'Raising Hope': A newborn comedy worth your time

Back in September, I wrote a Fall TV Preview that included six new shows to check out: “No Ordinary Family,” “Boardwalk Empire,” “Better With You,” “My Generation,” “$#*! My Dad Says and “Raising Hope.”

Welp, after two episodes “My Generation” got cancelled — the 20-year-olds they hoped would tune in, just didn’t; “$#*! My Dad Says” is on the brink of cancellation, as unfortunately the humor of Justin Halpern’s Twitter feed doesn’t translate as well in full-on story lines — it’s best left as quick-witted one-liners; and the former three are just eh! — holding steady. But one show has managed to keep the laughs going throughout the entire season, so far that is, which is exactly what I predicted. Fox’s “Raising Hope” delivers each and every week.

And here’s why.

From the creator of “My Name is Earl,” Greg Garcia, “Raising Hope” follows the Chance family — a family who struggles with money but always manages to get by one way or another. Dad Burt (Garret Dillahunt) runs his own pool/landscaping business with son Jimmy (Lucas Neff). Mom Virginia (Martha Plimpton) is a house cleaner with a secret love of hoarding. And Maw-Maw (Cloris Leachman), Virginia’s grandmother, is there for pure entertainment purposes only. She thinks Jimmy is her dead husband and likes to walk around in just her bra and underwear. She’s as crazy as they come, but every family seems to have one, right? Ok, maybe not someone as senile as Maw-Maw, but Leachman makes it easy to forget the absurdity of it all and just laugh along with her.

In the pilot, 23-year-old Jimmy, who still lives with his parents, finds out that he’s the proud father of a newborn baby from a fling he had with a girl, Lucy, who turned out to be a wanted felon. She gets caught, by Jimmy’s parents nonetheless, and is set to be executed, leaving behind her 6-month-old daughter, Princess Beyonce. In turn, Jimmy must take on the responsibilities of raising a baby amongst his crazy family. First step, changing the baby’s name from Princess Beyonce to Hope. So far so good.

I admit, it sounds like a recipe for dumb comedy, especially with it being aired on Fox — but it’s not just about seeing how many times Jimmy can screw up when it comes to taking care of an infant. There is real heart to the characters.

Burt just wants to be able to take care of his family and have his son appreciate him. Burt can be as dumb as a stump sometimes, but he’s lovable all the same.

Virginia may be selfish as times, but when it comes to taking care of Jimmy and Hope she knows when to step up and be a great grandma (as much as she hates the word.) She had Jimmy at 15, with no mother around to show her the ropes, so she knows how hard it can be without any guidance. She just wants her family to stick together.

Dillahunt, who usually portrays bad-guy characters in such flicks as the remake of “Last House on the Left” and TV shows “Life” and “Criminal Minds,” does a really great job with the dumbfound comedy. And Plimpton, a child actress and vet of the stage, brings her usual sarcastic wit to the role of Virginia. Together they are the perfect comedic duo. They may, in fact, be my new favorite TV parents.

As for Jimmy, he’s just an overly-caring kid who really wants to take responsibility for his new daughter and wants her to have the best life she can. Newcomer Neff is perfect for the role. Jimmy may be a little dumb — which makes the one-liners with a deadpan deliver by Neff all the better — but all Jimmy wants is a normal life for Hope.

In turn, he starts to work at a grocery store to earn some extra cash, along with working for his dad. Here a side story plays out involving Sabrina, a grocery clerk who Jimmy has a crush on, but of course, Sabrina has a boyfriend. It’s a good side plot to take away from the baby aspect so that we’re not always following Jimmy’s shortcomings.

But what holds this show together is no matter how crazy the family is, they always manage to get by, learn from each other and dream big (Burt’s is to win the lottery), as we all should.
With a new crop of TV shows emerging for the spring TV lineup, I hope there are better choices coming along than the five others I thought would pan out for the fall.

For now, “Raising Hope” deserves your attention. You’ll find yourself relating to the characters and their quirks in no time, and you’ll be laughing out loud along with them.

You have plenty of time to catch up, as new episodes of “Raising Hope” won’t be returning until February (due to “American Idol” and other new shows getting the test run by Fox), so take the time to check it out now. Princess Beyonce says so.

* “Raising Hope” normally airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on Fox. New episodes return Feb. 8, 2011. *

"A Diva's Christmas Carol": a hip, unique spin on a Christmas classic

We all have our favorite holiday movies and TV specials. The standards: “A Christmas Story“; “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The funny/unique: “Elf“; “A Nightmare Before Christmas“; “Scrooged.” Old-school animated classics: Rudolph; Frosty; the Grinch; Charlie Brown. You can never go wrong with any of the above.

On the other hand, there are made-for-TV-movies where you can go very, very wrong. December is the month where regularly scheduled TV takes a holiday for the overabundance of cutesy, romantic, moral-learning movies that are sometimes so bad they’re good. You just have to look deep in your heart and lower your standards a bit to enjoy what they have to offer.

My favorite, “A Diva’s Christmas Carol,” isn’t the worst made-for-TV-movie out there, but it does have that cheese factor to it, and it follows in the footsteps of many before who have attempted to put a spin on the classic “Christmas Carol” story. But at least this one has great music: “Heartquake,” “Sleigh Bells,” and “Heart of Christmas.” You’ll be humming along in no time without even knowing it.

“A Diva’s Christmas Carol” — which premiered in 2000 on VH1 — stars none other than Ms. Vanessa Williams as Ebony, a cheap diva singer with an attitude who treats everyone around her like slaves. Ebony got her start in a group called Desire, popular in the ‘80s, with her two friends Marli Jacob (Chili, of TLC fame) and Terry Freeman (Stephanie Biddle). After Marli got in a car accident and died, Ebony went solo, taking all the rights to Desire’s music with her and leaving Terry to fend for herself.

Now in present day (2000) Ebony decides to hold a Christmas concert to benefit the homeless, while really just benefiting Ebony and her accountant, Ernie. And of course, this leaves all her crew upset, as well as her manager and former boyfriend, Bob Cratchett (Brian McNamara), who’s son Tim is very sick. Ebony, of course, could care less. As she states “Family is an accident at birth.” How touching.

And so begins the familiar pattern of three spirits come to visit her in the night to make Ebony realize that there is more to life than money.

The Ghost of Christmas Past, played wonderfully by Kathy Griffin — pre-numerous nose jobs and face lifts — who brings her sassy humor to the mix and doesn’t take crap from Ebony.

The Ghost of Christmas Present, aka Steve, is played by Duran Duran bassist John Taylor. He’s a drunken mess of a fool who loves his women, but all in good fun. He brings Ebony to her senses about what people think of her and how even she is getting scammed, by her accountant, just as she is scamming others. How does it feel now, Ebony?

And the Ghost of Christmas Future is a clever take on the word Future: a VH1 “Behind the Music” special, showing Ebony’s destructive path, which lead to her demise. Her gravestone is marked with “She Was the Wind Beneath Our Wings.” In which Ebony screams, “Not, Bette Midler!” Even then, all she can think about is herself.

We all know how things turn out. Ebony realizes how awful she is and makes a 180-degree turn for the better. She has the concert actually benefit the homeless. She brings Bob’s family to him to enjoy the concert and pays for Tim’s hospital expenses. She cleans up former bandmate Terry and they reunite on stage for a rendition of their ‘80s hit to a full-house crowd. And all is good.

What makes this a great take is the variety of actors who were so well cast and the witty dialogue that goes with it. From Williams — who brings out the classic mean-girl act, foreshadowing her later roles in “Ugly Betty” and “Desperate Housewives” — to Chili, who shows us she’s more than just a pop singer; she can be a heartfelt actress too.

It’s a fun, very unique spin on a Christmas classic, and you can view it on Christmas night at 9 p.m. on Lifetime. Give it a chance; like I said, you’ll be singing in no time.

Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays!

The outlasting appeal of 'Survivor'

I don’t watch many reality shows… at least, anymore. There was a point in college where my roommates and I would gather every Sunday night to watch the latest installment of “Flavor of Love,” “I Love New York,” or “Rock of Love.” Or we’d ignore the call of undone homework and watch marathons of “America’s Next Top Model.” Despite how ridiculous and absurd the shows were, it was hard to look away.

I thought I had cleansed so-called ‘dumb-TV’ from my life when I graduated, but then “Jersey Shore” came along and sucked me right back in. Hey, it happens.

Throughout the years though, there has always been one consistent reality show in my life. The show that started it all: “Survivor.” Some of you may be saying, “That show’s still on?” Yup. It’s been 10 years since the show first premiered in 2000, 21 seasons have passed (2 each year) and it still is one of the most-viewed reality shows on TV today.

I can’t really justify why I continue to watch “Survivor.” But for some reason, I always come back to it. I’ve seen every episode of every season (except the first), and I enjoy every minute of it.

Maybe it’s the challenges the show dreams up for its participants. The work that goes into building these contraptions and obstacles — all in the middle of some foreign land — is more than just impressive. The challenges are where people surprise you, too. For instance, this season, Jane, the oldest women out there, has beaten out physically strong, young men to win at least two very physical, enduring challenges. It’s all about the state of mind and the challenges show who’s really in it to win it.

Or maybe it’s the locations that draw me in – the scenery and culture of such locations as Africa, Nicaragua, Thailand or Fiji are breathtaking and insightful.

It could also be that you never know the outcome. That’s true of most reality shows, but they usually have some sort of formula to them. With “Survivor” there is no right or wrong way to play. You could be as sweet as candy and win; or you could be the biggest backstabbing, loud-mouth person out there and take home the million bucks. It’s all in the eye of the beholders — the jury — and you just never know.

Or maybe it’s just the concept of “Survivor.” Let’s throw 20 people on an island and make them fend for themselves — that’s what really makes it a reality show as compared to something like “The Bachelor” or “Real Housewives.” These people are really suffering out in the wild — dehydrated, starving, sleep-deprived — all to stick it out for 39 days and win a million dollars. Kudos to them.

Or maybe it’s just the host, Jeff Probst, who never seems to age and is the most likable host out there. Even when he gets mad, as in when players NaOnka and Kelly both decided to quit this season with 11 days left — he tried to be mean and upset, but you couldn’t really take him seriously — which isn’t a bad thing.

This season takes place in Nicaragua and has, to be honest, been a little slow. But it’s following a season that paired off previous “Survivor” players into Heroes vs. Villains — one of the best, if not the best, seasons of the show. This season also included a celebrity in the mix, legendary Super Bowl- winning coach Jimmy Johnson. He only last eight days, but it was fun while it lasted. And dear Jane showed us her true colors last night before getting voted out, which added some amusement to the mix.

But, the end to another season of “Survivor” has arrived yet again. The finale airs Sunday at 8 p.m. on CBS in its usual 3-hour run (2 hours of show, 1 hour of reunion show). Here’s my take on the final five and who I think will take home the million bucks.

* Sash: The real estate agent with the sly demeanor. He’s smart, but he lost out on his King/Queen alliance when Brenda was blindsided. Still, he’s managed to sneak his way into another alliance without stepping on too many toes. He knows what he’s doing and he has a lot of friends on the jury, so that could easily cement his win.

* Holly: I like Holly. On day five she wanted to quit, but good ol’ Jimmy Johnson talked her out of it. She pushed through the initial pain and just look how far she’s come. She’s a great strategic player, very motherly and not bad in the challenges. She’s sweet and has made it much further than I ever expected… and not by riding on someone’s coattails either. She may have been called out by Jane last night, but she’s smart and she’s made enough of the right moves to make her my pick for the win.

* Dan: How Dan has gotten this far, I don’t know. Well I do know — he’s awful at physical challenges, but he has always been there for the numbers. He’s wanted to quit on numerous occasions due to his bad knees, but he may just make it to the final three simply for the fact that he is easily the least-likely person a jury would vote for in the end. But I’m hoping he’s the next one out.

* Fabio: There’s not much going on in Fabio’s head, but he’s managed to stick it out. He’s a physical threat in challenges, and although sometimes annoying with his Cali-eske surfer-dude demeanor, for the most part he’s just a goofy, likable guy who people don’t mind having around to lift their spirits. He could be the underdog to sweep the win.

* Chase: Until last night, I thought Chase was your typical mama’s boy. He’s from the Carolinas, so he’s got that southern charm thing going for him, but he was a snitch. He’d run off to the women he had aligned himself with and tell them everything. But as last night proved, he went against his fellow Carolina buddy Jane, and voted her out. His best move yet, because she would have easily won had it come down to her versus anyone. Chase has won many a challenges due to his physical build, but in the end I don’t think he’ll win the vote.

Who would I like to see win? Fabio, if not Holly. Who will probably win? Sash. He’s just that sneaky, creepy guy and people fall easily into his traps. I’m sure the jury will do the same and he’ll be the sole survivor to take home the money.

What the newsroom is listening to - A sampling of Eagle Times music

I don’t know what I set out to find when I asked the staff of the Eagle Times to give me a CD of one of their favorite bands/artists for me to listen to. All I knew was that everyone had different tastes, and I wanted to see, or hear for that matter, why they thought so-and-so was such a great listen. I guess in a way you could also say that I wanted to expand my horizons a bit.

I mean, don’t get me wrong. I have a decent repertoire of music, but most of it is geared towards the rock/alternative side. My dad brought me up well with a slew of classic rock — Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Van Halen. From there I headed over to the likings of pop-punk at 13 (after my boy band phase that is — every girl had one), and soon moved on to heavier alternative-screamo music in my late-teens. Now I incorporate a mix of all of the above, plus some low-key indie bands and experimental-electronica, respectively — a little mish-mash of everything.

I also worked at a record store for a while before I arrived here at the Eagle (Shout out to Bull Moose Music), and I worked with an eclectic group of people, all with various tastes in music. There was the hardcore metal kid, the Beatles chick, the Zappa fanatic, the diva pop lover, among others, and at times I would come across a new artist that I had heard of, but never actually heard, and come to love them. So I guess that’s what I was trying to do here. Rather than just dismiss a type of music (ahemcountry), I shall give it a full chance and see it where it takes me.

Not sure how it really benefits you, the readers, except that maybe it’ll get you to give other’s choice of music a chance before saying you don’t like it. Just give it a chance.

The following is what some of the staff of the Eagle Times listens to and my honest take on it. My say is by no means the final say. It’s all in the interpretation. It’s just Me, My Thoughts and I.

Modest Mouse — Moon & Antarctica (2000)

I won’t lie; I didn’t remember much of this album after I listened to it. I was expecting so much more from it. I know Modest Mouse from their "Float On" fame, which came out on Good News for People Who Love Bad News, released just after Moon & Antarctic. "Float On" is such a bold, in-your-face, hard-not-to-sing-along-to song. It’s quirky and different and that’s what I loved about it. Songs on Moon & Antarctica are more on the instrumental/artsy side, which I’m sure some would argue makes for a better CD, but it’s not for me. To me every song just ran into one, and it was just a bit too mellow — almost so that it put me to sleep.

Zac Brown Band — You Get What You Give (2010)

As stated in my intro, I was always one to dismiss country music right off the bat. Just ask my college roommate. Country music was always just too twangy, too preachy and too annoying for my tastes. For instance, Rascal Flatts... can’t stand them, but everyone else seems to adore them. But I must say, I did enjoy the Zac Brown Band, quite a bit actually.

Some might say the ZBB leans over the line of pop/country, so I’m not really hearing country for what it is. I say, so what. The ZBB is the calm to the storm of music I typically listen to. Right away, it just puts me in such a good mood. It was easy to sing along to, the lyrics were amusing at times and it was lively. Plus, the ZBB has some great instrumental skills, showcased well on the 10-minute track "Who Knows."

At times it was a bit preachy, but that seems to be an automatic requirement for country music, and it balances out all the songs about drinking too much whiskey. So, fair trade I guess.

You Get What You Give holds a solid hour of music, and I’d give it another listen any day.

Lou Reed — New York (1989)

I see the appeal — former Velvet Underground member, great solid rock musician — but I just couldn’t get into it at all. So much that I don’t even know what to write about it. I even gave it a repeat listen, but it just wasn’t there for me. To me it was background bar music — which I know will offend quite a few, I’m sure, but that’s what I got out of it, and I’m sticking to it.

Buddy Holly — Greatest Hits (Released 1996; originally recorded from 1957 to 1958)

Buddy Holly was the only artist I really knew somewhat well going in to this project of mine. I knew right off the bat that I would love it, so maybe I should have asked for another CD, but the truth was I only knew of maybe three or four songs out of the 18 on this Greatest Hits album, my personal favorite being "Everyday."

Holly keeps it simple and it works. Less is more, judging by the fact that the entire album of 18 songs lasted only 40 minutes, with songs averaging 2 minutes in length (the only downfall). It’s an easy listen and one that never disappoints. I just wish Holly could have experienced how wonderful his music was, and how great his contribution to Rock n’ Roll was, for more than a year-and-a-half before his untimely death.

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds — Murder Ballads (1996)

I didn’t even have the remotest idea as to who Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds were — which I guess is reasonable as they are an Australian rock band, most famous from the mid-80s to 1990s. Murder Ballads was their ninth and most popular album, and it is just what it says it is... ballads, sung, or somewhat spoken for that matter, in a storytelling manor about various murders or crimes of passion. Bleak huh? But it doesn’t come across in a harsh way — the songs are somewhat poetic in a sense. Particular likes include "Stagger Lee," "The Curse of Millhaven," "Henry Lee" and "Death is Not the End" (originally written and recorded by Bob Dylan). The most famous song on the album, "Where the Wild Roses Grow," features fellow Ausssie Kylie Minogue.

Frank Zappa — Apostrophe (1974)

Everyone knows, or has heard of, Frank Zappa. Even if you don’t know his music, you’ve heard his name. As I stated earlier, I worked with a full-on Zappa head. He had many of his albums (Zappa made 89 in total) and went to every Zappa Plays Zappa concert (a Frank Zappa tribute band). So I learned a little along the way about Zappa during my time at Bull Moose. And it turns out I had heard Apostrophe before.

Once the opener "Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow" came on, it all kind of came back. Zappa is a very avant-garde type of a performer — random, very performance-arty, and he makes it work. It’s bizarre, but it’s Zappa. You must give the man credit for experimenting and putting out as many albums as he did, while still garnering such a devoted and large fan base.

Apostrophe is something I wouldn’t listen to on a daily basis, but it’s intriguing, and for that I give it credit.

The Band — The Band (1969)

Such a generic band name, such a generic album name, you would think the music would just be as generic. And in some ways it is for that time period. The album is all rockabilly, and for some people that may be all and good — for me, eh, not so much. There are the standards, "Up On Cripple Creak" and opener "Across the Great Divide" that are good, decent songs. But then there are the sleepers such as "Whispering Pines" and "Rockin’ Chair." I understand the musicianship behind it all, but The Band is not the band for me. But I wouldn’t throw it in the trash either.

Misc.

One person of the Eagle staff gave me a sampling of music that included some wonderful film scores, which you wouldn’t think to listen outside of the movie, but they are quite moving. John Barry’s "That Fatal Kiss" from Bond film "A View to Kill," and Ennio Morricone’s "Once Upon a Time in the West" are very moving, very beautiful music.

On the other hand, this staff member also gave me a bunch of satire music from the likes of Arrogant Worms and Austin Lounge Lizards, which according to this person are ‘the best bands on the continent.’ I wholeheartedly disagree. Both just don’t do it for me. I enjoy Weird Al on occasion, but the former bands have nothing on him.

MY RANKING
Buddy Holly – Greatest Hits
Zac Brown Band – You Get What You Give
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Murder Ballads
Frank Zappa - Apostrophe
The Band – The Band
Modest Mouse – Moon & Antarctica
Lou Reed – New York

'The Walking Dead' has taken over television

Move over vampires...zombies are taking over the masses, courtesy of AMC's "The Walking Dead."

Premiering on Halloween, "The Walking Dead" had the pleasure of taking in 5.3 million viewers in the first episode alone, making it the most-watched premiere episode of any AMC television series. Take that "Mad Men." (Don't worry, I still love you Don Draper.) And episodes two and three hauled in almost as many, with 4.7 million and 5.1 million viewers, respectively.

If numbers don't mean anything to you, I get it, but for a series based on a comic book, those are good numbers. So good, in fact, that AMC picked up the show for a 13-episode second season after only the first two episodes. Fanboys are delighted, and you should be too.

If you haven't heard the buzz on "The Walking dead" floating around the television atmosphere, or around the water cooler at work yet, then maybe you're a zombie yourself. You might want to get that checked. But for now, here's what the show is all about.

Based on the comic books of Robert Kirkman, we have our central character Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), a sheriff's deputy who wakes up from a coma after being shot, to find, well, no one. Dead bodies and chaos surround him, until he comes across various survivors in different parts of the city.

In episode one, we get Morgan and his son, Duane, who first inform Rick of what is going on and some of the rules that come with killing zombies - for instance, loud sounds, such as gunshots attract them; one little bite spreads the plague; individual zombies are weak, but in large groups they can be deadly; and the only way to kill a zombie is to destroy the brain, either by smashing or shooting it.

In episode two, we get Glenn, a young man who is part of a larger group of survivors looking for food and supplies. Glenn helps Rick escape an angry hoard of zombies that Rick attracts by not following the rules.

In a later scene, as one of the best I've seen on television in a long time, Rick and Glenn smother themselves in dead zombie guts and parts in order to blend their smell in with the other zombies and get help for other survivors trapped in a store. It is the perfect amount of cringe-worthy delight in which you can't look away. (See photo to the right.)

All this time Rick is simply trying to find his wife, Lori, and son, Carl, whom he presumes is alive because he found some photo albums missing when he stopped in at home. Wife Lori, on the other hand, is struggling with the fact that she presumed Rick was dead and ended up sleeping with Rick's best friend and partner, Shane, who is also a part of the surviving group to which Glenn belongs. Emotional turmoil ensues for Lori after Glenn arrives back at camp with Rick (no spoiler there, really).

That's what makes "The Walking Dead" different from the typical zombie flicks. Yes, we have killer (no pun intended) zombies with great special-effect makeup jobs and mannerisms that are so unbelievably realistic; if the show was in 3-D, I'd be running for the hills. But, the show is also about the relationships and interactions of the characters in their zombie-inhabited world. How will these people live as their personalities start to shift under the stress and pressure of this new world? How will they deal, as is the case with Morgan and his wife, with finding zombies that were once their friends or loved ones and having to save themselves by killing said zombies? How will they work together to escape this world?

It's this added element of human emotion that brings "The Walking Dead" to life and to a level that's not just appealing to fanboys of the comics and zombie fanatics alike - it's a drama filled with horror-like elements, not the other way around.

As much as I enjoy the show, I will say this. I was disappointed with the third episode. I'm a little worried as to where the plot is going - it slowed down a bit and was rather mediocre compared to the first two episodes - but maybe that has to do with Rick being reunited with his family. And the ending was a little too reminiscent of an action from "Saw" or the recently talked-about "127 Hours." I know the writers can do better. I won't say what happened for those who need to catch up or may start watching after reading this, but let's just hope next week the show returns with the oomph that the first two episodes carried.

As stated before, a 13-episode second season was announced after the major haul the show took in from episodes one and two. It'll start shooting in February 2011, and it is said to not premiere until October 2011, due to AMC's other two hit shows "Mad Men" and "Breaking Bad," along with another newcomer "The Killers," running from March until September. Hopefully viewers will retain their interest despite the time lapse, but all I can say for now is, have a little heart and ive zombies a chance. Just be sure to watch your back.

"The Walking Dead" airs Sundays at 10 p.m. on AMC.

He's bacckk.... 'Conan' premieres with a strong start

"You want me to move 'The Tonight Show' to 12:05. Forget it. What can they do to me?" - Conan O'Brien

As if you haven't heard already, Conan O'Brien is back...finally. It's been nine months since the NBC debacle that shafted Conan from his "Tonight Show" gig, bringing in Jay Leno to regain his seat and Conan to move on over to TBS.

So how'd he do during his opening show? According to the numbers, not bad...not bad at all. He raked in 4.1 million viewers on opening night, to beat out Leno's 3.5 million; and his second night garnered 2.8 million. Let's hope it lasts.

And let me just throw this out there. Conan is not my favorite late-night host, so I have no bias here. That award goes to Craig Ferguson. Ferguson's humor is so off-the-cuff that you can't help but laugh. His opening monologues aren't one-liners, right after the other, (sometimes puppets are even involved!), and his interviews are so candid and brutally honest, it just makes for a better interview. And the fact that his sidekick, Geoff Peterson, is a robot, is so random, it makes it all the better. There is never a show where I don't laugh out loud, so much sometimes that tears come to my eyes. Ferguson is the most underrated late-night host out there.

Anyway, that being said, where does that leave Conan?

Don't worry, he's right there in second place. He far beats out Leno and David Letterman - so scripted - and the Jimmy's (Kimmel and Fallon) are hit-or-miss.

And Conan proved, that even on cable television, he can do just fine. He brought forth his usual quirky sense of humor to an opening sketch - showcasing the nine-month unemployment period of his life. He gets an interview with Don Draper (Jon Hamm) of "Mad Men" for an advertising job ("You have absolutely no advertising experience. Plus, it's 1965 and you're 2 years old."); he nabs a job working at Burger King; and also performs stand-up as a clown at a kids' birthday party. All to no avail. The sketch concluded with Larry King, as the basic cable network guardian angel, talking Conan off of a bridge.

In his monologue, there may have been one-too-many stabs towards NBC - "People ask me why I named the show 'Conan.' I did it so I'd be harder to replace." - but it had to be addressed and gotten out here, before we as viewers and Conan himself could move onto better things.

What works really well is the buddy relationship of Conan and Andy Richter. They are a team that can easily play off one another - the show might as well be called "The Conan and Andy Show." For instance, when Conan brings up a Halloween mask designed to be him, but simply called "Ex-Talk Show Host" mask, Richter throws it on and deadpans "It's very authentic inside. It smells like tears." Subtle jabs at Conan, where Conan can laugh at himself, work well.

As for Conan's first guests, again, not bad: Seth Rogan ("Superbad," "Knocked Up"), Lea Michele ("Glee"); and Jack White of White Stripes fame. A decent first-night lineup if we were able to have longer than five minutes apiece with them. The interviews seemed over before they started.

Night two of "Conan" held up OK, with Tom Hanks and Jack McBrayer ("30 Rock") appearing as guests. You can't go wrong with either of those guys, each comical in their own way.

And before the guest arrived, a well-done 'what can and can't be censored' skit was shown that hit off well.

It'll be tough to see where "Conan" lands in the future - Team Coco has been waiting a long time for this, and I'm sure they will stick with him, but to keep up those numbers, a little more than the usual needs to be done. At least he's back, and I just hope people will remember to scroll up to the higher numbers of cable television to back him up - we don't want him getting lost among the George Lopez' of TBS.

"Conan" airs at 11 p.m. on TBS, Monday through Thursday.

Are Disney classics fading away among Pixar flix?

With the release of "Toy Story 3" on DVD Tuesday, a wonderful movie to say the least, it got me thinking - have kids these days ever experienced a 'real' animated Disney movie? Ya know, hand drawn, not in 3-D.

Let's rewind a bit.

"Toy Story" came out in 1995. Fifteen years ago, it was the first of its kind - Disney/Pixar had never collaborated before to make a full-fledged feature film entirely in CGI (Computer-Generated Imagery). And not only did the technology draw people in, the characters - so easy to fall in love with - made the movie. Yes, boykid Andy was a central figure in the film, but it was his 'play-things' that we fell in love with. From Buzz to Woody to Slinky Dog, viewers all had their favorites.

Four years later, and only one other Pixar film made in between ("A Bug's Life"), a "Toy Story" sequel came along that held up to the original, giving us Jessie the cowgirl and Bullseye the horse.

Today, Pixar is a household name, know for always raising the bar with new and creative characters and storylines that both kids and adults can enjoy together. "Finding Nemo"; "Cars"; "WALL-E"; "Up" are just a few of the wondrous creations Pixar has brought us over the last 15 years.

And a long-overdue second sequel, "Toy Story 3" brought us back to the beginning and did so in a way that pulled our heart strings and still had us wanting more from the toy chest.

And while "Toy Story 3" captured everyone's kid-inside-them, the 2-D classics those of us not of the so-called Generation I (Internet) era were brought up on, seemed to be forgotten.

Disney's traditional animation era peaked just as I was growing up, from 1989-1999. "Aladdin"; "The Lion King"; "The Little Mermaid"; "Beauty and the Beast"; and "Hercules" were just a few of the major blockbusters that Disney produced during that ten-year span. And I still get a kick out of these movies. "Aladdin," for instance, is one of the funniest movies of its time, due in large part to Robin Williams as the genie, I'm sure - but still, the music, the characters and the stories are jsut as good as any 3-D, CGI movie today.

So why is it that we no longer feel the need to produce in 2-D? Does it cost more money? Take up more time? Are kids' attention spans just not up-to-par with 2-D?

I can't answer that. But I can say that just because a movie doesn't make $1 billion worldwide, as "Toy Story 3" did (granted it had followers and anticipation on its side), doesn't mean it's a bad movie.

Disney tried to get back to its 2-D form last year with "The Princess and the Frog." I saw it - it was a really fun movie, great upbeat, jazzy music and a fun story. Critics raved about it, and it made a decent %104 million, only to fade away when it was released on DVD. It deserved better.

Hand-drawn animation is just as impressive as computer-animated, so why can't we enjoy both? Are we going to rid ourselves of regular movie viewing and only see 3-D movies within the next 10 years? I hope not. But then again, look what sound and color did for the movies - we don't watch silent films on the big screen anymore, do we? (Although a little Charlie Chaplin never hurt anyone.)

So do your kids a favor and introduce them to some oldies but goodies, or simply relive the classic Disney days yourself. You may have to scrounge up a VHS player, but all the better - "Hakuna Matata" right?

Bill & Ted journey to a third movie / A cult-classic: 'Freaked' brings out the bizarre

Back in 1989, a dynamic duo was introduced to the movie-goer that would forever change the way we say "Whoa." I'm not talking about Joey Lawrence here. I'm talking about the WYLD STALLYNS!! (Air guitar motion here)

Ted Theodore Logan (Keanu Reeves) and Bill S. Preston, Esquire (Alex Winter) brought us one excellent adventure throughout time and one bogus journey through the afterlife. And now it has been announced (actually about a month ago, it seems) that Reeves and Winter have agreed to participate in a third installment ... like, totally.

Reeves confirmed it at the Toronto Film Festival, and Winter had an interview with MTV's Adam Rosenberg (via Twitter) to explain more about it.

Here's a snippit: "We kicked around the idea over the years and had always thought if we could make something that was as kind of genuine in spirit as the originals and without falling prey to kind of retro cynicism or something that was unnecessary, it would be worth doing," Winter said.

"The essence of what we've always wanted to do is to make a 'Bill & Ted' movie. We don't want to make a cynical 'here's Bill and Ted - you guys are our kids, now you guys go be Bill and Ted and the franchise can live for another 25 years!' It's not that. It's a straight up, what's the funniest and most surprising take on where Bill and Ted would be right now if we stopped back in on them? That's what we're doing."

It's been over 20 years, so where would Bill & Ted be today? Married to Princesses Joanna and Elizabeth with kids? Rock stars traveling the world? Science professors teaching the aspects of time travel? Only time will tell.

•

And with all this talk about Winter and Reeves I shall now fittingly give my choice Halloween movie - 'Freaked,' starring none other than Winter and Reeves.

Released in 1993, 'Freaked' is a pretty unknown movie. After a major budget cut, the film lost out on advertising, forcing 20th Century Fox to pull it from a nationwide release. It ended up only being released in two theaters at the time. Two theaters!

Critics came to the rescue with mostly positive reviews, and after being released on VHS, it soon garnered a cult-like following.

Winter plays Ricky Coogin - a once-beloved, now-pompous, child-actor who is hard-up for work. Ricky agrees to be the spokesperson for a toxic fertilizer chemical called Zygrot 24 in South America after being offered $5 million for the job.

Ricky heads off to South America with his best pal Ernie (Michael Stoyanov) and comes across a group of protesters, including a young woman named Julie (Megan Ward). After tricking her into thinking they, too, are against Zygrot 24, the three of them head to a protest, but not before taking a detour to Freek Land.

Trouble begins here as Elijah C. Skuggs (Randy Quaid) captures the three of them to be in his freak show. He mutates them into creatures by rubbing Zygrot 24 on their bodies - Ricky becomes an overly-disgusting half-man, half-monster, and Ernie and Julie are merged to share one body.

Ricky, Ernie and Julie soon join the other freaks, most notable the Bearded Lady (Mr. T), Sockhead Bobcat Goldthwait), Worm (Derek McGrath) and Ortiz the Dog Boy (Reeves).

With a cast like that, what's not to like. It's so bad, it's good.

Other notable actors include Brook Shields as talk-show host Skye Daley, whom Ricky tells his story to, and William Sadler, who plays the chairman of the mega-corp that persuades Ricky to take the spokesperson job (Sadler was the Grim Reaper in 'Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey,' among other notable performances).

Towards the later half of the movie, really weird events ensue as expected, and eventually the freaks make Skuggs into a mutant (revealing that he resembles a certain-someone would spoil the ending). The freaks find an antidote mixed into a batch of macaroons that Skuggs made, and all go back to normal to live happily ever after - except for Worm - he doesn't like coconut.

With a well-written script, decent actors and superb makeup jobs, 'Freaked' makes for a great Halloween flick if you're looking for something bizarre and different... and if you love humor along the lines of "Airplane!" and the "Naked Gun" movies. Winter's over-exaggerated facial expressions hit the comedy factor too.

It may not be scary or suspenseful, but it sure is freaky and weird. Plus, you get to see Randy Quaid back when he wasn't in jail! Oh the days.

* 'Freaked' can currently be found streaming on Netflix. *

'Back to the Future'

Celebrating 25 years since Marty McFly and Doc Brown embarked on an adventure through time that's lasted generations.

I could easily geek out in my column this week.

It's no secret for those who have come to know me that I am a HUGE "Back to the Future" fan.

Not in the sense that I want to learn more about how time travel works without the use of a Flux Capacitor.

But simply in the sense that I think "Back to the Future" is the GREATEST MOVIE EVER MADE.

That's it. Not "The Godfather" or "Casablanca." Not "Gone with the Wind" or "Avatar."

"Back to the Future" is where it's at. And I know I'm not alone.

I may know more catch phrases or plot point than most, but "Back to the Future" is such a universal movie that everyone in the family can enjoy it.

And I don't think I've ever met someone who said they didn't like it.

Which is why, still 25 years later, "Back to the Future" is just as popular as ever.

And this is the reason as to why I can actually write this column with a purpose, rather than simply gushing about how awesome it is.

Next week marks the 25th anniversary of when Marty McFly traveled back in time with Doc Brown - October 25, 1985 - and there are a couple of going-ons to celebrate this wondrous date in time.

* On Tuesday, a special 25th Anniversary Trilogy DVD/Blu Ray hits stores, which includes new commentary, deleted scenes, a six-part documentary featuring cast interviews, a special on "Designing the DeLorean," and even never-before-seen footage of Eric Stoltz ("Mask," "Some Kind of Wonderful"), who was originally cast in Michael J. Fox's role as Marty McFly, performing some screen tests.

** On Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and on Monday at 7 p.m., AMC theaters across the United States will be re-releasing "Back to the Future" on the big screen, in a digitally remastered form. If you buy a ticket, you'll get a special commemorative poster, and special giveaways related to the movie will also be given away before the show. Shows closest to us are in Methuen, Boston and Danvers, Mass.

So what is it about "Back to the Future" that 25 years later, audiences and generations to come can still enjoy it?

Perhaps it's because the movie itself spans generations - throughout the trilogy we go from 1885 to 1955 to 1985 to 2015.

Or maybe it's the absurdness of how the future, and the past for that matter, is portrayed. 2015 is five years away, and I don't see us flying cars or hydrating pizzas any time soon. I'm still waiting on that hoverboard, too.

Or it could simply be the great chemistry among the characters in the movies. Besides buddies Doc and Marty, Tom Wilson's Biff and Crispin Glover's George McFly are each iconic characters.

And the acting put into these characters seems effortless - Fox is one of those actors that is so likable on screen that it's hard not to want to watch him, and we get to see through Marty how charming he is.

Christopher Lloyd plays eccentric to the T. Originally, John Lithgow was up for Doc Brown's part, but passed. I'm sure Lithgow would have been great, but perhaps a little too eccentric. Lloyd combines the perfect blend of heartwarming and crazy for the character.

Glover, a personal favorite actor of mine, created George to be his own. He was only 21 when he played the part, and he brought forth a character with such odd mannerisms (his laugh is my favorite) and ticks that you can't help rooting for George.

As for Wilson, he is such an underrated actor. Playing Biff, Griff and Buford "Mad Dog" Tannan throughout the trilogy, Wilson brought forth a personality you love to hate. His characters are such dufuses, and his expressions fit right along with the physical comedy aspect of them.

And we can't forget Lea Thompson, who played Loraine. Her character is just an overall sweetheart. Thompson as Loraine showcases a very innocent power, such as when she tries to seduce Marty at numerous times throughout the movie, not knowing he's her son. It's the perfect amount of awkwardness, and Fox's nervous, squimishness is pure comedy in itself.

Ahh, I could go on and on about what makes "Back to the Future" such an endless classic. But really, it's just an overall, feel-good movie that everyone should experience. It's got sci-fi, comedy, intense action, and drama all rolled into one.

So if you haven't seen it already - or you were too young to see it in theaters the first time around - well, your time has come and the Future is now. Be sure to take the whole family along for the ride - it's one you won't want to miss.

A little work, and 'Pretend Time' should do just fine

Some comedians have what it takes to jump from stand-up to television - see Daniel Tosh and Dave Chappell - others, no matter how large the following, cannot - see Jeff Dunham. The latest comedian to try his hand with his own Comedy Central sketch comedy show is Nick Swardson with "Nick Swardson's Pretend Time," which premiered last night.

I'm happy to say it's about time that Swardson got his own show.

For those of you not following comedic circles these days, you may know Swardson from his many roles in Adam Sandler-produced films such as "Benchwarmers," "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry," "You Don't Mess With the Zohan," or - my personal favorite - as footsy-pajama-wearing video game man-boy Jeff in "Grandma's Boy." He's also had a hand in scripting some of these movies as well, along with "Malibu's Most Wanted" with Jaime Kennedy, back in 2003. (Not the best movie, but it tripled in gross, so successful to some).

Others may know him as Terry, the gay roller skating prostitute from "Reno 911!"

Or you may have flipped through the channels and come across his stand-up on Comedy Central. Back in 2000, Swardson was the youngest person, at 22, to tape a Comedy Central half-hour special, and he's had a few more since then, along with two stand-up cds: "Party," and his most recent 2009 release, "Seriously, Who Farted?"

So Swardson has been around. You just might not have been able to put the face to the name.

Unfortunately for Swardson, at this point "Pretend Time" is hit-or-miss.

Sketches in the premier episode included Garry Gaga - Lady Gaga's brother, a cop who also likes to wear unique, over-the-top hats; a paralyzed cat who ran out of inheritance money and likes to party a bit too much; a newer version of the Prius, the Peeus - a car that runs on urine; a dad who takes advantage of his terminally ill kid with a bucket list for himself; and the ever-popular Gay Robot, featuring a cameo by Ryan Phillipe.

Gay Robot was originally a comedy bit on one of Sandler's (who else!) albums. A pilot based on the character was filmed in 2006 with Swardson voicing the robot, but it never got picked up. Four years later it's now featured on the show - with Gay Robot acting as a bouncer at a club and falling for Phillipe's blue eyes (A Caribbean sea with a full moon shining down) and brown hair (An autumn morning at Denzel Washington's house.)

The sketches are good, but not great; it's a bit racy and pushes the envelope, but what doesn't these days, especially on Comedy Central.

I think if the show produced more content than the 30 minutes it allots (20 with commercials) Swardson would be able to delve more in to the characters and produce some better sketches. Right now it's half and half - but it's only been one episode, so we'll see where it leads too. I'm hopeful.

'The Social Network' should have no problem getting fans

It's 2003. Social networking has just begun to evolve. There's Friendster and MySpace, but not everyone cares enough to sign up for such sites. It's just a fad. But jump down to Harvard University, where a student would soon be creating a site that would change all that. He would create such a site that, if you didn't belong, you were considered on the outs. His site would create a desire - a desire to have 'friends.' And from that desire, Facebook would be created. Fast-forward seven years and 5 billion 'friends' later and at age 26, that student is now the youngest billionaire in the world.

"The Social Network," released Friday, tells the story of how Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) created Facebook and interweaves that story with two court cases involving those he pushed aside to get to the top: His ex-best friend and ex-CFO of Facebook, Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield) and the Winklevoss twins, a set of crew-champion, comes-from-family-money, intimidating-Harvard students (Armie Hammer and Armie Hammer's face on Josh Pence's body - more on that later) who claim they had the idea first and Zuckerberg stole it. Throw in Sean Parker (Justin Timberlake), co-founder of Napster, and his stake in the Facebook story and you have quite a gripping movie.

Written by Aaron Sorkin and directed by David Fincher, "The Social Network" will have your brain working a mile a minute within the first 15 minutes.

In the opening scene, we have Zuckerberg having a drink with his then girlfriend (Rooney Mara) at the infamous Thirsty Scholar Pub in Somersville, Mass. His mind is set on discussing the elite finals clubs at Harvard, while her's hasn't even gotten past the 'How was your day?' part of the conversation. Zuckerberg's mind just keeps going and going, and it's fascinating to try and follow how his brain movies in that way. This quick-wit gab of Zuckerberg could easily deter one from wanting to watch his manic personality throughout the rest of the movie, but Sorkin knew what he was doing. It's worth it to sit though it.

Fincher knows how to tell a story, too. As the director of "Fight Club" and "Zodiac" he presents a good storyline and lets the viewer make up their own mind about what really happened. And that's the genius of "The Social Network." It makes you think. It's like a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Book; Fincher and Sorkin simply provide you with the facts to draw your own conclusions about how things went down.

"The Social Network's" story may appear one-sided, ganging up on Zuckerberg, making him look like a total, well, fill in your favorite noun or adjective here. But depending on the viewer, Zuckerberg might come off as a sympathetic character. As the film's slogan states, 'You don't get to 500 friends without making a few enemies' - so business is business, right? No matter who may have gotten in the way or fallen short of rising to the top along with Zuckerberg. You gotta work fast in the Internet age and that is all Zuckerberg set out to do.

And the actors put up a very compelling case study on who to believe.

Eisenberg, best known for small-screen hits "Zombieland" and "Adventureland," completely gets into the mindset of Zuckerberg - his mannerisms, quick wit, the dark, sinister look in his eyes when he's knows you may be right about him; and the way he's always going, ready to pounce on any idea - Zuckerberg is ruthless in a way and that's nothing we've seen Eisenberg capable of portraying before. From experience, Eisenberg has always managed to play the cute-but-no-one-will-notice-me, insecure nice-guy. With "The Social Network" he transforms that image and brings his A-game.

For much of the movie Saverin goes un-noticed as a character and is simple there as a financial backer for Zuckerberg, and Garfield is just a pretty face for us to look at on the screen. It's not until the final confrontation between Saverin and Zuckerberg that we finally see Garfield's true acting chops. It's a great in-the-moment pivotal performance.

Garfield is set to be the next Spider-Man in the newest re-launch of the franchise, so let's hope he can bring that type of energy to that character.

Justin Timberlake continues to surprise me. The cute, souther N-Sync-er, turned solo-star, turned actor, clothing designer and SNL star can really hold his own. The small roles he's taken on before this film - in "Alpha Dog" and "Black Snake Moan" - have been fairly good. But no one really paid attention to those movies (even though they should - they're both great). And you can't judge an actor simply on his voice work in "Shrek" movies either. Timberlake needed a bigger story to really showcase his skills.

He got it as Sean Parker - the cool party guy who takes Zuckerberg under his wing - leading him into the bigger life of LA and steering him toward the choices that Parker didn't make when working on Napster. Timberlake is perfect for the part - with an innocent face, but capable of being manipulative. From this part on, we no longer see Justin Timberlake the singer. We see Justin Timberlake the actor.

As for Armie Hammer, who plays the Winklevoss twins, who claim to have given the idea of Facebook to Zuckerberg, Hammer is sure to be the next big thing in Hollywood. Hammer, who's face and voice were digitally superimposed on to Pence's body, is commanding and intimidating on screen. As a character you think the twins' stature and bullying would make Zuckerberg back into a corner and cry, but Zuckerberg is too quick to be intimated by them. He knows what he's doing and it all goes over the Winklevoss' heads before they can do anything about it.

There's a lot to take in with "The Social Network" and your perception may change after watching the movie a few times. My head is still spinning after watching it. Not in an "Inception" kind of way, but in a "If I were in his shoes, what would I do?" kind of way.

Those of you still not keen to the idea of a Facebook movie, just think - it's been seven years since the creation of Facebook - that's not a long time. And it doesn't seem to be going anywhere. Even if you don't use Facebook, "The Social Network" is a must-see movie that deserves your viewing, if not for the superb acting and storytelling, but simply for the fact that it showcases how, in the 21st-century, one student who was hungry enough took a simple idea and turned it into billions.

Who else can post that achievement on their wall?

"Beverly Hills, 90210" gave us something to talk about...like Luke Perry

I was going to write about Lindsay Lohan this week and how she needs to just disappear. I'd hope you're just as tired of hearing her antics on prime-time news as I am. She's done. She isn't even a great actress, so why do we care so much about her? Yes, "Mean Girls" was great, but not because of her. The side players made that movie, from Gretchen Weiners to Ms. Norbury. We don't need Lindsay Lohan in the world anymore! So please, stop caring about whether she failed her latest drug test or how much jail time she did or didn't serve. She was cute in "The Parent Trap," so remember her for that and get on with your life.

I'm glad I got that out.

Now on to bigger and better things -

Da-na-na-na. Da-na-na-na. Dun. Dun.

Oct. 4 marks the 20th anniversary of the premiere of "Beverly Hills, 90210." I know, important stuff, right?

But it is - without "Beverly Hills, 90210," you wouldn't have your "Gossip Girl," your "OC," or your "Dawson's Creek." And don't you pretend none of these shows aren't your secret guilty pleasures.

"Beverly Hills, 90210" - not to be confused with the awful remake/continuation/spin-off or whatever you call it currently airing on the CW network - was big for it's time.

Back in 1990, no show dared tackle such taboo topics as rape, cocaine, AIDS, gambling, alcoholism - the list goes on and on - in dealing with teens. It just wasn't brought up.

Even the core topic associated with character Donna Martin - her wish to not have sex until she was married - was a very hot topic in the '90s. It united girls all over the country who weren't ready to have sex in high school or even college, for that matter. Donna Martin made it ok to be a virgin and girls looked up to her for being brave enough to admit that.

And of course, the stars made the show, or maybe the show made the stars - heck, most people can rattle the characters names off - nice guy Brandon Walsh, bad-boy Dylan McKay, funny man Steve Sanders - or sweetheart Kelly Taylor, vixen Valerie Malone - moreso than they can the actors' names. They were teen idols in every way, and Aaron Spelling made them.

Yet, after 10 seasons on the air - the longest running teen drama, I might add - that idol-sensation turned into a curse for some. Every character was so well-known that many of the actors had trouble finding work after it ended - being pigeonholed into their long-running character. Some made it out just fine (Shannen Doherty, Luke Perry, Tiffani Thiessen have all had steady work) - others (many) went on to "Dancing with the Stars," and one married Meghan Fox. Lucky for Brian Austin Green.

But despite all that, those actors were part of a show bigger than themselves.

I was three when the series originally premiered, but I remember watching it with my parents growing up. It was cheesy and soap-opera-eske, but for the '90s that was what worked - you were always there to tune in. I was devastated when it went off the air in 2000 - maybe because I was 13 and wanted Dylan McKay all to myself - but it was also time for a new generation of teens with a whole new set of problems. It was the new millennium, and audiences were ready for something fresh.

If only they knew that that something fresh would be reality TV.

The Runaways: It may be 35 years too late, but I'm diggin' 'em

I've been on a kick. A Runaways kick.

A few weeks back I watched the newest biopic pic based on the late 1970s all-girl rock band, starring Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning. Ever since watching that movie, I've check out the documentary "Edgeplay: A film about The Runaways," bought the band's "best of" album and even made their biggest hit "Cherry Bomb" my ring tone. Something about this band just totally does it for me. Maybe it's the women's empowerment of it all - teenage girls who took no (insert word suitable for print here) from anyone in an age when female rockers weren't taken seriously or given the time of day.

Technically the first all-girl punk-rock band, The Runaways isn't a band name that rings a bell like The Go-Go's or The Bangles. Those later bands are often assumed to be the first because of their commercial success, but The Runaways took charge before the days of MTV.

A History Lesson: The original line up of The Runaways included Joan Jett (rhythm guitar/back-up vocals), Cherie Currie (lead vocals), Lita Ford (lead guitar), and Sandy West (drums), with various bass players coming into play throughout their years. Jackie Fox was the most noted bass player - she joined during the ban's golden years.

Another name synonymous with The Runaways is record producer Kim Fowley, who had a hand in forming and managing the band, as well as finding girls at local night clubs and bars to audition. He was their sort-of recruiter. The Runaways wrote and created most of their own music, but Fowley managed to pen the band's so-called signature song "Cherry Bomb" on the spot with Jett at Currie's audition. He would also produce the band's first three albums.

The all-teenage Runaways hit the height of their popularity in 1977, embarking on a sold out show in Japan.At the time The Runaways placed forth in imported music acts in Japan in terms of album sales and popularity, only being outdone by ABBA, KISS and Led Zeppelin. No doubt, that's some pretty good company to be in, so one could only imagine the amount of fans being in that show produced.

But it would also be the catalyst to their undoing, the beginning of their end. Right before the show, Fox quit. And after the show, Currie quit after not being able to deal with the struggles of fame and drug addiction at the young age of 16.

From there, Jett took over on lead vocals, Vicki Blue replaced Fox and Fowley departed as their manager. Two more albums were made before the band called it quits in 1979 due to "creative differences."

Tragic, huh?

Released on DVD in July, 35 years after their start, "The Runaways" movie is based loosely on Currie's book "Neon Angel: A Memoir of a Runaway."

Many complained - the movie is based more on the relationship between Jett and Currie than on the band as a whole. It isn't a bad side of the story to see, it just doesn't do the whole story of the band justice. Of course, that may have to do with the fact that Jett was an executive producer of the film.

Whereas, with the "Edgeplay" documentary, Jett had no role in the film whatsoever - no comments, no music, no appearance at all. She was the only member of the band to not give her honest view on The Runaways lifestyle. If the two films were combined, perhaps making a movie in faux-documentary style, maybe the full-on story of The Runaways would be realized.

But if the biopic is all you can get your hands on, at least the actors fit the roles to a T and not just in terms of dead-on look-a-likes. It doesn't hurt either that Stewart, 20, and Fanning, 16, are teens playing teens; it just makes it so much more believable.

Stewart as Jett fit the role like a glove. This is the type of stuff Stewart should be doing. Her acting was enjoyable to watch, and she really seems to have put a lot of effort into portraying Jett. Heck, she even learned how to play the guitar chords.

"Twilight" may have given her the push to be a leading lady, but she's so much better - and seems more comfortable and well-suited - for non-franchise, indie film acting.

Fanning is superb, as always. She's been a favorite actress of mine since she first portrayed Lucy in "I Am Sam" at the age of 7.

Now 16, Fanning made a bold move. And it played out for her.

She was able to potray Currie - all the sex, drug and alcoholic behavior included - without us losing respect for her as an actress. And she did a great job at it. Fanning also got to showcase her vocal chops in the film and really shadowed Currie's stage performance. Fanning truly was Currie. Let's hope Fanning never succumbs to the child-acting plague - which typically ends in early actor failure - and continues to move in the right direction.

Unfortunately, The Runaways couldn't find the direction they needed to get their feet off the ground long enough for most people to notice. But it's never too late to take a listen.

In Memoriam: "My Boys"

And as the Fall season arrives, we also have to see another sad departure of a show not worthy of cancellation. "My Boys" on TBS got the news Wednesday of it's demise, but they must have seen it coming.

The season finale on Sunday sure felt like a series finale, but I didn't want to believe it. Yes, it's on TBS. Yes, it was buried in the 10 p.m. time slot on Sundays. And yes, there was too much time lapsed between seasons, so most people lost track of it.

But as a devoted fan, I can say that after four seasons, "My Boys" was in its prime. And I'm heartsick to see it go.

It followed PJ, a female sports writer for the Chicago Sun Times and her group of guy friends. It was great to see a female lead not swooning over guys, talking about babies or fussing about fashion. PJ was down-to-earth and just one of the boys. Her favorite pastimes were sports, having a beer a Crowley's, the local bar, and hosting poker games.

She was a guy's dream.

And Jordana Spiro was able to create a character that both men and woman adored.

PJ may have been the basis of the show, but it was her lovable, goofy guy friends that made the show so easy to watch. Mike, Kenny, Brendan, Bobby (oh Bobby, so adorable), and brother Andy (played by funny man Jim Gaffigan) were all easily relatable to and their friendships seemed effortless. Their quirks offset each other - they were the gang everyone wanted to be a part of.

I admit some basic cable comedies are great (all hail "Modern Family"), but many are not and have been on for way past their prime (ahem, "Two and a Half Men"). Viewers should explore the upper numbers on their televisions. There's funny stuff elsewhere; you just need to give it a chance.

But I digress.

I just hope the actors of "My Boys" go on to bigger and better things because they all deserve it. So here's to "My Boys," an undeserving casualty that deserved at least one more round of drinks.

Cheers!

Fall TV Preview

It's that time of the year again. No more reruns! No more "Wipeout"! All your favorite friends are back. And some new characters are there to join them.

While medical dramas are so five years ago, cop dramas are so in today. "Blue Bloods," "Chase," and "Detroit 1-8-7" are just some of the many. If only my beloved "Southland" (TBS) didn't have to wait for a return in January...

Also hot on the menu: remakes. Both "Hawaii Five-O" and "Nikita" are getting rave reviews for amping up shows that weren't particularly good in their original.

With many, many new shows to come, it was a tough job to sort through them all, but here are six shows that I think will be worth your while to check out:

$#*! My Dad Says

(9/23, Thursday, CBS, 8:30 p.m.)

Based on the very successful Twitter feed of Justin Halpern, CBS brings us the live-action version starring the one-and-only William Shatner. The premise revolves around his character, Ed, and his two sons, Henry and Vince, played by Jonathan Sadowki and Will Sasso. When Henry moved back in with his parents, he learns some new life lessons from dear-old-dad. What's great is Ed speaks the truth and doesn't care. It's wonderful. With Shatner on board, and two MAD TV alums (Sasso and Nicole Sullivan, who plays Vince's wife, Bonnie), this should be one comedy that will be sure to give you quotes galore to revive the next day at work.

My Generation

(9/23, Thursday, ABC, 8 p.m.)

Shot in faux-documentary style, "My Generation" follows the Class of 2000, 10 years later. With a cast of nine players, it could be tough to tie in story lines, but it's an interesting concept that I'm willing to see through. And a little nostalgia never hurt. Cast members that stand out include Keir O'Donnell, best known for being the creepy brother from "Wedding Crashers," and Mehcad Brooks, Eggs from Season 2 of "True Blood."

Raising Hope

(9/21, Tuesday, FOX, 9 p.m.)

"Raising Hope" is the one show that looks like it could keep the laughing going throughout an entire season. When 20-something-year-old Jimmy, who still lives with his parents, finds out he's the proud father of his former girlfriend's son - she was a wanted felon then, she's in jail now - he takes on the role of single dad. Newcomer Lucas Neff looks like he can hold his own in the show, but it'll be the crazy family that surrounds him, including his grandmother (played by Cloris Leachman) that will help the laughter along.

No Ordinary Family

(9/28, Tuesday, ABC, 8 p.m.)

I'm not entirely sold on this show yet, but it has Michael Chicklis from FX's "The Shield," and Julie Benz from "Dexter," so I feel like I have to give it a shot. It reminds me of a real-life version of "The Incredibles."

After the family takes a trip to South America, their plan crashes into the Amazon River. When they return home, thankful for being safe-and-sound, they realize each has a super power. Dad, Jim, has superhuman strength; mom, Stephanie, has super speed; daughter, Daphne, can read minds; and son, JJ, is a pure genius. Fans of "Heroes" will enjoy this show I'm sure, and it seems to be a real family comedy. This could pan out well.

Better With You

(9/22, Wednesday, ABC, 8:30 p.m.)

"Better With You" follows the lives of three couples: Maddie and Ben have been dating for nine years; Maddie's younger sister, Mia, has been dating Casey for seven weeks; and parents Vicky and Joel, have been married for 35 years. It's all about how each relationship deals with problems that arise for one couple. It'll be easily relatable for any age group. Plus, it airs in between the successful ABC Wednesday comedy lineup, among high hitters "The Middle," "Modern Family," and "Cougar Town," so I'm pretty sure people will stumble upon it whether they plan to or not. Also, Vicky is played by Debra Jo Rupp, best known as Kitty on "That 70's Show," and Kurt Fuller plays Joel. Both should add to the show a perfect kooky mix.

Boardwalk Empire

(9/19, Sunday, HBO, 9 p.m.)

"There has always been a love-hate relationship with gangsters. It's the dark side of the American Dream," said Marty Scorsese on HBO's Web site about "Boardwalk Empire," in which he directs the first episode. Set in the 1920s in Atlantic City during the prohibition-era, it follows the undisputed city leader Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi), a politician by day and a gangster by night. Audiences have always been intrigued by gangsters and their lives, whether fictional or real, and I'm sure this show will be no different. It also comes from one the writer-producers of "The Sopranos," so there's another plus.

The Good, the Bad and the Emmys

I'm a sucker for awards shows. I practically watch them all, no matter how pathetic or drawn-out they are. Anything from the "MTV Video Music Awards" to the "Guys' Choice Awards" on Spike TV. I'm there.

And so, as most know, the Emmys started off the awards season Sunday. And I must say I was pleasantly surprised. Usually there are a few laughs here and there, the award recipients are predictable, and it drags on for what seems like forever. But all of those statements rang false this year. Overall, there was more good than bad. Here's my recap of the star-studded night.

THE GOOD

• Jimmy Fallon: He stuck to what he does best - musical parodies. Just as he did when he hosted the "MTV VMA's" back in 2002, he did it just as well here. From the opening Bruce Springsteen opening number, to his farewell songs to "24" (Elton John's "Candle in the Wind"), "Law & Order" (Boyz II Men's "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday) and "Lost (Green Day's "Good Riddance"), Fallon pulled it off.
  
  
• "Modern Family": It's one of the best new comedies out there, if not the best. I absolutely adore this show, and each and every cast member is funny in their own way. It's one of the few shows that will make you laugh out loud. And I'm glad to see the Academy gave credit where it's due. Major awards went out to Eric Stonestreet for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series; Chris Levitan and Christopher Lloyd (Yes, the same Christopher Lloyd currently performing at The Weston Playhouse) for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series; and Outstanding Comedy Series.
  
  
• George Clooney: For his humanity work, he won the Bob Hope Award. For his comedic work, he pulled off a wonderful skit involving the cast of "Modern Family." For "Family Guy" lovers out there, Stewie Griffin plays a small role in the skit too. YouTube it; you won't regret it.
  
  
  
• Jon Hamm and Betty White: The "Mad Men" star and White took part in some risky dance moves together in the opening number in order to prep for a "Glee"-inspired performance, along with Tina Fey, Jane Lynch, Hurley from "Lost," and Joel McHale of "Community," among others.
  
  
• This joke from Jimmy Fallon: "NBC asking the host of 'Late Night' to come to Los Angeles to host a different show ... what could possibly go wrong?" Fallon asks. A quick pan to Conan O'Brien, Fallon continued, "Too soon?"
  
  
• Ricky Gervais: His witty banter is always top notch. And he gave out free beer.

THE BAD

• Tweet Intros: Fallon tried out a new gag. Let's have people send in what they think of the presenters, and we'll read them out loud before they go on stage - Tweet style (under 140 characters or less). Didn't work as well as everyone had hoped. Turns out fans aren't that funny. At least they scrapped the gag half way through the show.
  
  
• Cutting off acceptance speeches: I don't care how long the show goes, no matter who the recipient is, I always stand by the fact that everyone should get their time to thank whomever they wish without getting rudely interrupted. I think we can all handle it. Unfortunately, "Mad Men" writer Matthew Weiner was a casualty of the night when accepting for Outstanding Writer for a Drama Series.

MODERATE

• Jane Lynch wins Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy for her role as Sus Sylvester on "Glee": I love Jane Lynch. And I love her character on "Glee." But I don't love "Glee." It just doesn't do it for me, sorry. Yes, the cast can sing well. And I get that Ryan Murphy (the show's creator) is trying something new out, so bravo to that. But the plot lines are weak, and the musical covers, meh. Anywho, cheers to Lynch, she deserves it.
  
  
• The made for TV movie "Temple Grandin" winning back-to-back-to-back-to-back awards: It's a great story based on the autistic professor and doctor of animal science, but the four wins in a row, with repetitive acceptance speeches, made me want to take a snack break. Congrats on the wins, but the Emmys need to find a better way to space out similar categories.
  
  
• "Mad Med" winning for Outstanding Drama Series: I love "Mad Men" as much as the next person. It's classy. But I love "Dexter," "True Blood," and "Breaking Bad" so much more. Those shows are darker, gritter and more fun.
  Unfortunately, the Academy is stuck in the '50s for this category. Luckily, "Dexter" picked up Outstanding Director in a Drama Series and Brian Cranston of " Breaking Bad" won his third Emmy in a row for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, as well as Aaron Paulso winning Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. So I guess things even out.
  "True Blood" didn't have the same luck though. Maybe next year.
  

• "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" winning for the eighth time in a row for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series: I love Jon, but share the wealth.
  
  

Hopefully the Emmys start off a precedent of well-done awards shows to come this season.