Off Topic!, For all our "general" off topic tendencies Options

[EYEballer]

Thank you for your sympathy, EYEballer.
I really appreciate it.

You're welcome.

[EYEballer]

Tomorrow is July 4/Independence Day:
Have a happy and safe holiday my fellow Americans!

[peachybc]

Here's a little interactive 4th of July fun. The safest fireworks around! Just click on the night sky above the Statue of Liberty to create your own fireworks display, the faster you click the more fireworks!
Note: You'll need JAVA installed on your computer to run this.

http://www.happydaycards.com/holidays_js/fireworks.html


PeachyBC

EDIT: If you don't have JAVA already on your computer, you can read up on the program and download it for free here:
http://www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp

[stefanl]

Happy Birthday America!

[Mari Welsh]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!!
To all Americans, have a Happy Fourth of July! You have much to celebrate and to be proud of.
We are lucky to have our best friend right next door! The World's longest undefended border...we all know what a rarity and accomplishment that is! You know, America is looking good for her age too!
Mari

[krodgers]

Happy 4th of July to all!!! God Bless America!!

[abfirefighterchi...]

God HAS blessed America from day one! May all of us cherish what we have!


Happy 4th of JULY

From a proud and grateful American!


Please celebrate responsibly!! Have a designated driver, and don't screw around with fireworks(drunk or sober)!!! I don't want any of you guys hurt, all well let me be honest, I don't want to have to outtin any fires or scrap anyone off the road!

[laureng]

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY, EVERYONE!!!

God Bless America! We are so very blessed and with such freedom. I wish all of you a happy and safe holiday. May you spend it with good friends and family.

[stefanl]

This is in today's Variety. Bad news for some shows going up against the might juggernaut that is 7 pm police procedurals like LOCI. I'm trying to feel bad for them, really, I am. Peachy, if you think this would be better placed in CI in the Media, please feel free to move it there.


Trace Slumps on TNT
Without a Trace" has failed to score with mass audiences in its reruns on TNT, upping anxiety at cable networks that rely on off-net police procedurals.

Fifteen months ago, TNT was expressing concern about the ratings slump experienced by the granddaddy of these investigative series, "Law & Order," which was running as many as 14 times a week on the network (Daily Variety, March 15, 2006). Steve Koonin, prexy of Turner Entertainment Networks, said at the time that he was counting on multiple weekly runs of "Trace" to take some of the pressure off "L&O."

TNT already had limited experience with "Trace." Scheduled as a once-a-week latenight rerun from December 2004 to May 2006, "Trace" averaged a solid 2.2 million viewers. But one nagging indicator that the series might be vulnerable was that half the aud was over the age of 50.

Sure enough, when "Trace" began running every weeknight at 7 in June 2006, it didn't perform as well, on average, in total viewers (1.73 million). Even worse, a disturbing 60% of its viewers were older than 50. "Trace" actually underperformed "Law & Order," the previous occupant of the time period, in total viewers and in the three key demos of adults 18-34, adults 18-49 and adults 25-54.

One problem outside TNT's control was that at 7 p.m., a popular time period for police-procedural repeats, "Trace" was regularly going up against "CSI" on Spike, "L&O: SVU" and "L&O: Criminal Intent" on USA and "CSI: Miami" on A&E.

To potentially replace "Without a Trace," TNT will be able to start skedding multiple weekly runs of CBS' Sunday series "Cold Case" in the fall. But in its current once-a-week slotting (at 11 p.m., although not necessarily the same night each week), "Cold Case" has slipped by 33% in total viewers during the course of a year (December 2006 to June of this vs. a year earlier), falling by similar hefty percentages in the key demos.

The industry is citing the declining fortunes of off-network procedurals as the reason cable networks are reluctant to pony up for off-net series including "Criminal Minds," "Bones," "Numbers" and "Boston Legal."

And TNT may soon be less tied to reruns as it commissions its own original scripted series, such as the high-rated "Closer" and, premiering July 18, "Saving Grace" starring Holly Hunter as a dysfunctional detective.

[krodgers]

This is in today's Variety. Bad news for some shows going up against the might juggernaut that is 7 pm police procedurals like LOCI. I'm trying to feel bad for them, really, I am. Peachy, if you think this would be better placed in CI in the Media, please feel free to move it there.
Trace Slumps on TNT
Without a Trace" has failed to score with mass audiences in its reruns on TNT, upping anxiety at cable networks that rely on off-net police procedurals.

Fifteen months ago, TNT was expressing concern about the ratings slump experienced by the granddaddy of these investigative series, "Law & Order," which was running as many as 14 times a week on the network (Daily Variety, March 15, 2006). Steve Koonin, prexy of Turner Entertainment Networks, said at the time that he was counting on multiple weekly runs of "Trace" to take some of the pressure off "L&O."

TNT already had limited experience with "Trace." Scheduled as a once-a-week latenight rerun from December 2004 to May 2006, "Trace" averaged a solid 2.2 million viewers. But one nagging indicator that the series might be vulnerable was that half the aud was over the age of 50.

Sure enough, when "Trace" began running every weeknight at 7 in June 2006, it didn't perform as well, on average, in total viewers (1.73 million). Even worse, a disturbing 60% of its viewers were older than 50. "Trace" actually underperformed "Law & Order," the previous occupant of the time period, in total viewers and in the three key demos of adults 18-34, adults 18-49 and adults 25-54.

One problem outside TNT's control was that at 7 p.m., a popular time period for police-procedural repeats, "Trace" was regularly going up against "CSI" on Spike, "L&O: SVU" and "L&O: Criminal Intent" on USA and "CSI: Miami" on A&E.

To potentially replace "Without a Trace," TNT will be able to start skedding multiple weekly runs of CBS' Sunday series "Cold Case" in the fall. But in its current once-a-week slotting (at 11 p.m., although not necessarily the same night each week), "Cold Case" has slipped by 33% in total viewers during the course of a year (December 2006 to June of this vs. a year earlier), falling by similar hefty percentages in the key demos.

The industry is citing the declining fortunes of off-network procedurals as the reason cable networks are reluctant to pony up for off-net series including "Criminal Minds," "Bones," "Numbers" and "Boston Legal."

And TNT may soon be less tied to reruns as it commissions its own original scripted series, such as the high-rated "Closer" and, premiering July 18, "Saving Grace" starring Holly Hunter as a dysfunctional detective.

Man, where do you get all your info?

[Not_saying]

God HAS blessed America from day one! May all of us cherish what we have!
Happy 4th of JULY

From a proud and grateful American!
Please celebrate responsibly!! Have a designated driver, and don't screw around with fireworks(drunk or sober)!!! I don't want any of you guys hurt, all well let me be honest, I don't want to have to outtin any fires or scrap anyone off the road!

HAPPY 4 th

[abfirefighterchi...]

Did anyone watch the American Inventor?

The last person on tonight had an awesome invention! It's called the Guardian Angel, and I wish I had thought of it!

It is a christmas tree angel on one end, connected by a high pressure hose. Then on the other end is a wrapped christmas present. If the tree catches fire the heat melts the plug on the bottom of the angel(like a spinkler)then the present releases two gallons of water thru the high pressure line. It will at least smolder the fire enough so that the smoke alarm goes off and gives the family time to get out. If calbrated correctly it could possiblily put the fire out.

As a firefighter I can not imagine how many lives this could save. He showed a training video showing how in less than 30 seconds a Christmas tree fire can be out of control and consuming the room it's in. In that amount of time the toxic gases have already traveled thru a few of the rooms on that floor.

[abfirefighterchi...]

Here's a little interactive 4th of July fun. The safest fireworks around! Just click on the night sky above the Statue of Liberty to create your own fireworks display, the faster you click the more fireworks!
Note: You'll need JAVA installed on your computer to run this.

http://www.happydaycards.com/holidays_js/fireworks.html


PeachyBC

EDIT: If you don't have JAVA already on your computer, you can read up on the program and download it for free here:
http://www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp

That is so awesome, thanks Peachy!!

[stefanl]

I'm rewatching the entire run of Homicide: Life on the Streets on DVD during the evenings. Summer viewing is fine on some nights, but just like the rest of the "regular" viewing year, some nights have slim pickins. I've just hit the middle of season three and desparately need some steamed blue crabs and a mallet.

Detectives Pembleton and Bayliss were the original odd couple. Bayliss, still wet behind the ears, and with newly forming instincts that he hones with each investigation, matures before your eyes. Always haunted by the specter of Adena Watson, his first case and one he never solved. Pembleton the righteous detective, sly in the interview room, quick to pick up on the weakness of his prey, sure to zero in like a laser beam on what will break his foe. He is flashy and cocky, the polar opposite of Goren in style and substance. And he almost always got his man, or woman, too. The character of John Munch, sprang fully realized as a conspiracy theorist, who couldn't quite figure out the other sex, practically in episode one. Yaphet Kotto as Lt. Giardello, a believably Italian African-American with better pronunciation and as much Sicilian verve as the neighborhood grandmothers I grew up with. He was a stern father figure and always fiercely protective of his squad. The tiny moments, the banalities, the quirky almost beyond the camera's view background activity, made this show one of NBC's greatest contributions to television in the 90s. No flashy car chases. No Hollywood stunt casted guest star of the week. Just excellent writing and a phenomenal cast.

If you've never seen Homicide, you owe it to yourself to take a taste. If you can get your hands on the first disk from season one, those three episodes will reel you in and make you very happy you spent some time with these people. Seasons one and two together numbered a lonely thirteen episodes. You'll see a parade of familiar faces who have guested on LOCI as well as SVU and the mother ship. If you're a fan of HBO's Oz, you'll recognize even more. If you're really only inclined to watch the VDO episode, you're missing a rich history and dynamic characters. If you want to view only The Subway, you need season six, disks one and six, so you can see the episode as well as the making of documentary. At the very least, you'll get a good idea of what goes in to turning a story from the writer's inspiration into a television program.

[DonnaLucy]

If you've never seen Homicide, you owe it to yourself to take a taste. If you can get your hands on the first disk from season one, those three episodes will reel you in and make you very happy you spent some time with these people. Seasons one and two together numbered a lonely thirteen episodes. You'll see a parade of familiar faces who have guested on LOCI as well as SVU and the mother ship. If you're a fan of HBO's Oz, you'll recognize even more. If you're really only inclined to watch the VDO episode, you're missing a rich history and dynamic characters. If you want to view only The Subway, you need season six, disks one and six, so you can see the episode as well as the making of documentary. At the very least, you'll get a good idea of what goes in to turning a story from the writer's inspiration into a television program.

Last year I purchased Season 6 for The Subway episode with VDO, as well as the episode All Is Bright with Kate Erbe. Well, I loved each episode in that collection. Yes, Homicide is a wonderful series that I somehow missed when it aired in the 90's. Maybe I'll start watching it through my Netflix. You say to begin with Season 1, stef?

And thanks for the article about TNT & Without a Trace. Nice to know CI's ratings are still going relatively strong in repeats on cable. My belief is that as long as someone can make money off CI reruns, new episodes of the show will continue to be produced.

[stefanl]

Last year I purchased Season 6 for The Subway episode with VDO, as well as the episode All Is Bright with Kate Erbe. Well, I loved each episode in that collection. Yes, Homicide is a wonderful series that I somehow missed when it aired in the 90's. Maybe I'll start watching it through my Netflix. You say to begin with Season 1, stef?

And thanks for the article about TNT & Without a Trace. Nice to know CI's ratings are still going relatively strong in repeats on cable. My belief is that as long as someone can make money off CI reruns, new episodes of the show will continue to be produced.

Oh, most definitely, begin with season one, Donna. If I had had the brains and the patience, I would have waited until the entire series was released as the full seven plus movie boxed set last Christmas. When the series ended, a made for TV movie that capped the series literally brought back every single character for a final wave goodbye. It was sad and funny and gave the series, and fans, the closure that was needed.

I too was thrilled to see that CI can kick some heiney on cable. I've never watched Without a Trace regularly. Only caught a couple of episodes and was just not drawn in enough to stick with it.

I've said before and genuinely believe that the competition will come from other cable programs when CI returns in the fall. TNT, FX and USA all repeat their programs often enough that a viewer can easily catch up with a missed first run episode of most programs. I'm sure that cable networks also pay more attention to the cumulative effects of those repeat viewers, more than do the "Big Four". I just really hope that FX doesn't pull a dirty switcheroo and move Nip/Tuck to Thursday nights against CI. I don't think the two shows draw from the same fan base, but that show does have some serious ratings numbers.

[Mari Welsh]

I can second all that Linda says about Homicide, it was a marvelous series that my Mom and I watched from the first ep. I want to add a shout out to Clark Johnson, who played Detective Lewis, he was always my favourite. I'd watched Mr Johnson for years on Canadian TV, in Night Heat, (a Canadian made and low budgeted police drama that did have some really ahead of it's time storylines, including stalking, terrorism and vigilante justice, if you ever catch it in re-runs it's worth a look) and Hot Shots which was one of those hybrid Canadian made for the US market comedy crime shows in the Moolighting vein.
I loved Homicide. It never got the support L&O did, although the crossovers were partly to draw in the majority of L&O viewers who hadn't given it a try. It was never a show that went for easy answers, and it often left you feeling anything but reassured by the end. 'Three Men and Adena' haunted the entire series. Adena Watkins illustrated the wholly tragic reason d'etre for being a homicide detective, and the toll not getting the killer takes.
Mari

[stefanl]

I can second all that Linda says about Homicide, it was a marvelous series that my Mom and I watched from the first ep. I want to add a shout out to Clark Johnson, who played Detective Lewis, he was always my favourite. I'd watched Mr Johnson for years on Canadian TV, in Night Heat, (a Canadian made and low budgeted police drama that did have some really ahead of it's time storylines, including stalking, terrorism and vigilante justice, if you ever catch it in re-runs it's worth a look) and Hot Shots which was one of those hybrid Canadian made for the US market comedy crime shows in the Moolighting vein.
I loved Homicide. It never got the support L&O did, although the crossovers were partly to draw in the majority of L&O viewers who hadn't given it a try. It was never a show that went for easy answers, and it often left you feeling anything but reassured by the end. 'Three Men and Adena' haunted the entire series. Adena Watkins illustrated the wholly tragic reason d'etre for being a homicide detective, and the toll not getting the killer takes.
Mari

Clark Johnson as Meldrick Lewis had some of the best cases and was my TV crush for a time there. When he lost his partner, the "little salami head" in season three, his reactions during the investigation, the protection he gave Crosetti's daughter, the loss and disconnect he felt, were so real. It was a shot to the gut of anyone who had watched and lived with those characters and doubly so seeing them in rapid succession on DVD. I hated Frank Pembleton for not going to that service. And in that final scene and with tears running down my face, I loved Frank Pembleton for not going to that service.

The cross over episodes with Law and Order need to have their partner L&O episodes included to complete the series for me. I've seen all of those eppys; but, having the full set would make it perfect.

[stefanl]

Quick Clark Johnson bit:
He played a small part in "Adventures in Babysitting" as a gang member on the train when Elizabeth Shue's character is trying to get across the city with the kids in tow. That gives him a connection to VDO, who was also in "Adventures" as the unforgettable Thor, he of the bleached blond mullet.

[DonnaLucy]

I've ordered Homocide, Season 1, DVD 1 from Netflix. really looking forward to it!

Advice needed. I'm heading into Manhattan next Thursday with my 20 year old daughter. We're going to Central Park, her idea, & just hanging out for the day. I reserved tickets to the NBC Studio Tour at Rockefeller Center & will visit the NBC Experience Store. I hope they have some CI interactive things & items to look at. I can also see where the signing was. If we have time, I wanted to check this out:

Where They Film CI / Chelsea Pier

It looks like a great place. If you go to my link , then click on Home it shows you all these activities.

Who knows who I might catch a glimpse of leaving work? (Yea, right....)

Anyway, anyone else have any suggestions?