Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on December 9th, 2003
It seems that most people have strong opinions when it comes to Ellen DeGeneres. Of course, when you make yourself the first openly gay character on television, those opinions can be expected. Some feel that she is courageous, bravely stepping into the forefront of the gay rights movement. Others feel that her lifestyle is immoral, and that she should be shamed of her actions. Personally, I feel that it is unfortunate that her status as a gay woman is an issue at all. The desire of any true performer should be for th... world to discuss their art, and not their personal life. (Of course, she freely made an issue of her sexuality herself, but I digress.) Simply saying that Ellen is "funny" shortchanges her talents.
Ellen is not just funny, she's smart. Very, very smart. This stand-up performance takes her stream-of-consciousness style of storytelling to a new extreme. Topics segue from one into another at breakneck speed, forcing the listener to simply hang on and enjoy the comic ride. Her theme for this show (which happens to be filled with all-new material) is life in the 21st century, and she captures its nuances and frustrations flawlessly, from cell phone etiquette to news and information overload. Someday, I will be able to show this disc to my children to explain what life was like at the turn of the new century.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on December 7th, 2003
MASH (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) is one of the most memorable TV series ever produced. It was on the air for 11 years (much longer than the Korean War in which it took place). For those of you that have never heard of the show, it followed the trails and tribulations of the 4077th, a battlefield hospital for the American Soldiers in the Korean War. Military settings don’t exactly make one think of a comedy series but it worked. The writing on the show was and still is amongst the best in television history – and ...t had to be. Each week the writers had to deliver an episode that mixed the horrors of war, comedy, and interpersonal relationships that made the viewer care about the characters. And it did. 14 Emmys and 9 People’s choice awards speak for themselves.
The 5th Season added a few twists and turns as Major Frank Burns (Larry Linville) would be written out and Father Francis J. Mulcahy’s character would be expanded to a regular cast member after 4 years of odd appearances here and there.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on December 4th, 2003
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on December 4th, 2003
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on December 2nd, 2003
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on December 1st, 2003
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on December 1st, 2003
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on November 30th, 2003
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on November 28th, 2003
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on November 28th, 2003
Most fans of the NBA have strong feelings about Allen Iverson. While some feel that he his the most dominant player in the game today, others feel that he is selfish, a player who is more concerned with his own numbers than the welfare of his team. Iverson is usually embroiled in some sort of controversy, and I suspect that he likes it that way. While it is true that his rough image is probably not what the NBA has in mind as a league player, his talent simply cannot be denied.
This hour-long documentary ha... really swayed my opinion of Iverson. I admit, I didn’t really know a lot about him before viewing this piece, except for the fact that he was constantly in some sort of trouble either with the law or with the NBA. This feature, while clearly shining the most positive light on every situation, does a good job of helping to explain his troubles both on the court and off. This is a player who knows that he has made mistakes in the past, and who is willing to do whatever it takes to be a winner in the future.
