd than Adrian himself. Monk's father Jack (Dan Hedaya) even makes an appearance to bond briefly with his son in an especially touching episode. Of special note is guest star Tim Bagley as Harold Krenshaw, Monk's rival and nemesis as fellow neurosis patient. A delightful comedian from the famous Groundlings troupe and years on "Will and Grace", his facial expressions enhance all of his scenes with Shalhoub. Then there's Monk's quietly steadfast therapist Dr. Kroger (Stanley Kamel). It's a great cast overall.

Monk is an intriguing character and well worth watching. Hopefully, season seven will step up the pace a bit (the writers do seem a bit tired and less sharp this time around). Sometimes the murderer is painfully clear and you can see what's coming a mile away. But the show is not so much plot based as it is more character based. Shalhoub gives us a fresh look at dysfunction and while the show is mostly a comedy, his performance is still dimensional enough to make him quite vulnerably human and that's why we keep tuning in.


Created by:
Andy Breckman

Cast:
Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub) Former police detective
Natalie Teeger (Traylor Howard) Assistant to Adrian Monk
Julie Teeger (Emmy Clarke) Student, daughter of Natalie Teeger
Captain Leland Stottlemeyer (Ted Levine) SFPD Police captain
Lieutenant Randy Disher (Jason Gray-Stanford) SFPD Police lieutenant
Dr. Charles Kroger (Stanley Kamel) Adrian Monk's psychiatrist
Sharona Fleming (Bitty Schram) Former Assistant to Adrian Monk
Ambrose Monk (John Tuturro) Brother to Adrian Monk
Jack Monk (Dan Hedaya) Father to Adrian and Ambrose Monk

Series Directed by:
Randall Zisk (23 episodes, 2002-2007)
Jerry Levine (11 episodes, 2003-2006)
Andre Belgrader (6 episodes, 2004-2007)
Anthony R. Palmieri (3 episodes, 2005-2007)
Ron Underwood (2 episodes, 2003)
Stephen Surjik (2 episodes, 2006)
Wendey Stanzler (2 episodes, 2007)
Michael W. Watkins (2 episodes, 2007)
Adam Arkin (1 episode, 2002)
Jefery Levy (1 episode, 2006)

Writing Credits:
Andy Breckman (30 episodes, 2002-2007)
Daniel Dratch (10 episodes, 2003-2006)
Joe Toplyn (6 episodes, 2004-2007)
David Breckman (4 episodes, 2006-2007)
Tom Scharpling (4 episodes, 2006)
Lee Goldberg (3 episodes, 2003-2006)
Daniel Gaeta (3 episodes, 2006-2007)
Peter Wolk (3 episodes, 2006-2007)
Nell Scovell (2 episodes, 2005)
Jonathan Collier (2 episodes, 2006-2007)
Jack Bernstein (2 episodes, 2006)
Hy Conrad (2 episodes, 2006)
Michael Angeli (1 episode, 2003)
William Rabkin (1 episode, 2006)

The First One:
Monk - Season One Read more!

Hamlet - an unofficial review

Hamlet by William Shakespeare
a kate west review
directed by Brianna Lee Johnson
a Tall Blonde Productions and Hollywood Forever Production
at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, 6000 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90038
running June 22 - July 29, 2007, most Fridays and Saturdays
contact http://shakespeareinthecemetery.com/; tix $20; free parking

Primarily the resting place of a host of late celebrities, the Hollywood Forever Cemetery also houses an outdoor summer film hot spot (http://www.cinespia.org). And now apparently it also offers up Shakespeare in the Park, or rather, in the Cemetery, the latest production being "Hamlet". "Hamlet", of course, is the famous Shakespearean play in which the late Danish King's son Hamlet spends five acts agonizing over how to avenge his father's death and rescue his mother from the clutches of her new husband, Hamlet's uncle, the cowardly villain responsible for murdering his father. For the two people who haven't seen or read about it, everyone ends up dead in the end and then the new order takes over and cleans up the town. And there are a lot of fun duels, scorned love and family angst in between.

In this production, Director Brianna Lee Johnson sets up the outdoor scene with some pre-show vignettes of Danish life in 1300 A.D. Various actors weave in and around the set, (complete with a stone pond), and although slightly annoying in its seeming aimlessness, it fits in more or less with the park atmosphere. The play finally opens (late) with the royal guards (Stephen Steelman, John Pick, etc.) establishing that the late King's ghost has been appearing mysteriously about Elsinore. After the play's initial build up, the subsequent appearance of the Ghost (Derek Long) is slightly disappointing, as the actor is a bit stiff, so to speak. In fact, the majority of the actors rush their lines, paying little heed to the subtle nuances of the Bard's poetic language.

A blond and earnest Dean Chekvala plays Hamlet, heir to the Denmark throne. He's not terrible, but suffers from the same superficiality as the rest of the cast, giving equal measure to each line and not delving into context. Also, it is often difficult to hear him, due to his tendency to rush. The plot unfolds fairly quickly; Hamlet swears vengeance on his uncle and tortures his long-suffering love, Ophelia (Sarah Utterback, of television's "Grey's Anatomy"). She also merely skims the surface of the role, indicating rather than portraying genuine emotion, especially in the "Get thee to a Nunnery" scene where Hamlet cruelly spurns her. Granted, that particular night, three raccoons came out of hiding and played in the pond, right in the front of the action, so the audience was distracted. Without animals, however, the actors still don't fully hold our attention.

Hamlet decides to begin acting mad, in order to confuse his family, begging the age old question of whether or not he's faking or actually becomes mad. The famous "To Be or Not To Be" speech supposedly conveys his unwillingness to take action and his frank reflections of death, but again, Chekvala rushes it, so it is virtually missed. The evil uncle, Claudius (York Griffith, also stiff), conspires with his new wife Gertrude (played with uninspiring shallowness by Katherine Brandt, also co-producer) to discover Hamlet's true character motivations. Things escalate until Hamlet is finally spurned to action, but kills the wrong man, murdering Polonious, his sweetheart's bumbling innocent old father.

To sum up briefly, Laertes (Zach Alden) returns from school abroad to avenge his sister's suicide and father's murder, Gertrude repents her hasty marriage much too late, Claudius is finally murdered, Gertrude poisoned and Laertes stabbed, after confessing the poison conspiracy to Hamlet, who naturally dies soon after.

Apparently her first foray into Bardland, the director really needed to push her actors more, especially since they expend so much energy projecting outdoors that all subtlety is lost. The sole actor who understands Shakespearean language at all is Sean Sellars, who plays Polonius, father to Ophelia and Laertes. His is a multi-dimensional, researched character, which provided much-needed, although brief comic relief. It is puzzling as to why Johnson cast a younger actor made up to look older, rather than just an older actor, however Sellars makes the part his own, and is a definite audience pleaser.

This must remain an unofficial review, however, since this reviewer did not stay past intermission. It may have very well turned into brilliance in the end, but it is highly doubtful. Although, there was a real pond for Ophelia to drown in and a real crypt for the actors to be backlit against. The actors did have a nice procession to it in the beginning. They had already demonstrated focusing action off to the side wall and elsewhere on the lawn. The Players who come in to act out Hamlet's pre-planned accusations, for instance, played against that wall, but then it was a bit difficult to look behind you and then back to the front of the stage. Everything seemed too far apart for comfort. But that was the least of the production's problems.



Hamlet (Folger Shakespeare Library)

Grey's Anatomy - The Complete First Season Read more!

The Simpsons Movie

The Simpsons Movie
a kate west favorite

It's only been a couple of decades in the making, but The Simpsons Movie is finally here! My brother and I have pretty much every episode memorized, between the two of us, so this is big deal for me. So much of my daily vocabulary is thanks to them. Mmmmm! D'oh! Woo-hoo! Mmh-mmh-mmh? (how does one spell that, anyway?) Excellent! Hah-hah! And HA! I'm a fan, in the very fanatic sense of the word. I even went to a Kwik-E-Mart early one Saturday morning to try a squishee. And the next day I had a pink doughnut. Mmmmm. Sometimes I'm mercilessly drawn to pop culture consumerism. I designed a Simpsons character for Kate West. See?



Anyway, I had great fun at the movie. It's one big long episode, really, but that's the fun of The Simpsons. We love them and want to see them in their element, with Homer doing something colossally stupid, this time on pretty much a national scale. He ruins the environment in Springfield, causing the evil government, run by Arnold Schwarzenegger (NOT Rainier Wolfcastle), to put a dome over the town. His family escapes through a sinkhole before the town can lynch him and they end up in Alaska, of all places. The main voice actors are featured, and I'm sure many people will complain about not seeing enough of their favorites, but the movie runs under two hours, so they can't fit everyone in. It's nice to see Bart appreciating Flanders, for once, and to see Marge being open and emotional with Homer. (You know all will be forgiven in the end, right?) The regular scenes are morphed into bigger emotional arcs, fit for the big screen. Fun sight gags and satirical references (you'll love "Spider-Pig" - so gloriously dumb), and of course you have to stay for the end credits. Well, I didn't, but that's not your problem.

Voice Actors in the Movie:
Julie Kavner as Marge

Nancy Cartwright as Bart/Maggie/Ralph/Nelson/Todd Flanders/TV Daughter/Woman on Phone

Yeardley Smith as Lisa

Harry Shearer as Scratchy/Mr. Burns/Rev. Lovejoy/Ned Flanders/Lenny/Skull/President Arnold Schwarzenegger/Kent Brockman/Principal Skinner/Dr. Hibbert/Smithers/Toll Booth Man/Guard/Otto/Kang

Hank Azaria as Professor Frink/Comic Book Guy/Moe/Chief Wiggum/Lou/Carl/Cletus/Bumblebee Man/Male EPA Worker/Dome Depot Announcer/Kissing Cop/Carnival Barker/Counter Man/Apu/Drederick Tatum/Sea Captain/EPA Passenger/Robot/Dr. Nick

Marcia Wallace as Mrs. Krabappel

Billie Joe Armstrong as Himself
Tre Cool as Himself (Green Day) (voice) (as Frank Edwin Wright III)
Mike Dirnt as Himself (voice) (as Michael Pritchard)

Tress MacNeille as Sweet Old Lady/Colin/Mrs. Skinner/Nelson's Mother/Pig/Cat Lady/Female EPA Worker/G.P.S. Woman/Cookie Kwan/Lindsey Naegle/TV Son/Medicine Woman/Girl on Phone

Pamela Hayden as Milhouse/Rod Flanders

Joe Mantegna as Fat Tony

Albert Brooks as Russ Cargill (voice) (as A. Brooks)

Russi Taylor as Martin

Directed by
David Silverman

Writing credits
James L. Brooks (screenplay) &
Matt Groening (screenplay) &
Al Jean (screenplay) &
Ian Maxtone-Graham (screenplay) &
George Meyer (screenplay) &
David Mirkin (screenplay) &
Mike Reiss (screenplay) &
Mike Scully (screenplay) &
Matt Selman (screenplay) &
John Swartzwelder (screenplay) &
Jon Vitti (screenplay)
Joel Cohen (consultant writer) &
John Frink (consultant writer) &
Tim Long (consultant writer) &
Michael Price

Worth seeing for Simpsons fans. And if you are one of the remaining holdouts and have never seens a Simpsons episode, you may as well start with this:

The Simpsons - The Complete First Season

www.simpsonsmovie.com
www.simpsonizeme.com Read more!

Company

Company
a kate west review
music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim; book by George Furth
direction & musical staging b y John Doyle
at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, 243 W. 47th Street, New York, NY
contact (212) 239-6200 or (800) 432-7250 OR Telecharge.com or http://www.companyonbroadway.com/tickets.htm; running through June 2007

The latest Broadway revival is Stephen Sondheim's "Company", featuring actors becoming their own orchestra, playing various musical instruments on stage. This may seem innovative at first, until one realizes that the actors in last year's "Sweeney Todd" revival (another Sondheim musical) also played instruments in a daring new modern take. A bit of a disappointing revelation.

Raúl Esparaza is Robert, a declared bachelor constantly bombarded by well-meaning friends trying to set him up on dates to put an end to what they perceive as his loneliness. He gets conflicting advice, however, as some of the longer-term relationships suffer from a bit of malaise and envious friends consider him lucky to be single. Women drift in and out of his life, while Robert wrestles with the idea of getting married, finally deciding that it's enough to live life ("Being Alive"). Esparaza is quite a gifted performer, but even he cannot rise above the slightly tedious material.

Barbara Walsh, Keith Buterbaugh, Matt Castle, Robert Cunningham, Angel Desai, Jane Pfitsch (in this particular performance), Amy Justman, Heather Laws, Fred Rose, Bruce Sabath and Elizabeth Stanley are among the strong ensemble that tries to help Robert figure out his life. There are also many lyrically moving pieces to aid him, including "The Ladies Who Lunch" (the deep toned Barbara Walsh), "Another Hundred People" (feisty Angel Desai) and lighter, quirkier pieces like "Getting Married Today" in which the company performs a wedding, alternating between doubt and delight. However, in general, the idea that relationships are difficult is not new.

Also, David Gallo's minimalist black and white plastic set design does not really do anything to promote the story, other than provide a mood gimmick, similar to the actors playing instruments. The latter, while showcasing versatility (actors really can sing, dance and push a cello at the same time), does not add any kind of dimension either. Also, the drinks are pretend, but the cigarettes are real. Huh?

Well directed by John Doyle, "Company" is beautifully musical as are most Sondheim pieces, but rather light on interesting plot. A character study from several points of view, it's overall feeling of depression does not inspire any new revelations on the dating world. Dating is hard, relationships harder, but presumably worth it in the end. Not particularly worth the $100 Broadway ticket, expect for die-hard Sondheim fans, determined to see every work in every era, no matter from what decade.

Company (2006 Broadway Revival Cast) Read more!

Grey Gardens

a kate west review
book by Doug Wright; music by Scott Frankel
lyrics by Michael Korie
directed by Michael Greif
musical staging by Jeff Calhounat
the Walter Kerr Theatre, 219 W. 48th Street
New York, NY 10036
running November 2006 - June 2007
contact (212) 239-6200 or (800) 432-7780 OR Telecharge.com

In 1975, brother filmmakers Albert and David Maysles (www.mayslesfilms.com) premiered "Grey Gardens", which chronicled six weeks at the decaying 48-room mansion Grey Gardens, in East Hampton. Home of former Bouvier socialites, both named Edith Bouvier Beale ("Big" and Little" Edie, mother and daughter), it is now considered a cultural icon and inspiration for much discussion and controversy. Groundbreaking in documentary films, "Grey Gardens" was part of the cinema verite style that would soon become vogue. The new Broadway musical "Grey Gardens" perfectly captures the two women's fascinating eccentricities and ferocious characters so well documented in the film, although the structure is a tad rough around the edges.

Director Michael Greif, in collaboration with Doug Wright (Book), Scott Frankel (Music) and Michael Korie (Lyrics), creates an innovative take on a familiar story, surprisingly adaptable to a musical score.We are able to speculate on the two Edies' early history in 1941 in the first act, where the mother once again drives away an appropriately high-class suitor to her daughter. Obsessed with her own musical career, the mother spends all her time rehearsing and cultivating a relationship with her accompanist George Gould Strong (Bob Stillman), rather than her daughter (Erin Davie in the first act). A glimpse into the pre-Camelot era also reveals the young niece Jackie Bouvier (a.k.a. First Lady/Jackie O as played by Sarah Hyland) and sister Lee Bouvier (Abigail Ferenczy in this performance) who are enchanted by their aunt's outrageous antics. The grandfather, Major Bouvier (John McMartin), is appalled at the convention-defying women in his family, especially his daughter (who sings the vulgar "Hominy Grits"), thus representing traditional society's rejection, as does young Edie's handsome young fiancée, Joseph Patrick Kennedy, Jr. (Matt Cavenaugh) who cannot bear to live with the shame of a wayward wife.The two Beales women are really the heart and soul of the piece.

Christine Ebersole beautifully embodies the mother ("Big" Eddie) in the first act set in 1941, as well as brilliantly channeling the daughter ("Little" Edie) in the second Act amidst the crumbling decay of the 1973 Grey Gardens mansion. She is ultimately worthy of every theatrical award you can throw at her, not to mention a sure bet for a Tony. And Mary Louise Wilson is a wonderful maternal counterpart in the second act as "Big" Eddie; the way they over-talk each other and push emotional buttons is a veritable mirror of the film. It is almost heart-rending to learn that "Little" Edie used to be the talk of town, the "It" girl, referred to as Body Beautiful. She does not evoke pity, however, being of "staunch" character, leaving her mother and absent father (who divorces the family via telegram) in Act One, only to heroically return to aid her ailing mother decades later, in Act Two.

Though not an absolute requirement, it is definitely helpful to have seen the film before watching the musical, in order to share the joy of remembered lines with enthusiastic patrons and to relish in the actors' skill at impersonation. Plus, the complete personality changes and seemingly abject ruin in the second act might not come as such a shock. It will come across very uneven. As in the film, there are many years-long gaps in the story since the subjects were so externally dramatic and open, yet not as revealing of personal history. It is also interesting to see how the producers deal with the earlier cinematic devices. For instance, in the film, the women address the two filmmakers, but in the musical, they address the hired help, either Brooks (Michael Potts portrays the father in the first act and the next generation in the second) and Jerry (Matt Cavenaugh) and us, of course.

There are many lyrical songs invoking the mystique of the place, including "Entering Grey Gardens" in which the supporting cast drifts onstage like released ghosts, echoing the meowing of the many cats running rampant in the house. As Mama Beale, Mary Louise Wilson sings "Jerry Likes My Corn", a plaintive little ballad wistfully remarking that Jerry appreciates her more than her own daughter does. And Christine Ebersole begins the second half with "The Revolutionary Costume for Today" in scarf and upside-down skirt, a most quintessential "Little"Edie. She longs to leave Grey Gardens, but can never quite make it past the front door. She cannot leave her mother and they are tied together forever. Many people see these women as nutty, but both the filmmakers and the Broadway producers show them in a loving and admiring light. From "Little" Edie's triumphant military march ("The House We Live In") to "Big" Edie's trademark "Will You", the two leads demand respect and sympathy from the audience and we give it gladly. The two women are sublime and the rest of the cast strong.

As an added bonus, Costume Designer William Ivey Long captures the fashionable idiosyncrasies very well and Scenic Designer Allen Moyer's revolving sets create the eerily dank mood of the mansion. There are even some film clips, thanks to Projection Designer Wendall K. Harrington to further reference the popular story.

Whatever the shortcomings of the actual history and the unfulfilling gaps, it is well worth the price of admission, if only to see Christine Ebersole's incredible transformation and character diversity. Fans of the film will be in seventh heaven; so again, you might want to see the film first. And ladies, if you are worried about spinsterhood and cats, take heart at these trendsetters, who at least make them interestingly fashionable.


The Original:
Grey Gardens - Criterion Collection Read more!

Medium

Medium - NBC/Lifetime
a kate west recommendation




I have to admit I didn't love this show at first. I thought it was boring and implausible. But it grew on me. And who doesn't want to believe in the after life? Patricia Arquette (pictured above) is Allison DuBois, a psychic working (unofficially, of course) for the District Attorney's office. The show is based on a real life Allison DuBois, who claims to be the real deal. I like the way those from beyond send Allison clues and messages in dreams and it's up to her to interpret them. Cool format to introduce each episode. And that's probably the way it supposedly works in real life. But mostly Arquette gives such a real performance as a mother and wife, that I bought into it.

Then there's Allison's yummy husband. Jake Weber as Joe DuBois (pictured right). He is a lovely intellectual (an engineer helping out little projects for space, etc.).

I also like all these juicy parts for "older" women who get fewer movie roles (for no particular good reason whatsoever). Kyra Sedgwick on "The Closer", Holly Hunter on "Saving Grace" and Lili Taylor on "State of Mind". Good for them. Three seasons into "Medium", I decide to suspend my disbelief and just enjoy the show - there's a lot to think about here.

•Patricia Arquette - Allison DuBois
•Miguel Sandoval - D.A. Manuel Devalos
•David Cubitt - Detective Lee Scanlon
•Sofia Vassilieva - Ariel DuBois
•Maria Lark - Bridgette DuBois
•Jake Weber - Joe DuBois

Production
• Glenn Gordon Caron Creator
• Kelsey Grammer Executive Producer (yes, from "Frasier")
• Glenn Gordon Caron Executive Producer
• René Echevarria Executive Producer
• Ronald L. Schwary Executive Producer
• Steve Stark Executive Producer


The First Season:
Medium - The Complete First Season

MORE Magazine: www.more.com Read more!

Spider-Man and Stan Lee

a kate west reflection

My favorite superhero is Spider-man, originally created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. He seemed to show up everywhere, from his own animated television series and special appearances on "The Electric Company" to major motion pictures. I loved it all. He was created the same decade I was born too, in the 1960's. I never read many comic books as a kid, but always held a fascination for the webbed man, funny considering my slight arachnophobia. Maybe it's because he's a climber, and I'm in love with rock climbing (love scaling those walls and cliffs). Or maybe it was the idea of teenage angst finding a noble outlet.

It's also great to have a "real" character in a real city (I heart New York) working for a newspaper, all things I dig. Brings it all closer to home. Peter Parker is full of doubts, in both comic book form and film versions. Bitten by a radioactive spider, why wouldn't a bookish teenager become even more petulant at times? That would wreak havoc with anyone's hormones. Raised by his aunt and uncle, he loses one of them (Uncle Ben) to a carjacking thief, prompting him to fight crime for the rest of his life. He's directly responsible for this in the movie, which comprises most of his agonizing self-doubt. Another cinematic change is that his web is organic, rather than scientifically made as in the comic books, a really cool improvement. Plus he goes through many different relationships (Mary Jane Watson, Gwen Stacy, etc), another realistic aspect. (But please, Director Raimi, stop allowing him to reveal his identity while rescuing the same girl over and over in each and every film. New story needed!)

I became a Stan Lee fan because of Spidey, in spite of some comic world grumblings over his alleged unscrupulousness. Even to the point of watching the over-the-top "reality show" silliness that is "Who Wants To Be A Superhero?" It led me to his other creations like the X-Men, another fascinating world of conflict. Tobey Maguire makes a fine young Peter Parker and although the three Spider-man films are unevenly matched, I can't help watching every last one of them. Such is the power of Stan Lee. And Spider-man, of course. Everyone from my generation, please feel free to sing along:

Spider-man, Spider-man
Does whatever a spider can
Spins a web, any size
Catches thieves, just like flies
Look out! Here comes the Spider-man!

Is he strong? Listen, Bud!
He's got radioactive blood.
Can he swing from a thread?
Take a look overhead.
Hey there, there goes the Spider-man!

In the chill of night,
At the scene of the crime
Like a streak of light
He arrives just in time

Spider-man, Spider-man
Friendly neighborhood Spider-man
Wealth and fame, he's ignored
Action is his reward

To him, life is a great big bang-up
Wherever there's a hang-up
You'll find the Spider-man!


The Movies:
Spider-Man - The Motion Picture Trilogy (Spider-Man / Spider-Man 2 / Spider-Man 3)

The Comic Books:
Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus, Vol. 1 (Variant Version) Read more!

Supernatural

Supernatural - WB Network
a kate west recommendation




Sam and Dean Winchester (Jared Padalecki of "Gilmore Girls" and Jensen Ackles) are two crime-fighting brothers. The twist in this case, is that the criminals are other-worldly. In three seasons, the boys lost their dad, John Winchester (sexy Jeffrey Dean Morgan from "Grey's Anatomy"), tracked down the demon responsible for killing their mother and Sam's girlfriend and helped a heck of a lot of damsels in distress along the way.

It's a pretty basic show about ghost hunters and it's the charisma of the actors that makes the show work. That, and the fact that all three - dad and boys - are scrumptious to look at make the show all the more fun. Supernatural mavens rejoice.

Cast:

Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles - pictured above right)
Sam Winchester (Jared Padalecki - pictured above left)
John Winchester (Jeffrey Dean Morgan)

Series Directed by
Kim Manners		(11 episodes, 2005-2007)
Robert Singer		(6 episodes, 2005-2007)
Philip Sgriccia		(6 episodes, 2006-2007)
Charles Beeson		(3 episodes, 2007)
Peter Ellis		(2 episodes, 2005-2006)
David Nutter		(2 episodes, 2005)
Mike Rohl		(2 episodes, 2006-2007)

Series Writing credits
Eric Kripke		(40 episodes, 2005-2007)
Sera Gamble		(9 episodes, 2005-2007)
John Shiban		(9 episodes, 2005-2007)
Raelle Tucker		(8 episodes, 2005-2007)
Ben Edlund		(3 episodes, 2006-2007)
Cathryn Humphris		(3 episodes, 2006-2007)
Richard Hatem		(2 episodes, 2005)
Terri Hughes		(2 episodes, 2005)
Ron Milbauer		(2 episodes, 2005)
Matt Witten		(2 episodes, 2006-2007)
Trey Callaway		(2 episodes, 2006)

Starting Out:
Supernatural - The Complete First Season Read more!

Ghost Whisperer

Ghost Whisperer - ABC





This show is a harmless indulgence. Melinda Gordon sees dead people. Throughout three seasons, her lifelong mission is to help the newly dead find the light.

Jennifer Love Hewitt is adorable and sympathetic as Melinda, except for being married to such a hot husband (rrrrr), Jim Clancy (David Conrad). Her supportive husband knows all about her special gift and is totally fine with it as her real job. Except lately his character appears less and less (actors tiff?). Her day job is working in her own antique store (Same As It Never Was) with friend Delia Banks (Camryn Manheim). She had the challenging job of passing over her previous co-worker and friend Andrea Moreno (Aisha Tyler) the year before. Sometimes it sucks to be her.

It's a cute show and fun to indulge in ghost speculation. Jay Mohr is the helpful young professor sweet on Melinda, and her husband isn't even jealous (however it would be nice if instead of saying things like "between you and I", he would more properly say "between you and me". Thank you Professor of Academia.). Sure it's fluffy and corny (and OK, pretty saccharin), but could this show be cuter? The title says it all.


Ghost Whisperer Cast and Crew:
Jennifer Love Hewitt - (Melinda Gordon)
David Conrad - (Jim Clancy)
Aisha Tyler - (Andrea Moreno)
Jay Mohr - (Professor Rick Payne)
Camryn Manheim - (Delia Banks)

Production Credits:
Mark Snow (Composer (Music Score)
John Gray (Director)
John Gray (Executive Producer)
Jennifer Love Hewitt (Producer)
John Gray (Screenwriter)

First Season:
Ghost Whisperer - The Complete First Season Read more!

Gilmore Girls

Gilmore Girls - WB Network
a kate west reflection






I watched "Gilmore Girls" for seven seasons, just like most other women my age. What made it unique for me was the fact that my best friend from college and her daughter are exactly the Gilmore Girls (I call them the Vegas Girls - in the family way, of course). I agree with the viewers who say the series went a bit downhill when creator Amy Sherman-Palladino left the show. The writing suffered a bit after that. But overall, the characters were sharply different and entirely accessible.

Lorelai Gilmore had a child at a very young age and disgraced her upper crust family. But in spite of grand-parental misgivings, Rory turns out to be a dedicated, industrious, sweet-natured and lovely girl, excelling in her private girls high school as well as Yale University. Lorelai and Rory are best friends, gal pals the envy of all. When was the last time you shared a secret with your mother? Especially as a teenager? Add wicked fast repartee and witticisms and you've got a hit show. A single mom raising her kid right.

The town itself, Star's Hollow, is a Utopian New England neighborhood, where everybody knows your name. Melissa McCarthy is Sookie, Lorelai's warm-hearted best friend and co-owner of the Dragonfly Inn. She cooks too. Yanic Truesdale is Michel, the put-upon, fussy manservant of the inn. There is romance too, of course, with Lorelai and Luke Danes (Scott Patterson), who owns his own diner, the main hangout for the whole town it seems. Rory has her share of heartbreaks and friends - her bosom buddy Lane (Keiko Agena) is always escaping her Korean mother to spend time at the hip Gilmore household. Kooky characters abound and throughout the years we get to know each of them intimately.

It's a really touching show, especially if you've ever experienced that special mother-daughter bond yourself. The dialogue is the most fun - it's nice to be in on the joke every week. Not bad for the ever-youthful, trendy WB network.

Created by:
Amy Sherman-Palladino

Cast:
Lauren Graham Lorelai Gilmore
Alexis Bledel Rory Gilmore
Scott Patterson Luke Danes
Kelly Bishop Emily Gilmore
Edward Herrmann Richard Gilmore
Keiko Agena Lane Kim
Melissa McCarthy Sookie St. James
Matt Czuchry Logan Huntzberger
Sean Gunn Kirk Gleason
Jared Padalecki Dean Forester
Liza Weil Paris Geller
Yanic Truesdale Michel Gerard
Chris Eigeman Jason Stiles
Milo Ventimiglia Jess Mariano


Start on Mother's Day:
Gilmore Girls - The Complete First Season Read more!

The Riches

The Riches - FX
a kate west favorite






This is a perplexingly overlooked show. "The Riches" deserves much more accolades, not only because it stars comedic genius Eddie Izzard (Executive Producer of the show and pictured above), but also because the rest of the cast, as well as the writing, is surprisingly good. The surprise comes in the form of a deceptively seemingly goofy premise actually turning into a show of drama and depth, not that it's surprising that any of these fine actors are fantastic.

Wayne (Izzard) and Dahlia (Minnie Driver) Malloy are bonafide Gypsies. After picking up Dahlia from her completed stint in jail, the family decides to skip town and get away from the poverty and prejudice of their extended Gypsy family. Absconding with family inheritance, they accidentally stumble across a dead couple in a car wreck (for details, watch the pilot) and take over their identities, becoming Doug and Charien Rich. Cael, Di Di and Sam (Shannon Woodward, Noel Fisher and Aidan Mitchell) are their wily children along for the ride, who also turn into Buffers (Gypsy term for normal suburbanites like us) in their ultimate grifter escapade. Will they pull it off? And for how long?

Wayne, or rather Doug Rich now, must convince new boss Hugh Panetta (Gregg Henry) that he is a lawyer capable of working for his big firm. They all need to learn how to fit into their new rich neighborhood and figure out how to "live on the grid". That proves challenging, not the least of which is because of idiosyncrasies like little Sam dressing as a girl. They may just be up the task, what with Dahlia making friends and fending off real Doug Rich contacts. However, their own past catches up with them when Dale (Todd Stashwick) tracks them down and threatens to expose them.

The cast is superb, especially Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver in many emotionally poignant moments, and the writing intriguing. It is much more than meets the eye and only the second season will tell if they get to keep their new life. It is well worth finding out. And if you're not yet familiar with Izzard's stand up routines, please do check him out. His esoteric brilliance and yes, confessions of being a trend-setting transvestite, are hysterical. He's what we call smart-funny.


Created by:
Dmitry Lipkin

Directors:
Peter O'Fallon (4 episodes, 2007)
Brian Kirk (2 episodes, 2007)

Series Writers:
Dmitry Lipkin (13 episodes, 2007)
Aaron Blitzstein (12 episodes, 2007)
Dawn Prestwich (4 episodes, 2007)
Nicole Yorkin (4 episodes, 2007)
Ellen Herman (3 episodes, 2007)
Lydia Woodward (2 episodes, 2007)

Starring:
Eddie Izzard
Minnie Driver
Shannon Woodward
Noel Fisher
Aidan Mitchell
Todd Stashwick
Gregg Henry
Margo Martindale


Eddie's "Dress to Kill"
Dress to Kill Read more!

300

300 - Film
a kate west reflection















I'm not a fan of video-game film directing. By that I mean the screen looks like a live action video game, with all that frantic swirling camerawork that drives me crazy (the number one reason I couldn't watch television's "NYPD Blue" is that it made me dizzy). I realize I'm referencing a few different styles here, but to me it all comes from that same adolescent ADD* need to be fast and hip and isn't a truly sophisticated style. "300" is the latest version of this, combining Frank Miller's graphic novel with a computer generated slickness geared toward male teenagers blood lust.

"300" is the story of the battle of Thermopylae between the Spartans and the Persians, fought roughly about 480 B.C. Basically it's the heroic three day stand of King Leonidas of Sparta (Gerard Butler) and his loyal 300 soldiers against at least half a million Persians led by King Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) and his "Immortals". At the cliffs of Thermopylae (a.k.a. the "Hot Gates"), the Spartans hold off the advancing hordes, but are betrayed by Ephialtes, a disfigured Spartan who knows a secret path to get around the pass, thus enabling the Persians to flank and surround the desperate Spartans. Despite sure defeat, they fight gallantly and indeed crush many more Persians than seems strategically possible before being cut down by a rain of arrows. This battle is often used as an example of extreme valiance in the face of insurmountable odds.

It's a great story, but I'm not into this retelling. Profound characterization can be lost when filmmakers get too graphic (as in computer graphics - I can take graphic violence like the best of them) . I left adolescence long ago but I do understand the appeal - the poster is very exciting, but the movie itself is pretty soulless. Not really my look either. The characters are fairly one-dimensional, especially the evil Persians with all their sexy eye liner countering the straight and true manliness of the Spartans. Please - it's a video game. I'd rather read a book. I love "The Matrix" (or at least the first one). Yes, it's a totally different style. But pure flashiness does not a movie make. At least it's not a Michael Bay movie. Points for that.

Director:
Zack Snyder

Producers:
Gianni Nunnari
Mark Canton
Bernie Goldmann
Jeffrey Silver
Distributed by Warner Brothers

Writers:
Zack Snyder (Screenplay)
Kurt Johnstad (Screenplay)
Frank Miller (Graphic Novel)

Cast:
Gerard Butler as King Leonidas: King of Sparta
Lena Headey as Queen Gorgo: Leonidas' wife
David Wenham as Dilios: Narrator and Spartan soldier
Dominic West as Theron: A corrupt Spartan politician
Michael Fassbender as Stelios: Young and spirited Spartan soldier
Vincent Regan as Captain Artemis: Leonidas' loyal captain and friend
Rodrigo Santoro as King Xerxes: King of Persia
Andrew Tiernan as Ephialtes: Deformed Spartan outcast
Andrew Pleavin as Daxos: Arcadian soldier
Tom Wisdom as Astinos: Captain Artemis' eldest son
Giovani Cimmino as Pleistarchos: Leonidas' son
Stephen McHattie as The Loyalist: A loyal Spartan politician
Peter Mensah as Persian messenger
Kelly Craig as Oracle girl
Tyler Neitzel as Young Leonidas
Robert Maillet as Über Immortal (Giant)

Music:
Tyler Bates

Cinematographor:
Larry Fong

Editor:
William Hoy

*ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder): a persistent pattern of inattention and hyperactivity or both, usually in younger individuals.

Film:
300 (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Graphic Novel:
300

Plutarch's Version:
On Sparta (Penguin Classics)

The Matrix:
The Matrix
Read more!

Dancing with My Demons

Dancing with Demons
a kate west review
written & performed by Ruth Otero; directed by Loren Chadima
at the Elephant Lab Theatre, 1078 N. Lillian Way, Hollywood, CA 90038
Friday, February 9, 2007 & for upcoming shows contact www.ruthotero.com


Mentioned by Variety Magazine as one of the Ten Comics to Watch in 2002, Ruth Otero is an expert on the one-woman show and even teaches how to do it on the side (www.ruthotero.com). Her current show, "Dancing with Demons", is an original and innovative look at dealing with dreams and personal demons.

The show begins with Ruth waking up in bed and being startled by the audience. Apparently we are figments of her imagination as she dreams a series of nightmares and anxiety dreams, one of which includes being completely unprepared for this very show. In full shimmery silver disco getup with platform shoes, she appeals to us to applaud and validate her. And we are happy to do so. She jumps into the audience, playfully enjoining us to help her cope with different aspects of her multi-layered and often inappropriate personalities, surfacing one at a time.

Her great variety of characters include a Puerto Rican on trial for attempting to be white, a lesbian in denial, a nurse advising a would-be-actress-now-mother realizing her life is over, an underdog boxer literally battling Fear and her ultimate demon of demons, her own Hispanic mother (explored in even more painful detail in her show "Oops, I Killed My Mother). One standout scene involves her attempt to go back to sleep, twisting and turning in the sheets in time to the "Barber of Seville" theme. It is masterfully hilarious and clever at once.

Otero is very adept at leaping from character to character, changing accents as quickly as she changes viewpoints. Her appeal lies in her willingness to share her vulnerabilities and we sympathize with the universal truths of her anxieties. Some of her vignettes do run a bit long, like Yellow Bird, the boxer, who keeps succumbing to Fear until ultimate triumph by the end. Her characterization is amusing, however, it is not as based in reality as other characters, so at times it feels out of place. Much more identifiable are characters like her mother, for who doesn't experience this conflict with a parent, especially mothers and daughters? And Ruth is well versed in the accent.

As participant observers in her journey toward self-acceptance, we are confided in and treated as family. We cheer each victory and laugh at every faux pas and in the end we all realize that we are all going to be O.K. It's a fun show and might even be suited for expansion into an entire variety show. Ruth Otero is indeed a gifted comic and yes, definitely one to watch. Read more!

Pinkberry

Pinkberry Frozen Yogurt
a kate west reflection

I'm not really that big of fan of this new Pinkberry craze. Not to the point of thinking about it fervently in between visits anyway. I guess I have too much of a sweet tooth and Pinkberry yogurt is more tart. Or maybe because it's literally frozen yogurt, as in the kind you eat on a lunch break. Not my idea of dessert.

And I really don't understand all the long ass lines blocks and blocks long and the whole insane demand. For yogurt, really? I prefer coffee and chocolate - deeper flavors. I like that you can get toppings, like Cap'n Crunch on top, but not enough to fight traffic, find parking and wait forever. It started in West Hollywood, the worst place to find parking and now they're all over. I even introduced my brother to one when I visited him in New York for Christmas. I'm happy with the normal ice cream stores. Don't people still go to Baskin Robbins or Coldstone Creamery? BR is so my childhood - I will always be loyal to them. Hot fudge sundae? Yes, please! Or what about the little family-owned gelato shops? Mmmmmm. Love those. Sorry, Pinkberry. Not into it.

But I think I 'm the only one. And it's so lonely....

Latest update: I just found out that Pinkberry doesn't do real yogurt anymore - now it's all from a powder. So you see there's really no reason to go there! Harrumph.

Find your closest Pinkberry:
www.pinkberry.com Read more!

Les Luthiers

Les Luthiers
a kate west recommendation








Les Luthiers Volumen 3" (1973)

The Argentinean comedic group Les Luthiers was formed in the 1960's and is composed of several articulately funny gentleman who are versed in literature and music alike. Following up a clever monologue with a musical number, they've been internationally famous for years and have several popular YouTube videos to show for it.

Known for using hand made instruments (made from everyday objects), their name comes from the French word "luthiers". Appropriately, Les Luthiers integrates cantatas, serenatas, madrigals, pop and opera into their act. Intellectually provocative, there is something for everyone, from rap to word play. Often ending in playful silliness, they evoke Python (Monty) like absurdity so it is no wonder they have worldly appeal.

Members

• Carlos López Puccio: Violin, keyboards, percussion, viola, cello, vocals, bass, etc.
• Jorge Maronna: Guitar, cello, bass, double-bass, percussion, vocals, keyboards, etc.
• Marcos Mundstock: Percussion, keyboards, trumpet, vocals, etc.
• Carlos Núñez Cortés: Piano, keyboards, recorder, percussion, vocals, etc.
• Daniel Rabinovich: Guitar, violin, bass-pipe, drums, recorder, vocals, bass, keyboards, etc.

• Gerardo Masana, founder (died 1973): Guitar, bass-pipe, vocals, percussion, etc.
• Ernesto Acher (left the group 1986): Piano, horn, trumpet, clarinet, saxophone, drums, keyboards, cello, vocals, etc.

Roberto Fontanarrosa, a renowned Argentine cartoonist and writer (from 1980 until his death in 2007).

Shows

• Les Luthiers cuentan la ópera (1967)
• Todos somos mala gente (1968)
• Blancanieves y los siete pecados capitales (1969)
• Querida Condesa (1969)
• Les Luthiers Opus Pí (1971)
• Recital '72 (1972)
• Recital sinfónico '72 (1972)
• Recital '73 (1973)
• Recital '74 (1974)
• Recital '75 (1975)
• Viejos fracasos (1976)
• Mastropiero que nunca (1977)
• Les Luthiers hacen muchas gracias de nada (1979)
• Los clásicos de Les Luthiers (1980)
• Luthierías (1981)
• Por humor al arte (1983)
• Humor dulce hogar (1985)
• Recital sinfónico '86 (1986)
• Viegésimo aniversario (1987)
• El reír de los Cantares (1989)
• Les Luthiers, Grandes Hitos (1992)
• Unen canto con humor (1994)
• Bromato de armonio (1996)
• Todo por que rías (1999)
• Do, Re, Mi, Já (2000)
• El Grosso Concerto (2001)
• Las Obras De Ayer (2002)
• Con Les Luthiers y sinfónica (2004)
• Recital Folklórico Cosquín (2005)
• Los Premios Mastropiero (2005)
• Recital por los Cuarenta Años (2007)

Sonamos pese a Todo" (1971)

Albums

• Sonamos Pese a todo (1971)
• Cantata Laxatón (1972)
• Les Luthiers (volumen 3) (1973)
• Les Luthiers (volumen 4) (1976)
• Mastropiero que nunca (1979)
• Muchas gracias de nada (1980)
• Les Luthiers (volumen 7) (1983)
• Cardoso en Gulevandia (1991)
• Les Luthiers En Vivos (2007)

Les Luthiers - Educación Sexual Moderna Read more!

Barefoot Contessa

Barefoot Contessa - Food Network
a kate west favorite



It's not the 1954 movie with Humphrey Bogart and Ava Gardner. Food Gourmet Goddess Ina Garten is the new Barefoot Contessa, with her own cooking show on the Food Network since 2002. You can't visit her yummy Hampton store anymore (it's closed, alas), but you can still catch her entertaining and delightful show.

With an open and warm style she offers easy, non-intimidating recipes, croons over her adorable husband Jeffrey and tells us tales of her many adventures in France. She's pretty much an icon in the culinary world and her many books have sold wordwide. Tune in before your special dinner party.

www.barefootcontessa.com

At Home:
Barefoot Contessa at Home: Everyday Recipes You'll Make Over and Over Again

MORE Magazine: www.more.com Read more!

The Closer

The Closer - TNT Network
a kate west favorite




Krya Sedgwick is more than remarkable in this acclaimed television show about Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson who transfers from Atlanta, Georgia to a whole different world of crime in Los Angeles, California. Three seasons worth of investigative work have endeared her to audiences everywhere. She has the accent down perfectly and the subtle characterization is amazing. It is quite heartening to see an "older" (Hollywood older, not real people older) in such a gratifying role. She won the 20007 Golden Globe award for best actress and deserved ten more. Lord, what a dream come true for a working actor. The rest of the cast comprising her crew is wonderful as well.

Each week another crime is solved by Johnson's finesse at cornering her suspects into admitting the truth. She's brilliant at what she does, which makes her all the more human in her vulnerable moments outside the interrogation room. She has a rabid sweet tooth and hides all sorts of chocolate goodies in her desk drawers and purses, forever tempted into sin by the stresses of her job. She works with her ex (J.K. Simmons, Assistant Chief Pope), and is engaged to an F.B.I. agent (Jon Tenney as Fritz Howard) who loves both her strength and her neurosis, lucky, lucky her. In one recent episode, she puts off a visit to her doctor, assuming she's having a pregnancy scare, only to find her brave front is big, fat, facade when they discover she's actually going through early menopause. Her despairing cry that she will now get "all old and wrinkly" is hysterical.

The show was created by James Duff and the Shephard/Robin Company in association with Warner Bros. Television. Check it out.


Series Directed by
Michael M. Robin (10 episodes, 2005-2007)
Arvin Brown (5 episodes, 2005-2007)
Elodie Keene (4 episodes, 2005-2007)
Rick Wallace (4 episodes, 2005-2007)
Gloria Muzio (3 episodes, 2005-2006)
Kevin Bacon (2 episodes, 2006-2007)

Series Writing credits
James Duff (35 episodes, 2005-2007)
Hunt Baldwin (8 episodes, 2005-2007)
John Coveny (8 episodes, 2005-2007)
Ken Martin (7 episodes, 2007)
Wendy West (6 episodes, 2005-2006)
Mike Berchem (6 episodes, 2006-2007)
Adam Belanoff (4 episodes, 2006-2007)
Steven Kane (3 episodes, 2006-2007)
Rick Kellard (2 episodes, 2005)
Roger Wolfson (2 episodes, 2005)
Nancy Miller (1 episode, 2005)

Cast:
Kyra Sedgwick ... Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson / ... (37 episodes, 2005-2007)
J.K. Simmons ... Asst. Police Chief Will Pope / ... (37 episodes, 2005-2007)
Corey Reynolds ... Sgt. David Gabriel (37 episodes, 2005-2007)
Robert Gossett ... Commander Taylor / ... (37 episodes, 2005-2007)
G.W. Bailey ... Det. Lt. Provenza (37 episodes, 2005-2007)
Jon Tenney ... Agent Fritz Howard / ... (37 episodes, 2005-2007)
Anthony John Denison ... Det. Andy Flynn / ... (35 episodes, 2005-2007)
Michael Paul Chan ... Detective Mike Tao / ... (34 episodes, 2005-2007)
Phillip P. Keene ... Buzz / ... (34 episodes, 2005-2007)
Raymond Cruz ... Detective Sanchez / ... (33 episodes, 2005-2007)
Gina Ravera ... Detective Daniels


To Catch Up:
The Closer - The Complete First Season

Speaking of older women, check out the trendy over-40 magazine MORE at www.more.com. Read more!

The 4400

The 4400
USA Network Television
www.usanetwork.com/series/
the4400
a kate west favorite









Now in its fourth season, USA's prominent sci-fi show, "The 4400", is still a cool idea. 4400 people were abducted by aliens and inexplicably returned to earth. They were all frozen in their respective time periods, so as a result did not age until they came back and their eras of origin range from different decades in the 1900's through the present.

The Department of Homeland Security makes an ominous appearance, in the form of The National Threat Assessment Command (NTAC). Tom Baldwin and Diana Skouris (Joel Gretsch and Jacqueline McKenzie, pictured above) are the main NTAC agents who keep track of the displaced 4400. They're supposed to be the bad guys, but are often torn in their compassion towards the returned Earthlings. The main reason they need to be so bureaucratic is due to the uncanny and amazing new abilities every 4400 seems to have developed. And that could well prove a national security risk. Diana actually adopts one of them, Maia (Conchita Campbell), who can foresee the future. Granted, some of the 4400 do go bad and that's why nothing is ever completely black and white, but things are more grey, or rather alien green, much like the Promicin injections that render regular non-abductees into superior beings. Every 4400 produces a fifth neurotransmitter called Promicin that enables him or her to use parts of his/her cerebellum that no human has used before and this has been cleverly distilled into a drug to use on the rest of us.

Adding to the difficulties is the emergence of a 4400 Messiah, Jordan Collier (Billy Campbell). He dies, is resurrected and comes back wanting the whole world to take Promicin so that everyone can experience 4400 abilities. Unfortunately, some civilians have bad reactions and end up dead. Tom and Diana can barely keep up with each new case. That, and Isabel Tyler, (Megalyn Echiunwoke) is a scary new kind of post- 4400 with destructive powers bent on thwarting both sides of the war. It all escalates throughout the seasons until surprising developments come to pass. Shawn Farrell's (Patrick Flueger) gift of healing is cool, as is Richard Tyler's (Mahershalalhashbaz Ali) telekinesis.

Season One and Two are the strongest so far, but for sci-fi nerds, it's still an intriguing show. This show works better than the wildly popular "Heroes" in that there is certain logic in the supernatural origins of its characters. We know why they are the way they are - they were made special by aliens.

The show was created and written by Scott Peters and René Echevarria and is set in Seattle (filmed in Vancouver). The opening credits explain the show pefectly and one of the few you might not want to fast forward through. The catchy theme song is "A Place in Time", written by Robert Phillips and Tim Paruskewitz, and performed by Amanda Abizaid. You won't be able to get it out of your head.


Tom Baldwin — Joel Gretsch
Diana Skouris — Jacqueline McKenzie
Richard Tyler — Mahershalalhashbaz Ali
Lily Moore Tyler — Laura Allen
Shawn Farrell — Patrick Flueger
Nikki Hudson — Brooke Nevin
Isabelle Tyler — Megalyn Echikunwoke
Danny Farrell — Kaj-Erik Eriksen
Maia Skouris — Conchita Campbell
Kyle Baldwin — Chad Faust
Nina Jarvis — Samantha Ferris
Alana Mareva — Karina Lombard
Dennis Ryland — Peter Coyote
Jordan Collier — Billy Campbell
Meghan Doyle — Jenni Baird
April Skouris — Natasha Gregson Wagner
Kevin Burkhoff — Jeffrey Combs
Matthew Ross — Garret Dillahunt
Marco Pacella — Richard Kahan
Tess Doerner — Summer Glau
Cassie Dunleavy — Tristen Leffler


The 4400 - The Complete First Season Read more!