Tuesday Top Ten: Ten Moments That Hooked Me To A Show

Anyone that knows me knows that I love Television. I talked my wife into getting a DVR a few years ago because I work nights and it is far easier to record shows then take the time to download them later. We also record enough shows to make the DVR worth having. 

Every show has that moment when you become hooked to the show and vow to watch it on a weekly basis while it is airing.  Without that moment the interest in the show slowly dies until you remove it from the Series Record list and never watch it again. 

Below are eleven moments from some of my favorite shows ever. It's not really a top ten list. Really it is the eleven moments I could find on YouTube for the list.  

Why eleven? Because I am doing this list at the same time my friend Amy will be posting hers on her blog. She informed me she had thirteen shows and I tried to match but YouTube was just not cooperating with my picks so I threw in the towel and stopped at eleven. 

You can see her list and blog here.  

New Girl

Season 1 Episode 3

This was the scene where I could really see the four main characters really being friends. I thought the show was funny but I just didn't fully see the characters connecting with each other until dancing to Groovy Kind of Love. After that the show clicked for me.

Everwood 

Season 1 Episode 2

I had to watch the pilot twice before moving on to the second episode. I just didn't love the pilot but by the end of episode 2 I was hooked to the dynamics between Andy and Ephraim. I grew to love more about the show but that is the storyline that initially drew me in.

Smallville

Season 1 Episode 1

I have always been a fan of Superman and the thing that drew me in was the idea of Clark and Lex being friends before becoming mortal enemies. I was hooked from their first scene together to the growing friendship plus Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum work so well off each other.

One Tree Hill

Season 1 Episode 1

The pilot grew like a movie leading to the climatic basketball game at the end where the hero wins the game. Except that game wasn't the end of the story since it was a TV show I got continue to watch for years.

The OC

Season 1 Episode 3

It's not that I didn't enjoy the show for the first two episodes. It just took Ryan becoming part of the family for the show to really work for me.

Friday Night Lights

Season 1 Episode 1

There wasn't really a scene in the pilot that hooked me as the entire pilot hooked me in. I immediately connected with the characters and instantly loved what the show was trying to do with the storylines. Extra points for actually paralyzing the star Quarterback when I expected him to be walking by the third episode.

Scrubs

Season 1 Episode 4

This was the episode that showed that the show could be more then just a really funny comedy. It showed that the show could have a more emotional side to it which added to the story.

 Lost

Season 1 Episode 1

The scene was the first one that made me over think everything that was happening on the show. I would spend the next five seasons analyzing everything that happened only to be slightly disappointed in the end.

 Fringe

Season 1 Episode 1

What initally drew me to the continue watching the show was the relationship between Walter and Peter and how they worked off each other. The ending of the episode helped because it presented a mystery worth coming back for.

Survivor

Entire Season 1

The scene I was going to use was actually the first tribal council but let's face it. Every twist and turn in the first season and the way Richard Hatch played the game is what hooked me in for the next 25 seasons.

 Grey's Anatomy

Season 1 Episode 9

I didn't get hooked on the show until the finale when I had to wait an entire summer to see what would happen with the cliffhanger. I had downloaded Season 1 after it aired all nine episodes because some friends said it was good but it was the cliffhanger that hooked me and got me to watch Season 2 when it aired in the following fall.

Music Monday: Songs I Wish I Wrote

This week on American Idol the finalists will be performing songs they used they had written. I usually like this theme because it actually has the chance to have some surprises if the contestants are brave enough to perform little known songs. 

Since I don't think this crop of idols will be courageous I am sure we will get our usual batch of boring ballads. I thought I'd use this weeks Music Monday to showcase a few songs I wish I had written.

They were all chosen for different reasons. They connect with me and at some moment in time helped me get though something that life threw in my way. That's what makes music so special. You can listen to a song and feel that someone else is dealing with the same emotions and thoughts as you are. 

Matthew Barber - Suddenly 

Suddenly, dignity
rescues a soul from a body weak
Sad are we but you are flying free
on into eternity

Coffey Anderson - Better Today

And I wanna hear your voice, in the morning when I rise
I think I know I'm just a normal man, only made of sand except when you're by my side
Will you love me, teach me, don't leave me I pray
And when I, and I'm thinking of the times
Your hands in mine, together we will stay
You made me better today
Better than I was before
And now my heart can rest and I will search no more
You made me better today, today, today

Edwin McCain - Go Be Young

I let my dreams slip away from me
That's where it went wrong
Go be young, go be free
Follow your heart where it leads you
Don't end up like me 

The Avett Brothers - I and Love and You

Ah Brooklyn Brooklyn take me in
Are you aware the shape I'm in
My hands they shake my head it spins
Ah Brooklyn Brooklyn take me in

Dumbed down and numbed by time and age
Your dreams to catch the world, the cage
The highway sets the traveler's stage
All exits look the same

Three words that became hard to say
I and love and you

Joshua Radin - Winter

And I remember the sound
Of your November downtown
And I remember the truth
A warm December with you
But I don't have to make this mistake
And I don't have to stay this way
If only I would wait

The walk has all been cleared by now
Your voice is all I hear somehow
Calling out Winter

The Smashing Pumpkins - Disarm

I used to be a little boy

So old in my shoes

And what I choose is my choice

What's a boy supposed to do?

The killer in me is the killer in you

My love

I send this smile over to you

Soul Asylum - Runaway Train

It seems no one can help me now
I'm in too deep
There's no way out
This time I have really lead myself astray

Runaway train, never goin' back
Wrong way on a one-way track
Seems like I should be getting somewhere
somehow I'm neither here nor there

This Week in Reality

Amazing Race

My DVR messed up last Sunday and I ended up missing ten minutes of the episode but I caught most of the action. Team Hockey coasted to an easy win thanks to the Fast Forward and in a surprise the Besties got themselves eliminated because they panicked and switched Detours when they were surrounded by other teams. Thanks to that mental mistake we were denied the chance to see the Newlyweds be eliminated and are "treated to another episode of them. 

With the Besties sent packing I think Team Hockey are the clear leaders now but the race can get weird sometimes. All it takes is a wrong turn or a bad cabbie to send you home so I'm prepared for some more unexpected finishes. At this point the only team that I think do not have a chance are Chuck and Wynona.

Thanks to the ACM awards there is no new episode this week but you can read my full recap of last week's episode here at MJ's Big Blog.

Survivor

We got the merge on this week's Survivor and with it came some solid strategy. I loved the idea Malcolm and Corinne planned but Corinne's execution of the plan was weak. She was working too hard to plan Phillip's elimination when she should have held firm and waited to ensure Sherri was sent packing. 

And with her bad move it puts Malcolm on the outside with Reynold, Eddie, and Michael. Malcolm is a great player but I think at this point the other alliance is tight enough to wait until the rest of the fans (minus Sherri) and Malcolm are gone before attacking each other. It's a classic example of a great player being down in by someone else's bad moves. 

I like Malcolm so I hope he can turn it around but I think it's a done deal that he will be gone in a few weeks now. 

For my full recap you can go to MJ's Big Blog here.

The Voice

I continue to not really have any deep liking for the people going through on the voice. Especially the people who went through on Thursday night. I can't really see any of them lasting past the Battle Rounds but hopefully one or two will surprise like Amanda Brown last year.

I did like the quirkiness of Michelle Chamuel and I think she can be interesting with the right song choices. I also liked Taylor Beckham's voice but fear she will fail to sing songs she can actually connect with since she is so young.

The artist I really liked was Warran Stone. I like when people connect with the songs they sing and I think she has the experience to put on some interesting performances and become a fan fave. I also like that he chose Adam over Blake. Blake's team this year is really country heavy and I think had Warren went with Blake he may have been lost in the shuffle.

But let's be honest. I watch the show for the judges and at this point the coaches on The Voice are destroying American Idol.  Shakira has been a pleasant surprise because I didn't expect her to be such a breakout star and highly entertaining with the other guys. She also blows away Christina as a coach and a personality.

You can read the recaps and watch videos at MJ's Big Blog here and here.

Hell's Kitchen

We have seen people done in by Scallops and Beef Wellington but I never thought someone would be have their game destroyed by Pancakes. It was amazing seeing the women have so much trouble with flipping pancakes and that lead to another dinner service win for the men.

It's amazing that the men can do anything right as they keep losing the reward tasks to the ladies but they actually had a good service this episode.

We were left off with another cliffhanger ending as the Ladies' nominations of Mary and Jacqueline were sent back in line as Chef Ramsey had someone else in mind to send home. I think he is starting to get pissed off with the ladies nominations as they continue to nominate people who should not be nominated for elimination and we will see who he sends home next week.

Big Brother Canada

The week started with a crazy twist on Sunday where Topez had to nominate two people right away. For some crazy reason she proceeded to spell out her plan outloud even through this was an unexpected twist and she should have expected others may be listening or atleast find out what happened. She ended up nominating Andrew and AJ but made it clear that she wanted Andrew to go home.

This is where the week got interesting. The housemates were told they would be voting right away and Alec and Peter decided to take this chance to turn on Topez and Gary. They went against Topez's wishes and voted out AJ helping send him out the door. This was the beginning of the end of the Topez/Alec showmance as they took the time to actually "break up." The rest of the week was filled with awkwardness with Topez arguing with everyone. The low point was when Topez discovered Alec and Talla sharing a bed because Talla was scared from watching Evil Dead as an award earlier. Topez over reacted and started calling Talla every name in the book.

Sunday's episode also included a new Head of House competition. It was a quiz competition that Andrew one. This also allowed him to pick the have nots for the week and he choose Peter, Talla, Gary, and Emmitt who had a Slop Pass and could use it to get out of being forced to only eat slop. Andrew also took the time to nomimate Gary and Topez. While he stated he wanted Topez out to avenge AJ he actually wanted Gary send packing.  

My favorite part of the week was watching Gary over react to being placed on slop. There is no way to explain it in words but it was hilarious to watch. Unfortunately Blogger claims to not find it on YouTube but you can watch it here if you want a good laugh.

On Wednesday's episode Andrew won a Power of Veto that also included a reward to watch a pre-screening of the Evil Dead movie and he choose to share it with Talla and Jillian. It may have seemed like a good idea to take the two hot girls but sitting beside a screaming Talla would have driven me crazy. 

For Andrew it was good that he won the PoV since he wants Gary voted out so this allows him to keep the nominations the same.

On Thursday Gary was voted out in a 5-0 vote and the episode ended with an endurance competition so if you do not watch the Live Feeds you will need to wait until Sunday to see who won. 

American Idol

Let's be honest. This season is falling apart. And it's not even because of the talent. Outside of Lazaro the entire top ten were competent singers. It's a combination of poor song choices and horrible theme weeks.

Take this so called "Classic Rock/No Ballads" week that ended up being switched to Rock Week and including Ballads. And I don't buy into the whole "It's a power ballad" idea. A ballad is a ballad.

We lost Burnell this week and it's a shame because even through he was horrible this week singing Bon Jovi he is still miles ahead of Lazaro. Burnell's problem wasn't his singing but the fact that he never really seemed to connect to anything he was singing. He was definitely hurt by the dated American Idol song options more so then some other people.

Lazaro is the last hope for the guys and a part of me actually hopes he wins it all just to piss off the producers who have tried so hard to have a girl winner that they stacked the decks in the girl's favor. In all seriousness it is the first season I've watched since season three where I really didn't care who won the season. If I was forced to pick my favorite it would be Janelle but even that isn't a slam dunk for me. I just think she takes the most chances with her performances rather then rehashing the same performance every week (Kree/Amber). Angie continues to seem fake to me. I enjoy her when she is playing the singer/songwriter role behind the piano but once she steps away from the piano she loses so much of what makes her unique. As for Candace I still admit she is an amazing singer and deserves to last to the top three or even win but I don't connect to her performances in any way.

I'm not going to bother picking songs for the contestants this week. I mean I really don't care about the Burt Bacharach and Hal David song book. It's nothing against Burt Bacharach and Hal David but I just don't see this crop of idols being to do decent performances of the songs and it's obvious that it'll be plenty of ballads.

The "Songs You Wished You Wrote" could be a little more interesting if the contestants are brave enough to actually fight for a song like past idols of done rather then just simply picking off a list of 20 songs.

Fingers crossed for some surprises.  

Tuesday Top Ten: TV and Movies That Don't Hold Up

I've been holding onto this one for a while and I think it's time to let it out into the world. It started with a conversation last summer about movies that people use to love and when watching now we wonder why. Natually my geeky mind instantly started making a list and here is that list.
10. Batman/Spiderman

It's not that these aren't good films. It's that they totally get out done by the newer films with the same characters. Even if Batman Begins took a while to get into the action it was a great original story. And while The Amazing Spiderman was basically the same film as the original Spiderman the film makers made better choices on casting the movie. The actors in the original bring down the film when compared to the new one.

Similar Movies that do Hold Up: X-Men

9. IT

This movie scared me so much when I was younger. Now I watch it and while it is still enjoyable for it's corniness I keep watching for them to re-imagine the film and update it. Although it will be hard to top Tim Curry as Pennywise.

Similar Movies that do Hold Up: Christine

8. Spaceballs

While other spoof movies hold up this one keeps falling flat on repeated viewings. It is just not as funny as when I was younger.

Similar Movies that do Hold Up: Airplane, The Naked Gun series

7. Full House

While I can still watch old reruns of of other shows at the time I just can't stomach watching this show. I almost wonder why younger self liked it at all.

Similar TV Shows that do Hold Up:  The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Saved By The Bell

6. Porky’s

This movie became irreverent when most people found online porn.

Similar Movies that do Hold Up: Weekend at Bernie's

5. Reality Bites

I loved this movie when I was a teenager. Now that I am an adult I want to slap the characters for being whiny brats.

Similar Movies that do Hold Up: Empire Records, Dazed and Confused

4. The Racoons

I use to watch this every day afternoon. I loved it. The Racoons and my afternoon snack. A few years ago Nessa got it for me on DVD. We watched it and it wasn't the same. I know it's not supposed to be the same since it's a cartoon and I'm an adult but I still love Disney cartoons so I feel I can say that this cartoon does not hold up.

Similar Movies that do Hold Up: Care Bears

3. Forrest Gump

For a movie that was supposed to be one of the best films of the 90's I just don't enjoy it as much as I did when it was first released. Other movies from that time hold up much better and are superior films (The Shawshank Redemption and Pulp Fiction just to name two. Both of which lost Best Picture to Forrest Gump).

Similar Movies that do Hold Up: Philadelphia (Not really similar but a superior film)

2. The Sixth Sense

It is well acted and the case is great but once you know the ending the movie almost becomes unwatchable. Everything hinges on the surprise ending which I won't mention here in case some crazy person has been hiding under a rock and hasn't seen it yet.

Similar Movies that do Hold Up: Signs

1. The Goonies

One of my favorite films as a kid. I watch it now and it's just not the same. Maybe it's because I watched it so many times as a kid but that goes against how other films like Gremlins and Police Academy are still great films. If any film should be remade it's The Goonies.

Similar Movies that do Hold Up:  Hook, Stand By Me, The Sandlot

Music Monday: Canadian Rock

Last week Raine Maida releases his new Solo Album "We All Get Light." It's a really great album and it reminded me how great Canadian artists are. "We All Get Light" is packed with eight great songs and since it is only the eight songs there is really no filler on the album. 

Montreal, the first single from the album is a catchy tune ready for rock radio but the best songs on the album are How To Kill A Man and SOS.

Raine Maida - Montreal

Raine Maida - SOS (Live)

For those who may not now Raine Maida is the lead singer for Our Lady Peace who is one of my favorite rock bands. They have amazing live shows. I kind of stopped listening to them after Gravity which was not a good album but their newest album "Curve" is a return to form for them and was one the better albums released last year.

Even with the return of the old sound there best album was Clumsy. I still listen to the song "4am"because I can relate to it on a personal level.

Our Lady Peace - 4am

Canadian Music has brought the world the likes of Justin Bieber and Nickelback but we also have some great artists as you will see from the other songs I chose to highlight this week.

Matthew Good Band - Hello Time Bomb

Matthew Good Band - Running For Home

The Tea Party - Heaven Coming Down

Alanis Morissette - Ironic

Sam Roberts - Brother Down

City And Colour - The Grand Optimist

Matt Mays - Take It On Faith

Never Ending White Lights - The Grace