Quick Take: Smallville Series Finale

It's always a disappointment when one of your favorite shows ends but when that show gets the chance to have a proper ending and tie together all the story lines you feel that it is let go. It also helps that the show has been on for ten seasons and even through it could easily continue it ended on it's own terms.

The episode itself was great. The use of "Breathe Again" by Sara Bareilles was emotional for the wedding scene. It was also nice to see so many old cast members return for one last episode. Especially Michael Rosenbaum as Lex Luther. The scene between Clark and Lex was well acted and it was cool to see the two characters in one last scene together.

We also finally got what we wanted. The suit on Clark. And while it was obviously CGI it was still an amazing moment that was ten years in the making. The finale delivered what I expected and a little bit more. After ten seasons I'm ok with it ending because it got to end on such a high note.

Tuesday Top Ten: TV shows that were cancelled too soon.

With the TV season winding down and networks announcing there fall lineups next week I thought it was a good time to do my Top Ten TV shows that were canceled too soon.

I eliminated shows that could have gone on but stars wanted out (Gilmore Girls, Scrubs), shows that were once good and had potential to be good again but died out in later seasons (Veronica Mars, Heroes) and shows I liked but didn’t watch while they were on TV (Popular, Freaks and Geeks, My So-Called Life). I also left out shows I felt went on just long enough not to get to stale. (Lost, Greek, Dawson's Creek, Friday Night Lights)

10. October Road

 The show interested me because it was about returning home. They say you can never go home. That's because people change and people grow up. The concept that a guy returns home after disappearing for many years only to have his old friends dislike him intrigued me and I thought it could have lasted longer if treated differently.

9. My Name Is Earl

I always enjoyed Jason Lee. I liked him in Kevin Smith's movies and I liked him in this show. It was much funnier then most sitcoms that are on television right now. It's a shame NBC couldn't give this show more of a try especially considering how bad the network is doing in the ratings now.

8. Life Unexpected

 

I started watching this show because it reminded me of some of my favorite WB shows and instantly loved the show. It had such a sweet truth to the show. The characters acted like real people and the show never really fit in with the Gossip Girls of the CW. I think the show would have lasted longer as a companion show with Gilmore Girls but was outside it's niche here.

7. Reaper

Ray Wise was great as the Devil on this show. The show was able to blend humor and drama well without overdoing it. The real injustice was that Ray Wise didn't have the chance to be a regular on TV for longer.

6. Jericho

One of the great shows that was able to be renewed because of it's crazy fans sending things to the network. The disappointment is that even through I barely got a second season and they still chose to end on a cliffhanger. It feels unfair from the writers the end a show that way when they had to know it was the end.

5. The OC

Season 4 is the only reason this show makes the list. I slowly grew to dislike the show in season 2 and 3. The show just kept doing the same things over and over again. But season 4 was almost as great as season 1 and if people would have given it a real chance the show could have easily went another few seasons. Or they could have made the same mistakes.

4. Roswell

I liked this show but after season one I never felt the writers really got to do what they wanted to do. Especially after their move to UPN the show just wasn't the same even through the series finale was really well done.

3. Sports Night

In my opinion one of the most underrated shows ever. The acting was always amazing and so many of the stars went on to appear in other successful shows. The show was funny but also had a lot of heartfelt moments like the one in the clip above.

2. Eli Stone

The show had a really big concept and as a fan of musicals every week was seemed like a big production. The writing on the show was superb which has become a bench mark of a Greg Berlanti production. Berlanti worked on Dawson's Creek before creating the next show on the list as well as Eli Stone and Brothers and Sisters which I've heard is a good show but never gave it a chance as of yet.

1. Everwood

I didn't like this show the first time I watched it but I'm glad I gave it a second chance because it grew on me really quickly. The relationship between father and son really appealed to me and I liked watching them grow from Ephraim hating Andy to an almost normal father/son relationship by the end of the series. It could have easily gone on longer but thanks to the need to give Veronica Mars a weak third season it didn't make it onto the CW.

Current Five (May)

1. The Voice: The first two episodes surprised me with how much I enjoyed the show and I am looking forward to how they do the show now that the blind auditions are over. The judges on the show are funny and work well with each other and there are a few singers who I am interested in seeing what they do next.

2. TV Up Fronts and Season finales: May is the month that most TV shows end their seasons and you get all the exciting season cliffhangers that drive you crazy all summer. It's also the month when the major networks announce their new shows and their new fall schedules. It gets a little tense when some of the shows I like aren't renewed going into May. This year I have Chuck that I'd like to come back but most other shows I watch are already renewed, announced final seasons or shows that have passed their peaks and I'd be OK if they ended as long as the ending is satisfying.

3. Adele: Her new album is amazing starting with the lead single, "Rolling In The Deep." She has such an amazing voice and I love that she's so popular right now because she's not what you would expect record companies to want to push and she found a way to have a successful career. It's always refreshing when someone can succeed mostly on talent.

4. Throne of Fire: Book two in Rick Riordan's Kane Chronicles series which I am looking forward to reading as soon as I get the chance to buy the book or the library gets it in stock. Whichever happens first.

5. NBA and NHL Playoffs: Basketball playoffs have been crazy this year and the Lakers were eliminated which is awesome. And if Vancouver would smarten up and play some hockey we might have a Stanley Cup in Canada.

Music Monday Early Edition: Jann Arden - Good Mother

 I've got a good mother,
and her voice is what keeps me here.

It's never easy being a single mother. Especially when you have 5 bratty kids who all have different needs and wants. My mother never made it look easy but she always made it look like she loved being a mother. That's a testament of a good parent. Loving your children no matter what happens.

Anyone that knows me knows I have a weird family. My sisters aren't always easy to get along with. There's been thrown chairs and temper tantrums. But my mother always found a way to make peace whether it was chasing us down the hall with a slipper or just talking to us about our problems.

She always found a way to get the things we needed and the things we wanted. She taught me how to be a good man and have to have faith in myself. I can never thank her enough for that.

Happy Mother's Day Mom. I Love You!

Tuesday Top Ten Bonus: Top 15 Pop Bands

Nessa for some reason suggested I post a top ten boy band list and as I was making the list I thought about also including girl groups. And then while I was looking up Youtube videos I came across some pop bands that had both genders. And since I couldn't narrow it down to just ten, here are my Top Fifteen Pop Bands.

Sadly I could have made it a Top 25 or even a Top 30 and I could have included some real cheesy bands and one hit wonders but I stuck to 15 and chose my favorite tune from the band. The majority of the bands our from the nineties thus can now be considered a guilty pleasure. At least that's what I keep telling myself.


15. Westlife: Swear It Again

One of two really good boy bands to come out of England. They had a lot of good mellow songs and "Swear It Again" has so much emotion behind the lyrics.

14. Take That: Back For Good

 The other good British boy band. Plus Robbie Williams came from this band and he went on to have a really successfully solo career.

13. Wilson Phillips: Hold on

 Every time I hear this song I thing of Harold and Kumar go to White Castle. Which makes me remember driving around with Al singing off key and having a good time. The song is the definition of a cheesy 90's song but that's what makes it great.

12. 98 Degrees: Because of You

I had a hard time picking a song by 98 Degrees. They have a few good ballads but in the end I liked this song the best out of their catalog. It's a catchy tune and still feels a little heartfelt even for a boy band.

11. Banarama: Cruel Summer

One of the best guilty pleasures of the 80's. A lot of groups have tried to cover this song and no one comes close to the awesomeness of Banarama.

10. All Saint: Never Ever

I always wondered why this group didn't have a bigger career. They were just as talented as other girl groups but for what ever reason they never stayed relevant. It happens to a lot of artists but this song is really good.

9. S Club 7: Don’t Stop Moving

 I use to love the S Club 7 TV show. It was great and reminded me off The Monkees. I don't think they would have been as big without the show either.

8. Destiny’s Child: Jumpin, Jumpin

I am not a huge Beyonce fan but I liked a lot of Destiny's Child's songs. I loved dancing to this song at the Flagship. They use to play it like 20 times a night.

7. Hanson: Mmmbop

Another group that just didn't stay relevant. Which is sad because some of their new material is really good Adult Contemporary music. Mmmbop is a very catchy song and once it's in your head it stays there.

6. Spice Girls: Stop

You can't deny that the Spice Girls were a good pop group. I love Spice World the movie for the cheesiness and I choose this song because I like the dance they do during the chorus. 

5. The Monkees: Daydream Believer

One the greatest songs ever. The Monkees had a lot of great songs but this song has such great lyrics behind it and Davy Jones sings it so well.

 4. Ace of Base: The Sign

Who doesn't like this song. I was undecided between this and "Beautiful Life" and I choose this song. I dare anyone to listen to it and not marvel in it's greatness. I'm still waiting for someone to do a good cover of the song. 

3. New Kids on The Block: Step by Step

 The band that created the market for so many other bands. Without NKOTB there is no BSB or Nsync. You can argue that there would be no Justin Timberlake but I think he would have found a way because he is talented on his own. "Step by Step" is arguable there best song and rewatching the video is hilarious.

 2. Nsync: It’s Gonna Be Me

My favorite song by Nsync. I think this song shows Justin Timberlake's solo talent the best out of any song other then maybe "Dirty Pop." I may even like them better then the number 1 group but they lose points because looking they also felt more like Justin, JC, and three other guys then a boy band.

1. Backstreet Boys: I Want It That Way

Anyone who has spent time with me at Taps knows why this is number one and if you haven't seen me sing it then you may be lucky to not be scarred for life. Regardless the Backstreet Boys have lasted longer then expected and this is actually a good song, especially when I don't sing it. 

Tell Me Why

Things that bother me #3

Let me start off by saying I love being married. It was the best decision of my life. When you love someone so much that you are willing to spend the rest of your life with them. It's such a wonderful feeling to know that not only do you feel that way but someone else feels that way about you. They accept you and all the annoying things you do, and they love you enough to accept them and still want to spend every night with you. I count myself lucky to be one of the blessed ones to be truly happy.

That's why the news that ABC has picked up a celebrity version of Wife Swap bothers me. It's bad enough that most celebrities already treat marriage like a joke, now we have to see D list stars switch wife's like it's nothing at all. I could never imagine wanting to spend days with someone else wife. Why would anyone agree to this nonsense.

If you truly want to send your spouse away to spend time with another person then maybe it's a sign you shouldn't be married.

Tuesday Top Ten: Fictional Politicians

This week with the election in Canada yesterday I'm gonna put my favorite fictional politicians. It was a little hard to get to 10  choices and the last few are a stretch as far as "favorite" goes.

10. President Mays Gilliam from Head of State(Chris Rock)

 

9. President David Palmer from 24 (Dennis Haysbert)

8. President Robert "Bobby" McCallister From Jack and Bobby (Logan Lerman)

 7. President Josiah "Jed" Bartlet from The West Wing (Martin Sheen)

6. President James Dale from Mars Attacks (Jack Nicholson)

5. President Stewie Griffin from Family Guy (Stewie Griffin)

4. President Andrew Shepherd from The American President (Michael Douglas)

3. President James Marshall from Air Force One (Harrison Ford)

2. Governor Jack Stanton from Primary Colors (John Travolta)

 

1. President Thomas J. Whitmore from Independence Day (Bill Pullman)