Monday, September 30, 2013

Smashing Premieres for Geller and Whedon

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Both "Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D." on ABC and "The Crazy Ones" on CBS had great premieres this week! As long as they don't put the shows up against each other, I guess we will be okay. :) And lets not forget online watching through cable TV, and future marathons via Netflix. It's just good that these shows exist.

From Variety
Nielsen estimates that the extended, seventh-season premiere of “The Big Bang Theory” did a whopping 5.6 rating/17 share in adults 18-49 and 18.9 million viewers overall from 8 to 9 p.m., funneling plenty of eyeballs into “The Crazy Ones,” which opened well with a 4.0/11 in the demo and 15.6 million viewers overall.

“Crazy,” in which Williams plays a Chicago ad exec, is the season’s No. 2 new series in demos (behind ABC’s “Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD”) and No. 1 in total viewers.

The combo of “Crazy Ones” at 9 and veteran “Two and a Half Men” in its new timeslot at 9:30 (2.9/8 in 18-49, 11.5 million viewers overall) provided CBS with nice timeslot improvement in key demos over last year’s drama, “Person of Interest.”

The Eye carried the night in key demos and won easily in total viewers.

Entertainment Weekly Inside Television
ABC’s Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. — a show so big it takes two company names to officially describe it — delivered 11.9 million viewers and a 4.6 adults 18-49 rating. That makes S.H.I.E.L.D. TV’s highest-rated drama debut in nearly four years (since ABC’s V premiere in November, 2009).

That adult demo number is particular impressive given the show’s time slot. S.H.I.E.L.D. had to self-start at 8 p.m. — no lead-in — and ran against huge competition: NBC’s The Voice and CBS’ NCIS are two of the most popular shows on television. And how did it stand up? S.H.I.E.L.D. (recap here) actually managed to tie the two-hour The Voice overall in the demo (4.6) — and beat it head-to-head during the 8 p.m. hour — while trouncing the return of NCIS in the demo (3.4), though obviously losing among total viewers (19.4 million).

. . . S.H.I.E.L.D. co-creator Joss Whedon, who previously launched modestly rated culty dramas like Firefly and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, told EW that ratings for the new show don’t really matter — except for when they do. “I mean, I want it to be a hit because people who I work for have invested in it, and people I work with are in it, and writing it, and I want it to continue,” Whedon explained. “We have the opportunity to do something special. If it’s not special, hopefully it will go away. I think we’ll be okay there. But I can’t measure it in those terms. It doesn’t seem useful to me.”

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Slayer Soundtrack Sunday ~ Gingersol

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Gingersol's "Never Noticed" plays at the end of the "The Wish," season 3, episode 9. Cordelia is angry at Xander and makes a wish in front of Anyanka the Vengeance Demon, who later become Anya, Xander's girlfriend. But in this episode Anya is still rocking the vengeance, and goes all out to give Cordelia some revenge by creating a Sunnydale where Buffy has never existed. This episode is famous for the alternate universe in which Vampire Willow and Vampire Xander are creepy lovers who torture Angel and stalk teenagers.

This is an ironically upbeat song to end such a dark episode.

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Never Noticed:

Doc Martin's Fear of Blood

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I've been watching the British series Doc Martin on Netflix and Hulu, and it made me wonder if someone who fears blood could ever watch a vampire movie or tv show? I'm surprised it hasn't come up even once on that series.

Maybe having vampires come to Port Wenn, Cornwall, would be too obvious. It makes me wish for a Halloween episode.

The story goes that Doctor Martin Ellingham has to leave his career as a surgeon behind and exile himself to Cornwall when he is stricken with Hemophobia, or fear of blood. Obviously as a General Practitioner (GP), this still causes problems, especially during emergencies. That is one of the major plot points of the series, and something Doc Martin struggles with as he tries to overcome his fear, which causes him to shudder at the sight of a bloody finger or a rare steak.

Like all phobias, this is a problem of overactive imagination. Doc tells people that it all started when he spoke to a family just before an operation, then suddenly couldn't follow through in cutting the patient, perhaps for fear of doing harm or disappointing her family. Or perhaps he has the fear of killing someone, then having to face the family.

Indeed, family issues seem to be at the heart of all Doc Martin's troubles, as he longs for a close-knit family, yet was raised by cold parents, has lost his favorite aunt, and his wife Louisa causes more stress than security for him. Even the blood of his newborn child has him leaping into the bushes to vomit.

I hope before the series ends we find out the root of his problem, whether it's based in childhood trauma or just his psyche warning him to move to Cornwall and find happiness. Hasn't happened yet, just saying.

From FearOfStuff.com
The bright crimson hue of blood is thought to serve as a warning system for the human body. When we are bleeding, we are in danger. While many people have no great fear of blood, in others, it can provoke a phobic reaction known as hemophobia (or hemotophobia).

The queasiness or severe nausea that are common for sufferers of hemophobia may cause fainting and lightheadedness. In fact, in the best-selling novel Twilight, the heroine, Bella, faints when blood is used during a science class project. This modern example of hemophobia is particularly interesting, since Bella goes on to fall in love with a blood-drinking vampire named Edward Cullen.

. . . The smell of blood can also be a source of distress in hemophobics. The coppery, metallic scent of fresh blood can cause great psychological distress in afflicted persons.
Some hemophobics may become vegetarians or vegans in order to remove themselves from the reality of preparing and eating flesh foods. The handling of raw, bloody meat can make them physically ill.

. . . Science and technology have exacerbated this phobia. As we come to understand more about the transmission of diseases through the blood, it becomes easy to fear its harmful qualities. People are more reluctant to touch another person’s blood than ever before, and with good reason.

AIDS and Hepatitis C are just two examples of life-threatening diseases caused through blood transmission. Other examples of terrifying blood-borne pathogens are the Ebola virus, which was featured in the film Outbreak, and the very similar Marburg virus.


Embrace of the Vampire ~ Adult Porn Buffy

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Buffy meets True Blood Meets Alyssa Milano Meets the Exorcist. Or something like that.

I never saw the original 1995 version with Alyssa Milano movie, but I've read that it is most famous for a nude scene in which Alyssa is knocked out and gang-banged. Isn't that special? I would call that the Anti-Buffy because even at the worst, when Buffy is allowing Spike to have his way with her, they both know it's consenual and while she is weak, she is also awake. And when it crosses into rape territory, Buffy shuts that whole thing down and it never happens again.

The clue to how different "Embrace of the Vampire" is from Buffy is the picture on the box of Milano with her eyes closed. Not very Buffy-esque.

And now they've remade it and it's probably worse.

Neither the original or the remake is family friendly. Gory and sexually violent. Not my thing. And probably why this is going straight to DVD and Blu Ray instead of to a theater near you. But due out before Halloween, on October 15th.

Watch Video only if you Dare! Lots of blood.

From Bloody Disgusting News
Anchor Bay Films provided Bloody Disgusting with the exclusive trailer premiere for their erotic horror film, Embrace of the Vampire, starring Sharon Hinnendael (Rites of Passage, “Look”), Tiio Horn (Defiance, Hemlock Grove), C.C. Sheffield (“True Blood”), Chelsey Marie Reist (12 Rounds: Reloaded) and Victor Webster (Continuum). Available on Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack and DVD October 15th, the trailer looks like a mix between Twilight and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” with a heavy dose of sex and violence. I’m intrigued!

The film is a reimagining of the 1995 cult classic version starring Alyssa Milano, which will also be made available on Blu-ray for the very first time on the same day!





Saturday, September 21, 2013

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Slayer Soundtrack Sunday ~ Bif Naked

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Bif Naked's name is a play on her name Beth and the phrase "buff naked," which fits right into Buffy the Vampire Slayer canon. She is a Canadian/American singer with a soulful voice and an interesting goth background. Her videos remind me of Pink's later work - clearly an influence!

Via Canadian Expat on Wordpress:
For anyone who doesn’t know Bif she was born in New Delhi, India to two teenage Americans attending a private school there which resulted in her being adopted by missionaries and being brought back to the US. From elementary age on she lived in The Pas, Dauphin, and finally Winnipeg, Manitoba. She has a bit of a gothic look, lots of tattoos and an amazing voice. She’s been called Gwen Stefani’s evil twin which I’m sure she hates because she’s unique in her own right, and well, much more awesome.
Since I heard her last she’s released 2 more albums, acted in various shows and movies, continued to write poetry, and has done motivational speaking.

From Huffington Post
...Bif Naked has made a career out of being a badass chick. Initially, it was by way of the late-'90s CanRock boys club, prowling Edgefest stages, infiltrating rock radio and even performing at the Hellmouth-adjacent all-ages club on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
More recently, the heavily tattooed singer has become known as a badass chick in another venue -- the B.C. Cancer Agency's Vancouver Centre, where she successfully beat breast cancer with a lumpectomy and chemo back in 2008-2009. She now returns regularly, boldly confronting her own fragile mortality to encourage those women still fighting for their lives.

Lucky:



Moment of Weakness:



Bif Naked's songs appear in the fourth season of Buffy, episode 3 "The Harsh Light of Day," all from the album with a great title "I Bificus" - a reference to "I Spartacus," from the Kirk Douglas movie. The three songs are "Lucky," "Moment of Weakness," and "Anything" (which unfortunately has no video I can find). The song "Lucky" is included on "Buffy: The Album."




In this episode, Spike uses the fabled Gem of Amarra ring to make himself invincible to sunlight. Eventually Buffy defeats him and decides to give the ring to Angel in Los Angeles. This is the reverse of what happens at the end of the series, when Buffy rejects Angel and gives the "champion" medallion to Spike, who by that time has proven his love and loyalty, and won back his soul. And of course, in the "harsh light" of that rare gem he fries himself to kill the demons underground and save the world.

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This is considered a "cross-over" episode because action continues on the show "Angel," episode "In the Dark," when Spike goes to LA to get the Gem of Amarra back from Angel, torturing him with exposure to light. Nice contrast with the episode titles - "Harsh Light" versus "In the Dark."



The title also refers to disillusionment with relationships, as Buffy wakes up to regrets for sleeping with Parker (see this previous post about "Beer Bad"), and Anya strips down to throw herself at Xander, with unsatisfactory results. Another disillusioned woman is the vampiress Harmony, who realizes that Spike doesn't love her but merely uses her for sex. The point of all three stories is that it's easy to confuse sex with love, and that feelings often aren't mutual.


Lengthy Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D Promo

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Woot woot! Enjoy . . .


Sarah Michelle Geller Loves Some HGTV

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Who knew? "Crazy Ones" star Sarah Michelle Geller has a favorite show and it has nothing to do with vampires, and everything to do with the home-selling Canadian show "Love it or List it." It's rather hilarious that she expresses such a liking for HGTV, the home-improvement cable channel, since a running joke on Buffy was that the Summers house was constantly being destroyed by demons, to the point that Xander had to learn to be a construction worker so the house could be fixed before the next episode.

The Loop Canada
Spying this reporter’s press badge, Gellar’s eyes opened wide. “Wait, are you TV Guide Canada?” she asked excitedly. “Can we discuss my obsession with Love It or List It?!?”

“It’s like my favourite show!” she continued. “And I love Love It or List It too with the girl from The Bachelorette!”

By Love It or List It Too Gellar was referring to Love It or List It Vancouver, the spinoff series that pairs one-time reality star Jillian Harris with Todd Talbot (picture above). Apparently that’s what the show — which returns to Canada’s W Network on Monday — is called in the States, where it airs on HGTV.

Gellar described herself as an “HGTV addict,” with Canadian import Love It or List It being one of her main fixes. She apparently encourages her friends and co-workers to watch it constantly. She explained, laughing, “I’m like, ‘You have to see what happens! They’re either going to love it or they’re going to list it!’”

. . . “I only know Vancouver. I only know Kitsilano,” she explained, before launching into an impression of her future, house-showing self. “Like, ‘Here’s a really nice house in Kitsilano!’”

Buffy Saves CBS from Time-Warner Cable

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What better way for Buffy star Sarah Michelle Geller to return to television than to immediately kick some ass of the corporate kind?

Time Warner Cable was refusing to pay CBS for broadcasting in major markets such as New York and Dallas, but pressure from both football fans and especially Buffy fans anticipating a new Geller series, "The Crazy Ones," they backed down.

From Businessweek
The month-long staring contest between CBS (CBS) and Time Warner Cable (TWC) is over, now that Time Warner has blinked first. The cable giant agreed to pay significantly more than its prior rate for the right to beam CBS signals in New York, Los Angeles, and Dallas, though not quite as big an increase as the network was seeking. It’s “hard to believe this isn’t a CBS victory,” Richard Greenfield, an analyst with BTIG in New York, said in an e-mail to Bloomberg.
. . . With CBS airing its first pro football games of the season on Sunday, including Chicago’s beloved Bears, Time Warner Cable was in store for some serious ire if it didn’t get the network back on its platform.
CBS, however, had an additional programming ace up its sleeve in recent negotiations: Buffy the Vampire Slayer. More precisely, Sarah Michelle Gellar, who stars in The Crazy Ones, a CBS comedy about an ad agency that will premiere on Sept. 26.
In large part because of the seven years she spent hunting the undead, Gellar still carries a cultish fan-base, according to Networked Insights, a New York-based data-analysis shop that helps such big companies as General Electric (GE) deploy advertising dollars. Buffy vanished from the airwaves in 2003, yet Gellar still sparks more conversations on social-media platforms than any of CBS’s actors. That’s a group that includes Robin Williams, who headlines Gellar’s new show, Will Arnett, Carrie-Anne Moss, and all kinds of other top-flight talent that wasn’t in Scooby-Doo 2 or I Know What You Did Last Summer, as Gellar was.


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