OMG!

I don't think I've ever seen anything more adorable!

Yet Another #1!

Congratulations, Barbra! One Night Only: Barbra Streisand And Quartet At The Village Vanguard-September 26,2009 has debuted at #1 on the DVD music chart! As if there were ever a doubt in my mind that it would! Wonderful!

Over The Limit Predictions...

Here are my predictions for Over The Limit.

John Cena over Batista
Big Show over Jack Swagger
Drew McIntyre over Kofi Kingston
CM Punk over Rey Mysterio
Edge over Randy Orton
Chris Jericho and The Miz over The Hart Dynasty
R. Truth over Ted DiBiase
Maryse over Eve

Same Girl, New Face...

Christina Bennett Lind will bring Bianca back to Pine Valley beginning June 14th. Erica's youngest daughter returns to town after hearing of her mother's disappearance. I wish Lind luck, but gaining acceptance from this viewer isn't going to be easy.

You Talkin' To Me?

So, the new headwriting duo has debuted. Actually, May 12th was the official date, but had to wait until I could get the screencap to write something. Any big changes this early on you ask? Only one that I can tell. Dialogue seems to have been dumbed down. Characters are repeating the same phrases several times in one conversation. In my opinion, this is a huge problem. Shitty dialogue detracts from the importance of any given situation. The viewer must be convinced that whatever is going on deserves full attention. This task is difficult to accomplish when conversations are unrealistic. Straighten up, guys!

One Night Only: Barbra Streisand And Quartet At The Village Vanguard-September 26, 2009

Let's shoot with the technical stuff out of the gate. Picture quality is Blu-ray worthy, if not 100%. Sound is just a half-step below, with a formidable attempt at an HD 5.1 mix. The loan special feature is short, cute, and ultimately unnecessary.

The intimate feel of the evening is apparent from the outset. After some cutesty introductions and stories, Barbra takes the spotlight. The majority of the set list for the performance is comprised of songs featured on her latest album, Love Is The Answer.

While Streisand's vocal ability is clearly diminishing due to her advancing age, she wisely manipulates the songs to accentuate her considerable strengths. If one were to close their eyes at select intervals, the ease with which this amazing performer floats on melodies and notes would astound. Comfortable, playful interaction with the audience only adds to the mostly incredible experience.

Leaves you with a warm, nostalgic feeling.

Undeserving!

Daytime Emmy nominations were announced today, and as much as it pains me to say this, with one exception, All My Children is completely undeserving of the ones it received.

Outstanding Lead Actress:
Bobbie Eakes (Krystal)

Outstanding Supporting Actor:
Ricky Paull Goldin (Jake)

Outstanding Drama Series

Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team

Outstanding Drama Series Directing Team

I'm not even going to waste time addressing the writing and drama series nominations. Absolute idiocy. As much as I love her, Bobbie Eakes did absolutely nothing to deserve her nomination. The directing team at AMC was not in top form at all in the eligible time period. The only person even remotely deserving of his nomination is Ricky Paull, and, quite honestly, he's got a hell of a fight on his hands. Hopefully All My Children shapes up enough next year to be deserving of whatever nominations come their way.

On Second Thought...

One Life To Live executive producer Frank Valentini is creating a new daytime drama! Yeah right, I wish. He is however penning webisodes that will feature characters from all three ABC Daytime soaps intermingling. The Idiots In Charge are promoting it as a dream come true for fans. At first thought, before you have time to really process the stupidity, you may think this is a fun, creative idea. I ask you this. Why isn't there buzz being created from these characters crossing over on the shows themselves? In the dying era we are in, you would think that any effort would be made to save the genre. Why waste time creating meaningless fluff web content when energy could be focused on the much more important issue? Start at the top and get heads rolling in every direction until problems are solved. I just don't understand any of this. Any.

My First Wrestlemania!

I had followed wrestling for many years before Wrestlemania 7, but the career ending match between The Ultimate Warrior and "Macho King" Randy Savage was the first match I ever remember being emotionally invested in. Unfortunately for me however, I was unable to watch it live as it happened on pay-per-view. The next day at school, my friend who had recorded it was gracious enough to lend me the tape. I remember not being able to concentrate on my studies because I was so excited to come home and see what had happened.

The matches leading up to Warrior/Savage were a complete blur. Nothing mattered except seeing who was forced to retire. Of course, being that I'm much older now and realize that retirements in wrestling can usually be chalked up to overdue vacation time, it's funny to look back and see how much I thought was riding on the outcome. Being young and taking things at face value is to be treasured.

Anyway, the moment I'd been waiting for had finally arrived. Before the two combatants were introduced, a highlight package was presented to remind the viewer of the key elements of the feud leading up to this final confrontation. At the conclusion of the package, announcers Bobby "The Brain" Heenan and Gorilla Monsoon gave one final push, in which they "discovered" Miss Elizabeth in the crowd, before the bell.

Savage, and manager Sensational Queen Sherri, made their way to the ring as only true royalty can, on a throne carried by muscular men. After some pre-match showboating by the duo, The Ultimate Warrior made his way to the ring at an uncommonly slow pace. I think this was a last-ditch, unnecessary effort to build anticipations that were already at a fever pitch.

The match seemed to last forever, with great back and forth. There were several occasions where I remember thinking it could legitimately go either way. Interference after interference by Queen Sherri, a seemingly endless assault of top rope elbow drops, and some other underhanded tactics seemed to reassure my unwavering, yet unpopular, belief that Randy Savage would emerge smelling of victory. In the end however, Warrior managed to pull out a decisive win.

I was devastated, but will never forget it. In my opinion though, Randy was ultimately the big winner as, in the end, he was reunited with Miss Elizabeth in one of the most emotional moments in wrestling history.

Quote Of The Moment...

"Writing's a process, words are just the final step."

-Write What You Know-The Story Of My Life

Good Boy!

Caught this one in a rare moment of quiet. Luke is usually on super speed. He's a good dog though, and great with his boys.

Peace Out, Scoybout!

The brother-in-law took this one yesterday. Love it! Can't believe the oldest nephew is going to be four. That's absolutely insane. Such fun at the farm yesterday.

Quote Of The Moment

"It's all real... if you don't tell them it's not."

-Jim Cornette