TV Buff

The first few weeks of the show didn’t really interest me as I found it too cluttered. It seemed like there were too many characters, too many influences (Miguel fights with oriental martial arts styles while Amante seems to favor shoot ‘em ups.) After much prodding from my aunt and cousin, I decided to give it a try.

Sugo turns the concepts of good and evil on its head. The concept and its associated themes have a lot of intricate and complex layers. It’s not clearly deliniated white and black, good and evil.
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First it was Buffy, then came Angel. Fans of Joss Whedon and his mythology can rejoice as Star World started showing Angelon its daily 5 pm (Manila, HK, Singapore, China time) schedule. They were showing the penultimate season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer up until last week and as I write this, the very first episode of the spinoff is on air.

I’m not sure if the final season of Angel is still being aired on the same channel on Friday nights at 9 but you can still catch it Sunday nights on Studio 23 at 11:30pm.

If you love Angel and would love to relive his saga first with Doyle and Cordelia, Wesley, Fred and Gunn this is a good chance to enjoy it all over again.

Maybe they can show Firefly and make the Whedonverse on this side of the world complete.

Horror and supernatural themed programs have become the staple for the weekend nearest Halloween-All Saints’ Day-All Souls Day. I’m not a fan of those shows but I had no choice but to sit through them since it’s all that’s on.

There’s nothing wrong with shows that are themed depending on the season. It has been done for Christmas for as long as I can remember. What I couldn’t take is that so-called news and public affairs shows ride on the theme and I really can’t see how the stories that they feature relate to the supposed format and thrust of their shows.
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If you both like Requiem For a Dream and Lost, then you will be excited with this news.

I just adore the original Japanese Iron Chef. It used to be on the cable channel etc and now it’s on RPN 9 at 7pm on Wednesdays. When it was shown by the Food Network in the US, it became such a cult hit that it had several incarnations.

Lifestyle Network is now showing the current season of Iron Chef America on Saturday nights. This edition has Good Eats host Alton Brown as the host together with Filipino-blooded Mark Dacascos as the Kitchen Stadium chairman. The Iron Chefs in this edition are Mario Batali, Bobby Flay and Morimoto.

Lifestyle Network Channel 47 on Sky and Home Cable in Metro Manila

Star World, an entertainment channel on cable and satellite, has started showing classic American television shows Hogan’s Heroes and Get Smart on Sunday mornings at 9 o’clock. They’re showing them in the original B&W.

Incidentally, Don Adams, the actor who played Maxwell Smart – Agent 86, died a month ago (September 25). He also voiced the Inspector Gadget character in cartoons.

Prior to stumbling upon the broadcasts three weeks ago, I’ve only heard of these shows from articles and other writings on television. This is the first time that I am seeing either series. I finally know who Col. Klink is!

Star World is showing Whose Line Is It Anyway? everyday at 4:30pm. This is such a treat as the cast always provides smart and entertaining improv comedy in each and every show.

The government channel PTV 4 (then, now NBN 4) used to air the original British version of this show nearly 10 years ago. When the American incarnation started airing, I didn’t think it would be as fun as I was biased against Drew Carey who I didn’t like back then.

While Ryan Stiles and Colin Mochrie both appeared on the original British version (if I remember right Greg Proops also did), my favorite of them all is Wayne Brady. I just find it amazing how he can sing songs on the fly. This is not lost on the television academy since he has been honored with a nomination at the Emmy Awards.

Star World is on Channel 48 on Sky and Home Cable in Metro Manila

AXN has acquired the franchise for The Amazing Race for Asia and Central Europe. This means that the program will now be localized for the viewers of the region. The Channel News Asia article, mentions that the target launch is the second half of 2006.

There are no details on the mechanics as to who are eligible to participate and the how and when of the auditions. Feedback is requested to be coursed through feedback@axn-asia.com

Hey Beatlebum, this may be your chance!

News links:
Reuters Article
Digital Spy

AXN in Asia just started showing the NBC show Las Vegas starring James Caan and Josh Duhamel. I was watching the 7th episode with mah Bebe the other day.

As soon as one of the characters said, “I saw red!” I knew he was Pinoy. When his wife called him “Cosme” it sealed the deal. Looking it up on IMDB the part is played by Jon Jon Briones, one-time engineer in Miss Saigon. He even shared the stage with Wayne Newton, Mr. Las Vegas himself in the same episode.

Hi guys! Thanks Miaka for offering me to write here. Hehe. I’ll probably write more about the “jologs” stuff on local television. Or some inside scoop. I still don’t know. I’ll just jot anything I want to share with you guys, I guess. Will write a more detailed entry soon. Meanwhile I’ll leave you with some random thoughts…

- Aren’t we all excited for QTV? GMA7’s alterna-station. Well I am. I think it’s good for the industry and it will hopefully open the doors for wannabe TV workers slash Mass Comm graduates. There’s always a space for everyone.

- She may be a boring character, but I’m rooting for Jenny in Pinoy Big Brother. I don’t know, I just like her unassuming stance plus the fact that she gets along with both the “sosi” and “jologs” crowd. Haha.

Later!