Tuesday Night TV and Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Colorado News
Posted on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 09:49:34 PM EST
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I thought there was something wrong with my Jeep's temperature read-out today, it showed 77 degrees. But it's 77 degrees inside my house right now. What's going on? Denver broke a 131 year record today. The high temperature was 82 degrees.

And what is up with the viewer voting on DWTS? How could Shannon Dougherty and Pamela Anderson be in the final two? How could Buzz Aldrin and the awful Kate Gosselin stay when the they got such dismal judge's scores last night? Pamela and Shannon weren't even in my bottom 5. Buzz or Kate definitely should have gone home instead.

Are any of you watching Breaking Bad on AMC? It may be the most depressing show ever but like Damages, it's good to see a crime show that isn't about glorifying cops. It's got a loyal and growing fan base and the unusual lead actor has won two emmys for the role. Both are so much better than shows like Castle, which got renewed today. Another crime show with promise, even though it's about a U.S. Marshal, is FX's Justified. [More...]

"24" reverted to type last night, bringing back two tired themes: the rougue White House official and Dana as the mole in CTU. With only 9 hours left, they need to step it up.

The American Idol is contestants are having a hard time tonight so far. Some really harsh criticism from the judges.

If you've had enough politics for the day, here's an open thread for all other topics.

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Tuesday Night TV and Open Thread | 71 comments (71 topical)

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I can't tell if this is New York or London (5.00 / 4) (#1)
by andgarden on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 09:56:03 PM EST

Enough with the rain!

: Good For The Plants (none / 0) (#5)
by squeaky on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 11:25:58 PM EST

: no kidding (none / 0) (#44)
by CST on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 09:35:05 AM EST

on my way home last night, saw a sign that you never want to see: "drive through at your own risk".
The roads are all flooded again, houses are all flooded again, rivers never had time to go down, it's a mess.

Drill, baby, drill. Off the coast of Virginia. (5.00 / 1) (#9)
by oculus on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 12:18:00 AM EST

Huge expansion of offshore drilling IMO (5.00 / 2) (#24)
by MO Blue on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 08:15:16 AM EST

The Obama administration is proposing to open vast expanses of water along the Atlantic coastline, the eastern Gulf of Mexico and the north coast of Alaska to oil and natural gas drilling, much of it for the first time, officials said Tuesday.
The proposal -- a compromise that will please oil companies and domestic drilling advocates but anger some residents of affected states and many environmental organizations -- would end a longstanding moratorium on oil exploration along the East Coast from the northern tip of Delaware to the central coast of Florida, covering 167 million acres of ocean.
The environmentally sensitive Bristol Bay in southwestern Alaska would be protected and no drilling would be allowed under the plan, officials said. But large tracts in the Chukchi Sea and Beaufort Sea in the Arctic Ocean north of Alaska -- nearly 130 million acres -- would be eligible for exploration and drilling after extensive studies. link

Banks
Health care industries
Oil

The President is on a roll.


oops! (5.00 / 1) (#28)
by mmc9431 on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 08:27:31 AM EST

You got it in a minute before me! Sorry for the double post.

Obama has pretty well sold the farm to any and all businesses. I was upset at the announcement of the new nuclear plants. This is just as bad. And still there are those out there that see him as this great progressive.

We can drill till this planet is Swiss cheese and all it will do is continue to poison the planet and delay development of alternative energy sources.


I heard about it this morning (none / 0) (#29)
by Militarytracy on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 08:28:28 AM EST

News claimed it was to get Conservadems onboard for good things. Same old Obama different day.


Enough! (5.00 / 1) (#31)
by mmc9431 on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 08:37:54 AM EST

Just once I'd like to here that Obama was concerned about getting real Democrats on board! If I didn't know better, I'd swear the Republicans had won the last election.

For eight years I listened to Republican spout how elections have consequences, (as the steam rolled their agenda through Congress).

When do we get our turn?


: The Democratic President at this point (none / 0) (#34)
by Militarytracy on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 08:44:02 AM EST

is literally telling his base that if you don't like center right and shadow pain of Rahm's missing finger, you will have to take him down. He does not give a $h*t what any of us think. And no liberal would make this his opening play on an environmnetal clean energy bill. I'm too tired to be outraged though. Let's just head over to Booman's for free booze and canapes to celebrate the happy occasion. We can skip by Cedwyn's for some caca pudding for dessert.

Obama is pushing the policies that he (5.00 / 1) (#36)
by MO Blue on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 08:50:19 AM EST

wants and uses Conservadems and a fake desire for bipartisanship as an excuse. Per article linked above.

Mr. Obama said several times during his presidential campaign that he supported expanded offshore drilling. He noted in his State of the Union address in January that weaning the country from imported oil would require "tough decisions about opening new offshore areas for oil and gas development."

: You win the prize today (none / 0) (#38)
by Militarytracy on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 08:53:03 AM EST

for reading my mind.

Really? (none / 0) (#11)
by squeaky on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 12:47:11 AM EST

Do you think that it is the same as drilling in Alaska, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

And:

Congress allowed a prohibition on offshore drilling to expire in 2008 and former President George W. Bush lifted a drilling moratorium that year. Environmental groups and some lawmakers continue to raise concerns about the impact increased drilling would have on coastal areas.

Reuters

It is pitched as a concession by Obama to get GOP on board for pro environment legislation. We'll see what he gets in return, if anything.

Proposed oil and gas leasing in Alaska's Bristol Bay will be canceled out of concern for protecting sensitive areas of the Outer Continental Shelf from environmental dangers.

And the Arctic National Refuge is still certainly off the table.


Perhaps we should consult those who (5.00 / 1) (#13)
by oculus on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 12:51:23 AM EST

actually live in VA.


It isn't just Virginia (5.00 / 1) (#25)
by mmc9431 on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 08:16:39 AM EST

According to NYT:

"The Obama administration is proposing to open vast expanses of water along the Atlantic coastline, the eastern Gulf of Mexico and the north coast of Alaska to oil and natural gas
drilling for the first time, officials said Tuesday."


: Yes, the Obama proposal (none / 0) (#45)
by KeysDan on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 09:52:21 AM EST

is intended to reduce oil imports. The Interior Department estimates that there could be as much as a three-year supply of oil and more than two year's of natural gas, at the current rates of consumption. But then again, it could be more or less, it is not known. On the east coast of the Gulf, the drilling will be about 125 miles off the coast so tourists will not see the wells, although there would be evidence of same should there be spills--dead fish, oil slicks, sport and commercial fisherman sitting around on pretty black beaches,shooting the breeze. On the plus side, is the reduction in skin cancer from the inability to use the beaches. Other "good" pieces of the proposal are that it is, after all, somewhat of a compromise with the otherwise good Bush ideas and if this drill baby drill plan is offered up now, it will, maybe, just maybe, strengthen our negotiations with guys like McConnell and Boehner for really good energy and climate legislation.

The GOP? (none / 0) (#15)
by squeaky on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 01:00:04 AM EST

They were already consulted, and the only thing holding back Bush's plan were the Democrats, and Obama.

The people speak:

January 27, 2010
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Virginia's two U.S. senators on Wednesday urged the Obama administration to carry out a previous plan to lease almost 3 million acres (1.2 million hectares) in federal waters off the state's coastline to oil and natural gas companies.
The lawmakers said in a letter to U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar that recent comments by a department official that the Virginia lease sale originally planned for late 2011 would be delayed until 2012 at the earliest are frustrating given that drilling creates jobs and needed energy supplies.

I am thinking of the lovely white sand (none / 0) (#16)
by oculus on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 01:13:53 AM EST

beaches in Virginia Beach.


And the gulf coast (5.00 / 1) (#30)
by Militarytracy on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 08:31:44 AM EST

And I'm thinking of Katrina and that whole hurricane season too, and platforms being wiped out and washing up on beaches. There's an automatic valve that closes on the ocean floor when that happens....right?


Valve must have been broken in (5.00 / 1) (#49)
by oculus on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 10:38:53 AM EST

Santa Barbara.


No vision (none / 0) (#35)
by mmc9431 on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 08:49:14 AM EST

Do you really think that there's anyone left in DC that cares about tomorrow? It's take the money and run. To h#ll with the future.


I am thinking about $4.50 gas and the (none / 0) (#42)
by jimakaPPJ on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 09:09:00 AM EST

depression that follows... or the modern day equivalent we see now... if we don't start taking control of our own energy and telling OPEC that their free ride is over.


So we delay that by, what a year or two? (5.00 / 1) (#43)
by ruffian on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 09:17:49 AM EST

The oil companies' (it is not only OPEC) free ride will be over when we get off oil altogether, and not before. Seems like $4.50 oil is all that focuses the attention on what really has to be done.


I don't consider this a great start (none / 0) (#48)
by Militarytracy on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 10:35:26 AM EST

to taking control of our energy needs. This is actually a pathetic start.


It is called triage (none / 0) (#57)
by jimakaPPJ on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 12:50:45 PM EST

We are killing our economy with high priced oil. Drill, drop the price and do the R&D for the future.

BTW - Can either of you tell me a viable replacement for oil?


Our economy isn't being killed (none / 0) (#59)
by Militarytracy on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 10:14:35 PM EST

by high priced oil. It has been killed by the financial industry. They pay much more for fuel in Europe and have for a very long time. Americans should be deeply ashamed because they can't stand to not demand something for nothing even though they are destroying the planet and are insanely selfish and hedonistic.


The country of German is about the same size (none / 0) (#60)
by jimakaPPJ on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 11:17:27 PM EST

as Wisconsin.

So when you start comparing how they do transport with the US it just doesn't work.

But if you want to opt for high speed rail, autobahns, buses....that works for me as part of a solution until we can develop something besides oil that works.

And that something is? (Cue the camera to switch to MT.)

And if you will go back and look, things were stabilizing in the housing market in the April-May time frame. Then Zap. Oil took off to $145 a barrel by mid July, the housing market collapsed and the rest, as they say, was history.

Did the financial dudes hurt us? Yeah, led by Fannie and Freddie they helped blow the bubble up but it was oil prices, helped by the Democrats energy policy, that blew it apart.


This move to allow drilling all over (none / 0) (#61)
by Militarytracy on Thu Apr 01, 2010 at 06:35:06 AM EST

the place will not fix anything you say is broken. By the time it could have such an effect we have all those high speed rails and other solutions up and running.


The problems won't go away by themselves (none / 0) (#62)
by jimakaPPJ on Thu Apr 01, 2010 at 03:47:26 PM EST

so drilling has nothing to do with that issue. And yes, commitment to drilling does lower prices. Remember that when Bush finally issued his EO in 8/08 the speculation bubble burst and oil prices dropped.

Now. Please tell me a viable replacement for oil?

And not to be nasty, I don't think you can.

What most people on the Left mean when they speak of energy policy is $7.00 gasoline because they thing that will force people onto public transportation.

Well, first of all it will drive us into a depression. Secondly, a huge party of the country does not have public transportation.


We could probably (5.00 / 2) (#63)
by jondee on Thu Apr 01, 2010 at 04:17:46 PM EST

take half the money and manpower spent on chickenhawk wet dreams and devote that to public works projects, such as increasing the means for public transportation, recycling projects and expanding renewable energy projects..

We need a "war on.." stupidity, waste and rampant greed (as we had, to some extent, in the thirties and forties) rather than another "war on.." (that we always manage to find the resources for)


If we had a war on stupid remarks (none / 0) (#64)
by jimakaPPJ on Thu Apr 01, 2010 at 05:16:24 PM EST

your remarks would be the first casualty

Have a nice day.

BTW - Can you name a viable replacement for oil?

No?

Didn't think so.


If a certain bottomless (5.00 / 2) (#65)
by jondee on Thu Apr 01, 2010 at 05:27:50 PM EST

pile of rw b.s were only something that could be tapped into, we'd be set for a few decades at least..

Have a nice day.


Wind power :) (none / 0) (#66)
by Militarytracy on Thu Apr 01, 2010 at 08:38:28 PM EST

Works well except there is a storage problem. (none / 0) (#67)
by jimakaPPJ on Thu Apr 01, 2010 at 09:52:51 PM EST

Hi tech batteries may.. repeat may.... help that issue.

In the meantime, when the wind don't blow industry doesn't go!

Next??


But I don't want to store any of (none / 0) (#68)
by Militarytracy on Thu Apr 01, 2010 at 11:22:14 PM EST

that right wing hot air. I think it would be bad for the planet too. It is already getting hot enough.


Cute (none / 0) (#69)
by jimakaPPJ on Fri Apr 02, 2010 at 07:38:57 AM EST

And you can't name a viable replacement for oil.

Problem still here.

Won't go away.

;-)


: Jim, they are about to run (none / 0) (#71)
by Militarytracy on Sun Apr 04, 2010 at 10:37:30 AM EST

my air conditioning (which is 75% of my utility bill)in my almost 3,000 square foot home in the deep deep South on solar power. Our vehicles still don't touch the efficiency of the vehicles in Europe because we are such a bunch of spoiled bawling babies. Our houses are giant inefficient McMansions we all ought to be ashamed of, but like a bunch of disgusting bloodlust Romans at the start of the decline of the whole state....we demand to cling to symbols of hedonism for our faux self esteem. We wouldn't need a replacement for oil if we are made to act like responsible citizens of the planet. The plains that I grew up could provide the electric power to how much of the country if that were utilizied? You and your saddled up dinosaur can go away!

That makes me want to go on vacation (none / 0) (#17)
by shoephone on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 01:32:25 AM EST

That is about the only thing off the table (none / 0) (#40)
by MO Blue on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 08:57:12 AM EST

The proposal ... would end a longstanding moratorium on oil exploration along the East Coast from the northern tip of Delaware to the central coast of Florida, covering 167 million acres of ocean.

Seems his plan adopts many of the drilling proposals floated by President George W. Bush near the end of his tenure. Gotta love all those Republican "great ideas."


I wish this surprised me, but (5.00 / 1) (#19)
by caseyOR on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 01:37:44 AM EST

sadly it does not. Susie Madrak led me to a Guardian story about a doctor in Canada, who claims to be able to cure gays, who was charged with sexually abusing his patient.

And that's not all. This guy used to practice in South Africa, where he "treated" gays and lesbians. Actually, it appears he tortured them. Read the link- charges of chemical castration and electric shock therapy to, I don't know, burn the gay out of them? This guy sounds like a real piece of work.

If the charges are true, and it is easy for me to believe they are, this man is a monster.

Kate or Buzz (none / 0) (#2)
by BarnBabe on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 11:06:03 PM EST

Never been a fan of Pamela, but I think she is dancing well. Should not have been in the last two. Kate looked like a flopping fish Monday night. She has no rhythm. Period. And they catch those blah faces she makes when she does not realize the camera is on. Shannon was better for sure. So Buzz is getting votes for being old and still dancing. And Kate is still getting votes for being a 'victim'. Pam is not getting the votes because she was so sexy and Shannon did not feel that comfortable being on the show. Like she says, she is an actor.

But, what was really annoying tonight was that horrible horrible red team Melissa is back on the Biggest Loser. Thought they were gone and then there she was smirking. And Good Wife was a repeat. Tuesday nights and all was well. Still raining.

: agree, Melissa is the worst (none / 0) (#3)
by Jeralyn on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 11:10:34 PM EST

she totally ruins the show, I may not watch the rest of the season.

: Heh - I guess we know which demographic is (none / 0) (#7)
by Inspector Gadget on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 11:29:36 PM EST

still watching the show...and voting.
Not only is Buzz not a contender for the trophy, his inability to answer any question with something other than space and patriots is getting old fast.
Pamela is actually a contender if she can get a following, but the viewers have to vote for her. I'm thinking her fan base is not part of the viewing audience of this show.
I missed the elimination, so I will have to go check the website :)

Anyone watching Pacific War? (none / 0) (#4)
by Salo on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 11:22:47 PM EST

Just curious, I don't have premium cable.

: yes, it's ok but (none / 0) (#8)
by Jeralyn on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 11:58:38 PM EST

just okay.

: I am too (none / 0) (#26)
by Militarytracy on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 08:23:29 AM EST

I'm with Jeralyn. It's okay. It is worth the time, but it isn't stunning like Band of Brothers.

: Concur with J and MT (none / 0) (#37)
by ruffian on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 08:51:21 AM EST

It's OK, but not great. For example, I recorded it this week because I was out Sunday evening, and didn't watch it until last night. If I had been really into it, I would have stayed up late Sunday night and watched the recording right then.
It seems to jump around too much to get me hooked on any one narrative.

Wiating for the definitive take on (none / 0) (#6)
by oculus on Tue Mar 30, 2010 at 11:28:28 PM EST

new series w/John Cusack. Something about a hot tub in the 80s. May not have started yet.

Sounds great but it's a film (none / 0) (#22)
by Babel 17 on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 07:55:02 AM EST

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1231587/

I'm a fan of Mr. Cusack since seeing him in Grosse Pointe Blank.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119229/quotes


You mean... (none / 0) (#23)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 07:57:55 AM EST

...the movie "Hot Tub Time Machine" that's showing at a theatre near you right now?


That's it. I'll still wait for you all (none / 0) (#51)
by oculus on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 10:53:56 AM EST

to check it out.


Don't wait for me... (none / 0) (#52)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 10:56:43 AM EST

...as I'll be waiting for it to come in the mail from Netflix.


(Psst. Is it possible to download (none / 0) (#53)
by oculus on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 11:01:13 AM EST

a Netflix offering directly to my laptop? Don't have a DVD player.)


some (none / 0) (#54)
by CST on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 11:04:01 AM EST

netflix has some of it's dvds available for instant streaming, but not all of them.


: Thanks. (none / 0) (#56)
by oculus on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 11:10:51 AM EST

Finally went to the movies last week. (none / 0) (#10)
by shoephone on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 12:41:42 AM EST

Saw "The Last Station" which was excellent. Great acting, writing, and pacing. Mirren should have gotten the Oscar for that. I'll probably go and see it again.

Then I saw "The Ghostwriter" which was great to look at, but should have been shorter and tighter. And it should have been more of a payoff at the end, but I figured it out almost 45 minutes before the credits rolled. Darnit.

: I saw "The Last Station" (none / 0) (#33)
by dk on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 08:41:47 AM EST

last weekend and totally agree with you. It was great, and Helen Mirren was robbed of an Oscar for that performance.

I love "Breaking Bad" (none / 0) (#12)
by otherlisa on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 12:48:30 AM EST

I think it's the best show on television.

A ringing endorsement. (none / 0) (#14)
by oculus on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 12:51:45 AM EST

so does (none / 0) (#18)
by Jeralyn on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 01:34:13 AM EST

the TL kid and a few other defense lawyers I know. I'm finding it hard to watch.


I've only seen one episode (none / 0) (#39)
by ruffian on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 08:56:10 AM EST

It was the second episode this season, I think, where he gives the speech in the gym. It seemed a little contrived to me, like whatever the show started out being, it is now a Brian Cranston Emmy vehicle.

and depressing. Not sure I need it right now.


my problem with shows like this (none / 0) (#47)
by nyjets on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 10:07:28 AM EST

I will admit I have not seen the show but I have seen the previews. SHows like this, as do the Sopranos and the Godfather, glorify criminals and make them out like they are good people. They make it out that it is alright to break the law.


: NYJets, don't know if you will see this (none / 0) (#70)
by otherlisa on Fri Apr 02, 2010 at 02:42:41 PM EST

But Breaking Bad really does not glorify criminal behavior in the slightest. It shows how an intelligent, likable man becomes a monster, and the rationalizations it took for him to become one. I also think it's a very smart commentary on where America is today, how our system of winners and losers promotes behavior that is destructive to the public good.
Which, yeah, is kind of depressing.

Another loss for the jazz world (none / 0) (#20)
by shoephone on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 04:06:44 AM EST

Guitarist Herb Ellis has died.

He was such a mainstay of the post bop years. Many people will remember his playing on the two albums of standards that Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong recorded in the 1950's.

Ellis was a real class act. A great player and a very generous promoter of younger players. I met him 25 years ago when I was in music school. He came to do a concert, and spent most of the time praising Emily Remler, who he helped to get produced and recorded.

He was a swinging, melodic player, and a damn nice guy.

Sad news, Jaime Escalante, the math teacher (none / 0) (#21)
by jeffinalabama on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 07:44:07 AM EST

of "Stand and Deliver" fame died, complications of bladder cancer. He was 79.

: That is sad. (none / 0) (#58)
by shoephone on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 04:42:51 PM EST

And I love that movie.

Loved (none / 0) (#27)
by lilburro on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 08:26:46 AM EST

Bowersox's rendition of "Midnight Train to Georgia." She has got the voice. I'd like to hear her do more stuff like that. I'm not really into the Janis Joplin/Alanis Morissette thing.

Does anybody (none / 0) (#32)
by lilburro on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 08:38:15 AM EST

have any suggested blogs or reading about the Catholic Church scandals? I am sitting here reading Maureen Dowd, in a state of shock ("I'm reading...Maureen Dowd???"). Help.

: Yes, this is Maureen 's second (none / 0) (#46)
by KeysDan on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 10:03:31 AM EST

column on the Holy Father. The first, called for his resignation and replacement with a "Nope", a nun as pope. Boy, William Donohue's expected reaction will certainly rekindle my interest in Dowd's writings.

I still like 'Justified' a whole lot (none / 0) (#41)
by ruffian on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 09:04:39 AM EST

The dialogue is so good, and I think Timothy Olyphant has a lot of the James Garner 'Rockford' charm in this role. Now I'm gonna get told he's no James Garner, and maybe not, but he is pretty dang good. More pretty than he-man, but I like the world-weary-yet-amused attitude and expressions.

he's growing on me (none / 0) (#50)
by Jeralyn on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 10:43:56 AM EST

and so is the show. I also thought Pinter, who was Miranda's boyfriend Steven on Sex and the City, did a really good job. And I like the head Marshal guy.


: Yes on both of them as well (none / 0) (#55)
by ruffian on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 11:09:11 AM EST

Really good characters last night.
I like that the situations always change. I'm sure the original bad guy from the first episode will be back at some point, but it is refreshing to have new stories and characters every week. Most of the other shows I watch are ongoing stories, like 'damages'.