Welcome back, loyal Daisy readers! The start of a new year is always a special time: to reflect and to, at the same time, look forward. And what is on my brain right now is the return of Lost, the trippiest, most thrilling show on television, which is returning after nearly nine months to TV. Welcome back!
There is a fabulous article in the new TV Guide featuring the sadly underrated Evangeline Lilly. Besides that I love this girl even more (she's not comfortable with media attention, not willing to sacrifice her personality for them, and is a strong, intelligent lady), there's also scoop on the new season. Plus: a list of the Top Ten episodes essential to unlocking the key to the mysteries of Lost. Just what we needed (and two of my favorite Lost eps: "Flashes Before Your Eyes" and "The Constant" made the cut).
Of course, I'm thrilled. Last season left wondering what happened to Locke and where-and as Team Darlton is saying-more importantly, when, the island went. Sounds exciting!
And a week after that is Life on Mars' back-from-hiatus premiere. I missed Sam Tyler and the crew at the 125! And I get to see more close-ups of the tasty Jason O'Mara! Wahoo! Now maybe we can get the explanation to the enigmatic phone call in the basement. Hmmm... And maybe add some sparks to the developing Sam-Annie romance-which, by the way, I'm a complete champion of. Those two have such chemistry! (Just to mention, I saw a couple of clips of the BBC version...I'm intrigued, but they didn't release either seasons on DVD in America yet...grrr!)
A comment I'd like to add: I know the Oscars are coming up, and I want to admit the movie I think should get nominated for Best Picture: "Wall-E". I know what you're thinking, 'It'll win for Best Animated Picture! Be happy!' But the truth is this: "Wall-E," in my humble opinion, is the best movie of the year. Period. It's not really a kid's film; it's got mature themes and wink-wink references that most likely only the adults would get. But the animation is stunning. The sound effects are stunning (thank you, Ben Burtt!). The story is stunning: the aspects of thriller, comedy, sci-fi, fantasy, and romance. And the unlikely, quirky love story between Wall-E and EVE is the most romantic romance portrayed on screen. Really, a beautiful and beautifully written/directed film. Everything is perfect here. And if Kate Winslet doesn't get nominated (and win) an Oscar, I'm going to spit. Leonardo DiCaprio should get recognized as well, and win the Best Actor slot instead of Brad Pitt. Fingers crossed!
I promised to talk about Pushing Daisies' past episodes in another blog entry. I keep my promises, though they will be short.
"Robbing Hood", aired the day before Thanksgiving. Worst episode of the season, I thought. Although we got a few great lines from Emerson (and Ned, too), it wasn't enough to redeem the episode. However, a mediocre episode of Daisies is better than half of the TV out there.
"Comfort Food"-Delightfully scrumptious...the food, I mean. I thought the twist that Chuck kept her resurrected father alive was an interesting twist thrown into the story arc. And the scene in which Ned and Chuck shared a bed (don't worry, there was a divider, and Ned had his plastic-wrapped hand around her) nearly melted my heart. And Kristin Chenoweth singing "Eternal Flame": bonus!
"The Legend of Merle McQuoddy"-One of the best episodes of the season. Whimsical, funny, and just all around great. From Emerson and Olive teamed up together-brilliant idea, might I add-to Ned and Chuck dealing with Chuck's temperamental and tough father, like I said: EVERYTHING about the episode is fantastic. But don't forget about that plastic-wrap kiss between Ned and Chuck-my heart races a hundred miles a minute just thinking about it. Now THAT'S sexy!
"The Norwegians"-Clever idea, hysterical 30 Rock reference, and...Norwegian investigators??? Only Pushing Daisies could pull off a storyline this bizarre and make it a) good and b) make sense with the rest of the philosophies of the show itself. And the final shot of Ned's father...it's George Hamilton?! Wow, that got my jaw to drop twenty feet.
Still, word has gotten out that ABC will not air the final 3 eps of Daisies, or final 4 eps of Eli Stone and Dirty Sexy Money until at least the summer. That goes to say, if they air them at all. I'm begging them to do so, because I couldn't bear waiting until months and months until the DVDs come out. (If ABC decides they are worth releasing on DVD, that is.) They should at least start the movie idea...although we all know THAT will never happen in a million years. *Sigh*
Update: Warner Bros. has given the green light to Bryan Fuller (a.k.a. Daisies' creator/executive producer/head writer) for the comic books. Now all Fuller has to do is to sort it out with DC Comics, and...smooth sailing! (Although this will surely not be satisfying as much as a movie or more episodes-anything live-action involving the actors-it will suffice for my Daisies fix. Here's hoping a movie is also in the works!)
Update #2: Wall-E didn't get on the Best Picture card--sad *sniff*--but on the one hand, it DID get a Best Animated Feature nomination (which is expected), and is surely a lock for the win. It's sad that Wall-E--the best of the year, which I mentioned before--will get shuffled into the Best Animated category, and not considered for Best Picture, because, well, it is a cartoon. Shame, shame, Academy voters!
