The BIG DAMN DAY Is HERE FOLKS!!!

It has finally arrived!!!



All of the waiting is over as Joss Whedon's directorial debut, a feature-film adaptation of his cancelled 2002 FOX television series Firefly is resurrected on the big screen today nationwide as a Big Damn Movie called Serenity.

Are we ready?

We've poured every ounce of energy we have into bringing new Browncoats into the fold. Now is the time we reap the rewards we so richly deserve. But we mustn't rest on our laurels. Joss is counting on us to return in droves next weekend and we WILL. We bought the DVDs en masse, we made alot of converts...and I converted yet *another* person at work today; a girl returned Firefly then told me she'd just bought the DVD set at Media Play; yet another said she and her husband couldn't wait to see the movie. Then someone called and asked if we had Firefly in for rent. Guess what? It had already been checked out by one of our regulars mere minutes after it'd come in. I feel something growing here folks...

But I digress.

In 2002, Joss Whedon didn't just create a new television series. He created something alive and tangible, a cold splash of water in the face of what sci-fi had become: staid, tired, and predictable. This 'Verse lives and breathes. It brings us all together.

We rose from the ashes like a metaphorical phoenix, dusted ourselves off and did not go quietly into that good night (to steal a line from a really famous person) when FOX lopped us off at the knees. We were steadfast and resolute. Joss was just as dedicated, if not more so.

Now we have our BDM and I feel like it's the night before Christmas. Is anyone else on pins and needles?

To Universal - you are a shining light in a sea of low-watt bulbs. Mary Parent and Scott Stuber, you're both amazing. You saw that Joss's track record speaks volumes and did something other studios get scared to do: you took a chance. So to one of Hollywood's oldest movie studios, I say thank you a million times over.

To the cast - thank you for bringing to life some of the most brilliantly realized characters I've ever seen in any medium. True Joss's writing is lyrical magic but there are horrible ways to screw up brilliant dialogue. Thankfully, each cast member added their own special touches and flourishes on Firefly to make their character uniquely original. To all of you, please realize that the devotion of all of us faithful goes above and beyond --whatever future projects arise, we will support you. BTW, good luck with Slither in January, Nathan! :)

And finally to Joss - I saw Buffy The Vampire Slayer in the theater in 1992. Yes, I did and I enjoyed it for what I thought it was, not realizing it had been severely truncated. Looking back, I'd have liked to have seen your version on the big screen. Little did I know that it would become one of the best television series ever. I loved Angel as well. Firefly is the icing on the icing-covered dessert thing. Thank you immensely for this. You create worlds, characters, and dialogue that stir the imagination and awaken the soul. A million and five thank yous, sir, for all that you've done, for all of us.

As for our BDM, I'm seeing it at 1:30 tomorrow afternoon, then again at 4:10. I'll be seeing it several more times this weekend also, then back again next weekend.

It's our time. This is our very shiny moment.

Fellow Browncoats, let's soar!

From the land of awesomeness...

This sounds great!

Click here for the Variety article

Whedon's a 'Goner' for U
Universal pacts with 'Buffy' man for spec script

By MICHAEL FLEMING

Universal Pictures has paid seven figures for Goners, a fantasy thriller spec script Joss Whedon wrote and will direct.

Film will be produced by [former Universal production execs] Mary Parent and Scott Stuber (producers of Serenity). The studio premiered Whedon's directorial debut, Serenity on Thursday night at Universal City Walk. Pic opens Sept. 30.

Whedon was cryptic in describing the project, but the title conveys that it will tread on supernatural turf comparable to his series creations Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the bloodsucker spinoff Angel.

"It's the story of a young woman's journey that involves a great deal of horror and some heroics," he said. "It's certainly darker than Serenity,' and there are a lot of left turns along the way. It is something I had in mind for a while, and it just poured out of me when I finished my film."

Timing isn't clear, since Whedon is writing to direct Wonder Woman, the Warner Bros. film based on the DC Comics. That may take some time, as Whedon started his script from scratch.

"I was given license to purely make it my own and yet she is already an iconic Amazon princess," Whedon said. " Goners has some similarities, but the heroines could not be more different, and the story is a bit more intimate and less complicated than Wonder Woman. "

Whedon, who began his career writing features Speed and Toy Story shuttered his TV operation this year to focus on features. He will continue to spend the majority of his time with bigscreen fare but acknowledged he has been toying with a TV project that would continue the Buffy the Vampire Slayer universe, focusing on Spike, the punk-haired vampire played by James Marsters.

Whedon's challenge is to figure a way to do it and be able to keep directing movies.

"Directing a film was as exciting and daunting as it was supposed to be," said the CAA-repped Whedon. "I learned a lot on Serenity and hope I hid that from the audience."

Is there ANYTHING this man can't do? I'll bet he makes tasty omelettes too!

our story begins...

Less than one week until the BDM comes out! Woo-hoo! I'll be residing at the movie theater for the two weeks or more following! I hope you all enjoy Serenity. I can't wait! After years of waiting, the wonderful world of Whedon will hit the big screen in a big way next Friday.

So, I have a new schedule at work. I will be working 4-close Tuesdays-Thursdays starting in two weeks. I already worked this schedule this week but will work my old schedule of 9-6 Monday-Thursday as our manager will be in Memphis at the annual store manager conference all week.

Last night was interesting. An A/C technician came out to work on one of the store's units. He was there for about 45 minutes. He said that he'd restarted the system and that he couldn't get on the roof to inspect it as it was wet from rain that had fallen earlier in the evening.

So I sign his invoice, stamp it, and on his way he goes. All is well until about an hour later, when the store short circuits. Basically four out of the five computers went out, half of the store's lights dimmed and half of the televisions went out. So after being unable to contact the store manager and telling our senior assistant manager, we closed at 9PM in order to call computer support and figure out what was going on.

There was no power going to the outlet in which the affected computers were located. We tried turning off and on the circuit breakers as usual, but all that did was knock out the one working computer. So we were given another number and the service rep said they'd said someone out immediately. Our senior assistant manager was there by then. The electrician came 30 minutes later and long story short said that there was a blown 150 amp circuit breaker. One of these can power a whole house, by the way. He had to leave and drive almost an hour back to his office to get two (in case one blew) replacements. So we whiled away the time watching Family Guy Presents Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story in the store as UPS had delivered our rental product for next Tuesday earlier that evening. The movie is very, very, funny but not as funny as I'd hoped. It's still worth a rental as many jokes will have you in tears.

Anyway, the electrician came back about an hour and fifteen minutes later. He replaced the part (with a 200 amp circuit) and said that there might be a blown compressor in one of our A/C units. I mentioned the malfunction we'd had with the unit a month ago. He said that that was probably the issue and that the A/C tech must have overloaded the circuit by recharging the unit. Before leaving he said he'd be back today with the normal 150 amp part. So we checked in all of the movies, ran the majority of them as our senior AM got the deposit squared away, and amscrayed. We left the store at about 1:15 this morning. I called the senior AM today and he said that the electrician had been by before the store opened.

That was my Thursday night and early Friday morning! ;)

In other news, I'm going crazy as I have to schedule TiVo to record various shows and then set up the VCR in the living room to record others...on the same damn night, no less! What's with these networks, huh? Scheduling kick-ass shows on the same night and time?! It boggles the mind.

And we have our first official cancellation of the Fall 2005 TV season, folks!



FOX's 'Head Cases' First On The Chopping Block

And for the record, I am a huge fan of Adam Goldberg...and his girlfriend Christina Ricci. I tried the pilot and it just didn't gel in my opinion. The incredible erosion of the audience it garnered sealed its fate.

Tonight CBS trots out Jennifer Love Hewitt as the....



Advance word isn't good and likens this to Medium with tinkly piano music and no ghosts helping solve crimes. I'll still TiVo it though. I'm a fall TV completist, except in the case of NBC's new drama that premieres tonight. It conflicts with the TiVo-ing of Battlestar Galactica.

Fox unveils its latest entry into the crowded crime procedural genre with the formerly titled The Gate and then the awesomely titled Deviant Behavior. It's now called...



The series deals with the cases of the Deviant Behavior Unit of the San Francisco Police Department. My future wife Marguerite Moreau was fired after the pilot and Kristen Lehmann replaces her in episode two. I hope the series is good but I'm still pissed about them firing Moreau. At least the always awesome Chi McBride is in this.

Tonight's episode deals with a man releasing spiders into women's apartments who bite the women. The spider bites carry a paralyzing toxin, thus the women can't move. The man then rapes and murders these women.



At 10PM tonight, NBC unveils its new fertility clinic drama, Inconceivable. I can hear the keyboard and pen clicks of various red-staters now. The critical word on this is, despite the solid presence of Ming Na, this show isn't that good. And if you're an Alfre Woodard fan, don't get too attached: she's only in the pilot. Remember, she's the newest resident of Wisteria Lane now.

And my new Friday night series is the great-to-munch-popcorn-while-you-watch Threshold on CBS at 9PM. It's incredibly good and I hope Brannon Braga and David S. Goyer can keep the momentum going.

Sunday night the genius that is Ricky Gervais will invade HBO as his new series Extras debuts. I can't wait.

I also have NBC's blockbuster new comedy My Name Is Earl and the second season premiere of The Office to TiVo later this weekend. Ah, how I love corporate synergy! It allows me to TiVo repurposed shows to fit my schedule (i.e. the aforementioned shows on Bravo, NBC's new sci-fi series from The Pate Brothers, Surface, on SCI FI).

As far as the Emmys go...well...um.....

Click Here for all of my thoughts.

Tonight's the night...

EMMYS

MY PICKS, THEN THE ONE'S THAT'LL WIN

Comedy Series - I want Arrested Development to win. But Desperate Housewives will be the belle of the ball and sweep everything that's not nailed down. Oh well...it's a great show also.

Actor In A Comedy - Jason Bateman. As the head-strong head of his family, it's due time Hollywood recognized the perfect comedic timing of this very underused actor.

Actress In A Comedy - Alot of people think the ladies of Wisteria Lane will cancel each other out; I beg to differ. This is Teri Hatcher's award as she's done her TV duty. She deserves it.

Supporting Actor In A Comedy - Jeffrey Tambor is awesome, but Jeremy Piven is my pick and the winner. He embued Entourage with its snarky heart and tenaciously outward venom. He was truly stellar.

Supporting Actress In A Comedy - Jessica Walter. As the matriach of the criminally clueless Bluth family (save son Michael), Walter is pitch perfect as the always soused Lucille. But again, mediocrity will give this one to Doris Roberts.

Directing For A Comedy Series - I was torn on this. But after seeing which episodes were nominated, I must cast my lot for Desperate Housewives. It did what a pilot should do, introduce its characters, give a taste of what's to come, and closed on an "What the hell's going to happen next moment", all brilliantly lensed by Charles McDougall. I think it will win the Emmy.

Writing For A Comedy Series - Arrested Development is again, brilliant. But as previously stated, Desperate Housewives was last season's breakout smash and will garner another Emmy here, for Marc Cherry's dark and delicious pilot episode.

Drama Series - Could it be? Could this be 24's year for Emmy gold? I certainly hope so, as last season was the best so far. I can't wait for Season Five in January. Sci-fi is never given respect at the Emmys, so the foul-mouthed denziens of David Milch's Deadwood will pick up the award.

Actor In A Drama - Ooh. Tough contest here. Hugh Laurie deserves an Emmy for his portrayal of the brilliant yet tortured Dr. Gregory House. Kiefer was excellent on 24, as was James Spader's cool as a cucumber Alan Shore on Boston Legal, but Ian McShane will add to his Golden Globe win with another accolade for his mantlepiece.

Actress In A Drama - Patricia Arquette brought humanity and soul to a role that could have seem phoned in. Add in Glenn Gordon Caron's well-written scripts and that makes Medium one of TV's must-see shows. But Glenn Close's well-publicized turn on FX's The Shield shall win this one.

Supporting Actor In A Drama - The guys of Lost were wonderful and I've always been a fan of Terry O'Quinn's ever since The Stepfather. Alan Alda might be the spoiler here, but I expect Shatner to take home his second Emmy here.

Supporting Actress In A Drama - CCH Pounder has been a film and television stalwart so she'll garner the gold for her role on The Shield. I have no pick in this category as I've not seen any of the shows these actresses are nominated for.

Directing For A Drama Series - C'mon, Quentin delivered a pulse-pounding two-part CSI season finale and we'd all like to see his bountiful energy on stage. The king of kinetic will walk away with this one.

Writing For A Drama Series - Lost's pilot did a masterful job laying out its premise. But Hugh Laurie took David Shore's words and delivered one of the very best performances I've ever seen, on television or film, in the closing minutes of the episode that's nominated, "Three Stories". He'll get it.

Miniseries - The 4400 was great but this will be a toss-up between HBO's Empire Falls and CBS's Elvis.

Made For Television Movie - Ricky Gervais's genius finale to his genius series, The Office Special, will get Emmy gold tonight.

Directing For A TV Movie or Miniseries - Stephen Hopkins will reel in the award for bringing to life the world of one of the funniest men to ever live.

Writing For A TV Movie or Miniseries - Again, Ricky Gervais will (and should) win for writing some of the best television that has ever been seen.

Variety/Music/Comedy Series - The laser-like focus of the astute writers of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart will win for their dead-on accuracy and ability to skewer all of the pretensions of the politcs. This show has replaced America's late-night news for the better, and we all know it.

Directing For A Variety/Music/Comedy - The Daily Show

Reality/Competition Program - N/A. I don't watch these types of programs. I think The Apprentice will get this, although don't count out the lameness that is American Idol.

Actor In A TV Movie or Miniseries - Kenneth Branaugh's role as FDR will bring him the accolades of the Academy.

Actress In A TV Movie or Miniseries - Halle Berry might add to her Oscar with a win here. But I think Cynthia Nixon will win for Warm Springs.

Supporting Actor In A TV Movie/Miniseries - Paul Newman will win for Empire Falls.

Supporting Actress In A TV Movie/Miniseries - Kathy Bates will win for Warm Springs.

Performance In Variety/Music/Comedy - Jon Stewart, again, will win for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

Writing For A Variety/Music/Comedy - The Daily Show with Jon Stewart will complete its domination with a win here, and it's justly deserved.

I'll have my post-Emmy thoughts tomorrow.

stay tuned...

A review of this film is forthcoming. I also have The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, recently arrived from Netflix (today), to watch.

I must scrimp and save for Serenity on the 30th.

Plus TiVo has a million and one things for me. I watched the series premier of Bones last night, followed by House. Great television. I've also become addicted to Prison Break as well. The WB's Supernatural is currently housed on TiVo. FOX's Head Cases debuted tonight, and TiVo graciously snagged that for me as well. CBS's David S. Goyer-co-created sci-fi series Threshold debuts Friday at 9PM. So I plan to immerse myself in fall TV goodness. It's going to be crazy, with many a TiVo scheduling conflict.

The Emmys are this Sunday. I hope Hugh Laurie wins for House, Jason Bateman for Arrested Development, Arrested Development wins (although I think Desperate Housewives will take home Emmy gold; nothing wrong with that) and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart wins.

please...

American Red Cross

Please give. Those poor souls affected by Hurricane Katrina need all the help this country can provide.

This piece from The L.A. Times brought tears to my eyes. It's about the Superdome and all the sheer terror that place has evoked as the situation there gets increasingly tense.

Daily Kos has all of the horrible details of those that are showing they have no soul in this wake of this awful catastrophe. I'm speaking of course of Dennis Hastert, Michael Chertoff and Condoleeza "Buying Designer Shoes Is More Important Than Citizens That Are Suffering" Rice. These people are truly evil.