The number is 666!!

Now that school is started I am committed to writing this blog at least twice a week. No matter the work load.  I have come to love reviewing my favorite TV shows, movies, comics and anything that entertains me. So that takes me to my favorite TV viewing day, Sunday. I sat down to Dexter, and Homeland, when flipping through the channels I had picked up a new show called 666 Park Avenue.

Now that Deb Morgan (Jennifer Carpenter) has uncovered her brother is a serial killer, she has decided Dexter (Michael C.Hall) has an addiction and she can help him beat it. He only has to spend every moment of everyday with her. Our clever Dexter however has learned to drug her steak (loaded syringe) to get a little time to himself when needed.  Not only that, La Guerta (Lauren Velez) is really trying to find out who the Bay Harbor Butcher is. If that were not enough, Dexter is having a problem with Louis Cook (Josh Greene). Louis appears to not fear Dexter, even after being threatened. So Dexter is having to "up" the terror in Louis' life.

 

On the Homeland front Carrie (Clair Danes) simply can not trust herself after being so wrong about Brodie  ( Damian lewis-though we know she is dead on target). So when of the informers she made will not speak to anyone else, they send Carrie with Saul (Mandy Patinkin) to Lebanon. It seems that Abu Nazir, a terrorist (who is a contact of Brodie's) is set up for capture. Brodie finds out and warns him at the last minute.  Carrie captures papers and a video of Brodie's involvement.  Saul watches it knowing she was right all along.  Carrie runs through the streets of Beruit looking like a crazy woman, but crazy like a fox.  When she goes home she is a little lonely for the CIA, she's missing being a part of it. So there is more than enough for an adrenaline rush with this show.

Now to my new find.  The infamous number 666, the mark of the beast is part of the title of this new supernatural drama, 666 Park Avenue. It is based on a book of the same name, and tells the story of a couple who live in the Drake in NYC. While living there they discover, that it is haunted, possessed and otherwise disturbed.  Jane Van Veen and Henry Martin (Rachael Taylor and Dave Annable) co-manage The Drake (filmed using the Beaux-Arts building, upper East Side Manhattan).  Early on, Jane is having a psychic connection with the building when it invades her sleep with a dream about a 53 year old murder. The building is haunted by murderous starlings, and even stranger owners, Olivia and Gavin Doran (Vanessa Williams and Terry O'Quinn). I am thinking this kind of weirdness is right up my alley and can't wait to see what develops.

So that is it for tonight, I am hoping you have a great week.  I will see you later!!

It's a Family Affair

I have not always appreciated the Family Channel from ABC.  I have feared mediocre entertainment disguised as wholesome family entertainment.  I have a new perspective because of a couple of things. First I have discovered they run the Gilmore Girls at 11am Monday-Friday. Who doesn't love Rory Gilmore? The Secret Life of The American Teenager has 1980's teen queen Molly Ringwald.  My most favorite find is Switched at Birth.

It is the story of Bay Kennish (Vanessa Marano-April Nardini from Gilmore Girls) and Daphne Vasquez (Katie LeCleric). They were switched at birth in a hospital in Kansas. Bay's father was a famous ball player John Kennish (D.W. Moffett). Her mother was stay at home Kathryn (the wonderful Lea Thompson-Caroline in the City and The Back to The Future series). Her brother Toby (Louis Graebel from High School Musicals) resembles Daphne more than Bay.  Daphne grew up abandoned by her father early after she gets an ear infection and goes deaf. Her mother Regina (Constance Marie-George Lopez Show) is a recovering alcoholic hair dresser  They live in a working class neighborhood in Riverside, Missouri, with Daphne's grandmother played by Ivonne Coll.

After studying blood types in school, Bay wonders why she is different than her family.. Bada-bing bada-bang, and some genetic testing later, Bay is discovered not to be a biological Kennish. It is discovered that the hospital switched her with Daphne Vasquez.  When they meet it makes sense, Daphne, who is athletic with light colored hair blends right in with the Kennishes. There is where the story begins.  The Vasquez's come to live with the Kennishes in the guest house.  This enabled them to get to know each other, and to help Regina out in a financial bind.

Well now, the long lost husband (of Regina) Angelo Sorrento has come back, and learned the truth. It seems he left Regina because he believed she cheated. How could a Puerto Rican woman and an Italian man give birth to a light haired baby? I guess it never occurred to him, that maybe genetically someone married a blond, or that they were switched at birth. Anyway Regina has now had to marry him to keep him from being deported.  One other fact, Bay started dating Emmett Bledsoe (Sean Birdy) who Daphne secretly had a crush on.  They were friends from childhood. His mother is played by the famous Marlee Matlin.  Eventually though Emmett slept with Toby's girlfriend and Bay dumped him. So long faced Emmett is trying to be Bay's friend.  Yeah, like that works all the time.

Anyway, during October, from the 19th on, the ABC Family channel is going to have Halloween films every night.  They are among the likes of Beetlejuice and Hocus Pocus.  I am sure there will be a Tim Burton film in there too. So even though it is mostly G or PG13, the ABC Family Channel will have me watching. Those are some fun films!! I love Switched at Birth and can't wait for next Monday!!

 

Dexter is BACK!!

 

Ok, this was an exciting night on Showtime. Dexter came back, with a Homeland Chaser.  I have watched both since their beginnings, Dexter since 2006 and Homeland since 2011. Dexter (Michael C. Hall), I call the serial killer with good intentions. He only kills killers. It seems Dexter was rescued by a Miami cop when he was 3. The cop, Harry Morgan (James Remar) saw something in Dexter, and because Dexter was witness to his mother's murder, and was sitting in a pool of her blood, Harry thought his urge to kill needed to be contained. So he coached him and taught him how to use his powers for good. He still haunts Dexter now and then. Harry and his wife had a daughter, named Debra (Jennifer Carpenter) who basically lived in Dexter's shadow after Harry rescued and adopted him. With both of their parents gone both Debra and Dexter work for Miami Metro. He is a blood splatter specialist and Debra this year is the Lieutenant of his division.

 

Homeland began last season and introduces us to characters Carrie Mathison (Clair Danes), and Nicholas Brody (Brit Damien Lewis).  Carrie is an CIA agent who was tipped off that an American Prisoner of War in Iraq, has turned Al-Queda.  Immediately after, her Boss David Estes (David Harewood calls a meeting to divulge an American Marine had been rescued, thus enter Nicholas Brody.  So after 8 years Nicholas goes home to his wife Jessica Brody (Morena Baccarin) who played Anna in "V"). She is one of the most gorgeous women on TV.  It turns out Nicholas is Al-Queda and has been sent to take out some politicians.  Carrie comes to his own and convinces his daughter to call him, so he does not follow through on his suicide bombing mission.  Carrie is unceremoniously tossed from the CIA, and abandoned even by her mentor Saul (played by one of my faves Mandy Patinkin).  In the last frame Carrie is getting electro shock therapy for her bipolar disorder.

Last season on Dexter, Debra reveals in therapy she has a break through. She confesses that Dexter has always been there for her, and she might actually be in love with him. Before you judge, remember technically they are not related. Fast forward as she walks in on Dexter performing his ritual killing of Travis (Colin Hanks) the religious serial killer. She is shocked but agreed to help Dexter cover it up. So they remove the plastic and tell tale signs of Dexter's involvement, stab Travis with his sword in the same wound, and set the whole place on fire. Deb gets the gasoline. Deb is having a Post Traumatic Stress experience most of the rest of the episode.  At the scene Det. La Guerta (Lauren Velez) finds the blood slide in a crevice that Dexter dropped (you have to have souvenirs).

Dexter is having nightmares of trying to get away, and having all his credit cards declined. Which turns out to be a psychic premonition. Jamie (Aimee Garcia) his son's Harrison's babysitter has become involved a millionaire gamer Louis Greene (Josh Cooke) who is fascinated with Dexter. He logs on to Dexter's computer and steals credit card numbers from Dexter's aliases and cancels them. The exact premonition Dexter had. After a cop is killed, Dexter  who is needing to get control back in his life, goes after the killer and finishes him off.

When he goes home Deb is setting in Dexter's home with every piece of evidence strewn across his living room, including his blood splatter collection. The end for this week.  I am looking forward to this season #7, some guest stars are Calista Flockhart (Brothers and Sisters), Ray Stevenson, Jason Gedrick, and Yvonne Strahovski. So keep your hats on!!

This season begins in Homeland with people starting to doubt Nicholas Brody as he is now up for presidential running mate, and is acting funny.  No one doubts him more than his wife Jessica who finds his Koran and throws it on the floor. Nicholas freaks out just a little. Carrie is called back from her docile life with her sister and her father in to action. It seems an operative Carrie brought in will speak to no one else. So with a brunett wig, Carrie is off to Iraq, soon is evading capture, and it is clear, mania has over taken her. My son said she had crazy eyes.  Brody has found an ally in his daughter, who later helps him bury his desecrated Koran.  This show won Emmy's for Best Drama, Best Actor Damien Lewis and Best Actress Claire Danes.  This season they say will answer all your questions, so I would suggest you not miss it.  Have a good night!!