Grrrrrrr.......found out after the fact that last night's episode of "The Chronicle" (on the sci-fi channel) was the f***ing series finale. I haven't spent much time talking about my love of science fiction here yet, because I've been too busy with the reality shows and Buffy. I adore science fiction and "The Chronicle" is perhaps the only series in television history that I watched every episode of from day one. (Shows like Buffy I came to late and caught up on back episodes in syndication.)

I had no idea they were cancelling the show. I sat there watching and even commented to friends online "F***! she can't be leaving!" as it looked like Rena Sofer's character was saying goodbye to everyone. Convinced it was a cliff-hanger for the season finale(though not promoted as such), I went to the network's website to find out when the third season would begin. That's when I found it it was "Series Finale" -- that the show was cancelled for "not finding an audience". Gee, maybe that had something to do with the fact that season one was on Saturday nights at 9pm and the second season was on Fridays. Because we all know that people who love sci-fi are geeks sitting home without dates on weekends. Yeah. Right.

The sci-fi channel seems more than a little confused. They moved first run episodes of "First Wave" from Sunday nights (where it was for two seasons) to Saturday nights in 2001 and were surprised that the rating dropped significantly. Guess what show was cancelled quickly thereafter? Running original series on Friday and Saturday nights is just stupid -- esp. if that's the only night you run it. Put them on Sunday and Monday nights and leave Friday and Saturday for the stupid 80s horror movies that either everyone has seen a million times or no one has heard of. You think "Dune" the miniseries would have had as good ratings if it had been run on Thurs-Sat instead of Mon-Wed???

Yes, "Farscape" has managed to be a limited success on Friday nights, but it's an exception, not a rule for programming (and a show that couldn't hold my attention for whatever reason). Don't be surprised that "First Wave", "The Invisible Man", and now "The Chroncle" can't match it. "Farscape is an outerspace show while the others are "earthbound". The audience is different for the two types. People who like Xfiles, superheros and "Men In Black" -type programming are at movies, parties, and the theater on weekends. Get a clue already.

Apparently, the people on the BtVD e-mail group (name withheld) aren't as judgemental as I am. While I enjoyed the "what is reality" exploration of the episode, there were really only two moments in the entire hour that were worth anything...and we could have gotten to them without the banality proceeding them. There is interesting speculation about what it all means to the buffyverse. Personally, I enjoyed tonight's repeat of "Tabula Rasa" more than the first run of "Normal Again". But don't get me started about UPN affiliates who preempt 4/5 weeks of first-run eps in a row for basketball and then the next time there's a repeat, suddenly there's no basketball.

TAR2 tomorrow. It still has my attention, just haven't had time to write about it or TE2. Don't wait for my opinions, though. Just go watch them yourself.

apparently last night's BtVS was gripping, intelligent, and pivotal to character development. Of course, I *still haven't seen it*!! grrrrrr

Yet another basketball game preempting yet another first run program. Now I have to endure the doubly difficult wait until Sunday night. The Buffy list I read is hosted by yahoo. Since yahoo is going to have their "groups" offline all weekend, everyone is talking LOTS more than usual about last night's episode (wanting to get everything in before the server downtime). So they are more talkative and using so many superlatives and I have to wait four more f***ing days! At least the last few weeks I've waded through "that was bad" posts so I didn't feel like waiting was as bad as it might have been. This is making up for all that.

At least I have TAR2 tonight and TE2 tomorrow. AND "First Wave" has entered the third season eps on Sci-fi channel. My pop culture edge is a little sated....just don't mention the word "basketball" around me for the next four days.

wow. no, make that WOW!

Half watched the premiere of "The Amazing Race" (TAR2) last night and I'm sooo happy it's back. I'm about 95% done rewatching with more careful attention. The prize for winning the leg was a nice surprise. The comparisons to the original racers inevitable. I figure another episode or two and these racers will start to show their own personalities. The race will cover many more miles in fewer days that the original. Should be a very tense and exciting show.

I think the appeal of TAR (in any version) is that it is a race. The tension exists from last night's start until someone crosses the finish line (wherever that is). Likewise "Tough Enough" (TE) has the tension of someone getting injured or dropping out from the strain at any given moment. No matter what is said, none of the other reality shows truly capture tension from beginning to end. They have moments. They have slow builds over a season. None starts like TAR or has the constant danger (in what appears to be a perfectly civilized environment) of TE.

Like I said: WOW!

New template for this blog. I got it from blogskins. I'm currently adapting it to my personal needs. If you come in during reconstruction, ignore the weird links, etc., and check back later today.

TE2 has been interesting so far. Thursday's episode ended with one of the contestants being carted off in an ambulance. Should be an entertaining season. I just wish I could find a forum to chat about the show. Well, to read really. I read BtVS lists and TAR message boards. Gives me an outlet so that I don't bore my friends chattering about it.

TAR2 preview is on Monday. Regular episodes start Wednesday. Need to remember to buy a few new videotapes tomorrow.

There's a Starz free preview weekend. I'm finally going to see "Bridget Jones' Diary". It was on at the ungodly hour of 4:45 a.m. Luckily I saw the listing and was able to set the VCR. I love Rene Zellweger. She's usually cute and sometimes really sexy and I love her voice. Her with a British accent should be good. Colin Firth too. I'm sure I'll enjoy them even if the "plot" is ridiculous and the movie sucks. I always love Colin.

Yet another week of BtVS delay. This time I have to wait until Sunday afternoon at 3pm. It sucks that the UPN affliate not only has to pre-empt new Buffys for basketball games, but can't even show the delayed ep at the same time each week. Three weeks in a row, two different days, three different times periods. --and what really sucks is that I've already read all the spoilers for the ep, but I have to wait five days after everyone else sees the wedding scenes! grrrrr

Another week til TAR2. That means the only thing worth watching between now and Sunday is TE2 on Thursday night. Guess I'll spend time working on my websites.....should they ever fix the server and get access back.

I saw the end of the commercial for peeps. It amazes me to think that "pick a pack of peeps" could be a jingle and a commercial for easter candy could include visual effects and rock-style music. I haven't actually had any for a few years. Maybe I'll go buy some.

I haven't been to a movie in a theater in so long I've lost track. I think it was probably sometime in calendar year 2000. I know it was before I moved (Nov 2000). It was probably "The Matrix" or maybe "Titan AE". Though, if you count the movie at the M&M store in Las Vegas, then the last "theater" movie I saw was December 2001 (nothing funnier than a sock stampede!). I don't really consider that a movie; it was an "experience."

It's been months since I even rented a movie, though I did buy my first DVDs last fall. Mostly I watch movies that myself or my roommate own or whatever happens to be on basic cable. I'm trying to remember the last movie I watched. I think it was my tape of "Leap of Faith", but I may be wrong. Anything I watch while on the computer tends to be more background noise than anything else. It took me several hours of pausing, rewinding, and sleeping before I got all the way through the TE2 premiere from Thursday night. I may try to watch tonight's BtVS in the living room, away from the computer.

I can't remember the last book I read that wasn't about BDSM. This past week I've been catching up on magazine reading. Doesn't say much that I subscribe to only two magazines (one is 6 issues a year, the other 12) and I can't keep up with reading them. Don't know what I'd do with a weekly magazine, let alone a newspaper. I read too many websites and blogs and discussion list email. And, yes, I watch too much television.

I think I need to go write. As in fiction. Once the boi I'm talking to responds to my last post in chat.

Damn. After all that anticipation, 11pm comes around and do I watch TE2? No. I'm online chatting (flirting?) with a bunch of women on IRC and TE2 is just background noise. I did tape it and tried to watch a bit of it after I got offline, but I fell asleep. I'll dedicate some time to it tonight, *before* I get involved with all the women.

Tomorrow I get to see BtVS. The discussion lists haven't been very active. Supposedly the episode furthered character development and key relationships, but it must not have been very good. Usually there are stronger reactions and more post-episode analysis than I've seen. It's very weird to me that six months ago I'd never seen an episode. Now, thanks to FX reruns, I've seen at least part of every episodes -- 5 full seasons and all the current one. It's a fun show. I enjoy it.

I fell asleep watching reruns of "Celebrity Death Match" which usually amuses me. There's a new season coming up, so that's something else to look forward to. Weird that I'm anticipating the "March season" more than the "Fall season" that everyone else hypes. Maybe that's because the regular stuff is so tired and recycled. I think my vcr is going to get quite a workout, since it seems I have a 'date' most Tuesdays (when BtVS is on) and Thursdays (TE2) and still a season to go in my work day taping of "The First Wave" on the sci-fi channel.. No, my life doesn't revolve around tv. I tape so I can watch at my convenience.