I'll take potpourri for $4,400, Alex

Today's roundup is especially list-heavy, given all the year end compiling and judgments. Enjoy.

A list of the Top 15 anticipated TV events for 2009. Here's another anticipatory list from Kristin at E! And because you're dying to know what I think, here's TNRLM's list (in reverse order):

• American Idol (Top 12 Only. And please new judge, be cutting, cogent and coherent, and minimize the time devoted to "personal stories" and Randy and Paula)
• Reaper
• Big Love
• Goldblum on L&O:CI (nice to see one of the critics above give a shout out to the little watched, but compelling, Raines)
• Lie To Me
• 24
• Battlestar Galactica
• Lost
• Dollhouse

Who? The new Doctor will be revealed sometime today. Some interesting choices there, but you can't argue with the perfect casting for the last two. Whoever it is, they will have some big shoes to fill, as Tennant has been spectacular. I haven't heard his name much until this article, but the spellcheck-crippling (and mucho talented) Chiwetel Ejiofor would be an inspired selection.

This makes a lot of sense, and why should 16% of the population continually be ignored?

Alan Sepinwall has a great interview with Ron Moore about the last part of BSG. Of particular note is his "checklist of question." And Mo Ryan has some thoughts on the next episode as well. I'm a reformed spoiler whore. I used to scour message boards and articles to find out everything I could about a show before it aired. Now? For the "major" shows (like Lost and BSG) where the surprise of the narrative is important, I try to stay as spoiler-free as possible.

Devin at CHUD is doing a very thorough and funny trek through all the original episodes and movies of Star Trek featuring the OG cast.

Speaking Trek, who knew there was Trek porn?

10 New Year's Resolutions for geeks.

I spent an inordinate amount of time going through these next 2 lists, watching video clips. It's a fascinating read. Den of Geek has assembled the Top 50 Movie Special Effects and the Top 24 Worst Movie Special Effects.

Another good cliptacular article; io9's Top 20 TV moments.

Oh fuck. Is XM Sirius in trouble next year? That would be horrific for my listening enjoyment.

Is Twitter better than SMS? Personally, I prefer SMS for "communicating" and Twitter for microblogging (when you SMS, you have to enter fewer address characters, at least on the CrackBerry, to send a message. And not all of my regular peeps are on Twitter).

A review of the Dr. Horrible DVD. (BTW, my favorite Evil League of Evil application was from Tur Moyel).

More listacular goodness -- TV.com counts down the Top 100 of everything, along with several other good listy recaps.

Pop Candy's Top 10 TV of the year.

A "Horrible" start to the new year

I recently received the hot off the press Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog DVD, and watched it through three separate times the past couple of days. First, just to savor the whole thing on a regular TV screen (I had previously watched it streaming on my PC, in iTunes and then again on my iPod). Then, I watched the DVD with the cast and crew (talking) commentary. Finally, I watched it with "Commentary: The Musical!" turned on. In case you didn't know, this is an episode "commentary" where the cast and crew sing all new songs, addressing such subjects as why Nathan is better than Neil in ever way, the writers' strike, why nobody wants to be "Moist" and Felicia's acting "process."

For fans, this thing is a total treat. Even if you've already seen Dr. Horrible (which made an incredible number of year end "10 best" lists), you really need to pick up the DVD. In addition to the program itself and the commentaries, you'll find a making-of program and several very funny fan applications for the Evil League of Evil.

Dr. Horrible Site can be found here, with links to iTunes (for the original) and Amazon (for the DVD).

They still haven't published the lyrics for "Commentary! The Musical" on the official site yet, but I did find where someone online had done a great job of transcribing them. I put them in a google docs document here.

Make a resolution to start your new year Horribly!

I'll take potpourri for $4,200, Alex

Okay, I'll admit it. I had these as a kid. But sadly, I was too young to have someone in a Leia metal bikini to roll around them with me.

A Horrible gift to give. And I may have sent this to someone who hasn't yet experienced the magic.
Speaking of which, here's a completely unbiased review of the DVD.

Jane Espenson says chillax, everything's fine on Dollhouse. And FOX execs talk Dollhouse, among other things. And someone else who has seen the new pilot. An interview with the lovely and talented Amy Acker. Part 1. Mark Sheppard, of BSG, The Middleman, Firefly and Dollhouse and many other things, has an interview here. And another great video interview here.

The Periodic Table of Awesome.

Say what you will about his efforts on MNF, but Uncle Tony is great on the radio. Sadly, he won't be returning to that medium for a while.

I didn't need to read the rest of the article. I was hooked at the headline.

Who wants to work in the Death Star or the Enterprise?

Because really, that's where you go to find the best and brightest.

SlingBox on your CrackBerry? Should we go ahead and add the CrackBerry to Maslow's hierarchy?! And then there's this. Wow. that's a tough choice. With the CrackBerry, at least I can get it anywhere, anytime and for a long as I want. And I don't have to worry about catching a "virus" or spawning small, expensive and noisy BlackBerries.

Advisors suggest Sam Bradford -- and Matt Stafford -- should stay in school another year.

Check out the last item here. Damn, someone's not a Mark Richt fan.

What's Carly Smithson been up to? Still love her.

Read through the first few pages of this recap of the Heroes "volume" finale. Of the myriad problems with the show, characterization is first and foremost, as you'll see.

Sarah Michelle Gellar's Maxim outtakes. Time for a cold shower.

Sent to me by a former honey. Guess she knows me, huh?

Visitors to Bryant-Denny will now get in the proper mindset. Brilliant.

More ridiculous Batman 3 rumors. But I like this one. Meow.

Obviously, kids inspire bloodlust.

This should be posted in every office breakroom.

21 unnecessary sequels that were great anyway.

Mo Ryan's Top 10 shows of 2008. An excellent list, including the "runners up."

TV shows that more people should have watched. Yeah! for 7, 6, 5, 2 and 1. And The Middleman should be on that list, too.

The Big O really represents "change," eh? I made a note of this earlier in the week when it was first announced, and since then it's blown up into a big -- and legitimate -- controversy. Flat earth, theocratic politics as usual. Inclusive my ass. Why is this even necessary, particularly with someone so bigoted and intellectually dim? Of course, Hitchens has a take.

Say what you will Barry, but here's an interesting look at the development of his logo.

Robin was right about "entertainment" north of the border.

I'll take potpourri for $3,500, Alex

Perhaps absence really does make the heart grow fonder. Here's an extended trailer for the upcoming season of 24.

Unhappy 40th birthday, MPAA. Nice list.

Don Draper on 30 Rock? The world might explode. (And I posted one clip from Jon Hamm's SNL appearance last week, where he was in character as Don Draper. But if you can find the "Vincent Price Halloween Special" sketch around -- it's not on Hulu -- go see it. Hamm does a fantastic James Mason).

A cornucopia of expansive and thoughtful Matt Weiner interviews. Here, Here and Here.

Dr. Horrible is one of Time's "Best Inventions of the Year." Damn straight.

Cats and dogs living together? A sign of the apocolypse, or the coming of the Stay-Puft marshmallow man? Perhaps. But damn, this story is cute enough to make even my black heart beat a little.

Some much deserved love for BSG and Sarah Connor hottie, Stephanie Jacobsen.

Empire asked David Fincher to scribble down his favorite movies of all time. His list makes me appreciate him even more. What he scribbled (and my agreement on "favorites" in yellow):

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Chinatown
Dr. Strangelove
Godfather 2
Taxi Driver
Being There
All The Jazz
Alien
Rear Window
Zelig
Cabaret
Paper Moon
Jaws
Lawrence of Arabia
All the Presidents Men
8 1/2
Citizen Kane
Days of Heaven
Animal House
Road Warrior
Year of Living Dangerously
American Graffiti
Terminator
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
The Exorcist
The Graduate

David Tennant is leaving Doctor Who. My Whovian experience only goes back as far as the new series, but the casting of both "new" Doctors has been spot on. I have confidence the next one will be an inspired and talented choice.

Here and here are some options for making Firefox as dark as night.

Part 1 and Part 2 of a long interview with Jon Favreau about Iron Man, The Avengers and more.

How cute is this hoodies for geeks? I need to meet someone who would wear this.

Holy Shit! MTV does music videos? Online, at least. The "channel" is still littered with reality whores, though.

A can't miss interview with Michael Taylor, BSG writer. Lots of good stuff for fans in there (and of course, as all good writers should be, he's a fan of Mad Men).

Joss talks about what the hell has been going on with Dollhouse.

The "Big O" thinks that success and keeping what you earn is "selfishness." Sigh. Ayn Rand rolls over in her grave. Can we all go John Galt next week after the election?

I fucking hate clamshell packaging. It's a wonder anyone has fingers left after frakkin' with those things. But check this out!

Who wants leftovers?

Stuff I didn't get to last night:

UGA legend Dan McGill thinks Matt Stafford might have the strongest arm he's ever seen (and "might" throw it 100 yards one day). Three strongest QB arms I've ever seen in person (in no particular order): Matt Stafford, Mike Vick, Jeff George (hopefully, one of these things is not like the others).

SI's Mandel on the "failure status" of Darth Visor.

Two of my favorites: Richard Dawkins on Christopher Hitchens.

"Robin Hood Economics:" Obama's tax plan. Of course, McCain does social engineering as well, proposing reducing the confiscation rate on people who bring more strollers, screaming and mini-vans into the world.

Celebrity atheists.

Can you make a Libertarian case for Palin? I'm not so sure.

Scroll to the bottom, and you'll find the insanely catchy soundtrack to Dr. Horrible on the Billboard chart at 39 (even more impressive, since it was iTunes only).

New DVD release for a totally underrated show.

Nice interview with one of the creators of How I Met Your Mother.

If you believe in "global warming," here's an easy solution: 1500 robotic ships cruising the seas.

Tech Porn: evolution of the CrackBerry.

Alec Baldwin (great actor, top-shelf SNL host and real-life nutjob) spews the crazy in an 8,000 word New Yorker profile, and insults My Name is Earl. Earl creator Greg Garcia responds. Funny.

Last week, I read this Atlanta Falcons season profile after a few too many IPTs, and was crying because it was so funny. In the cold, sober light of day, I still think it's a masterwork. Read and enjoy.

TiVos save relationships. I have 4 of them, but did I miss one of their service updates? Or is there a button to delete the lying and whoring?

More on the instant-classic finale of the summer's best show, The Middleman, can be found here and here.

Dr. Horrible Soundtrack just as brilliant as expected

I was doing some housecleaning tonight (and frankly, recovering from the holiday weekend), and put on the newly purchased soundtrack to Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. A few things that struck me listening to the tunes, without watching the show:

• All the singers are spectacular. NPH is awesome, of course, but watching the show, I didn't get a total feel for the quality of Nathan and Felicia's singing. Felicia is wonderful and sounds even better melding her tone with someone else's in a duet, and Nathan was so adept at "acting" the obliviousness and self-absorption of Captain Hammer, you lost sight of his vocals. He's damned good.
  
• The "Bad Horse Chorus" (both versions) still makes me laugh out loud.
• You also get a better feel for the lyrics and just how incisive, witty, poignant and character/story driven they are. You can read them here.
• The songs are endlessly re-listenable. I cycled through them twice just now, and was entertained the entire time.
• And did I mention the "Thoroughbred of Sin?" Hee. That still cracks me up.

Purchase yours today and enjoy.

Head to iTunes!

The Doctor Horrible's Sing-Along Blog soundtrack is now available for purchase!

Howdy, y'all!

Welcome Park Benchers and Whedonesquers. While Liz, the maven of the "nerd girl" blog "The Park Bench" is on vacation, she's asked a series of guest bloggers to step in for her. I penned today's entry, about the singers featured in the Joss Whedon projects "Once More With Feeling" and Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. Regular TNRLM readers can check that out here. For those visiting for the first time, thanks for stopping by, and feel free to stick around and make yourself at home. There's beer in the fridge. But please use a coaster.

The Doctor is in

I'm sure by now everyone has seen Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, right? And everyone is on board with the awesomeness, right? If you haven't, get your ass to iTunes and buy it right now. $3,99 for 3 acts of hysterical, musical, entertaining and tragic perfection. Not too big a price to pay. I've watched the entire thing 4 times already, and plan to buy the DVD when it's released later this year (with musical commentaries!).

Some choice Dr. Horrible linkage: (and note: if you haven't seen it yet -- what's wrong with you? -- there are signficant spoilers and you might want to avoid clicking on these until after you've watched)

An "oral history" of Dr. Horrible, from EW, featuring interviews with all the cast and crew. (tidbit: NPH is close friends with the adorable Amy Acker, and he also read for the part of Simon on Firefly. Sean Maher is great, but I wonder what NPH would have been like as River's older brother and Kaylee's crush?).

A wrap of Act 3, and a brief NPH interview, from Alan Sepinwall.

Quick E! recap of the Dr. Horrible panel at Comic-Con.

Io9 Coverage of the panel.

Another glowing review.

Did Sarah Michelle Gellar make a cameo in Dr. Horrible? Check it out.

"Make the Bad Horse gleeful, or he'll make you his mare."

If you haven't yet watched Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-Long Blog," do yourself a favor and get to it. Evidently, there were server problems yesterday, due to heavy traffic. But the easiest thing to do is simply go to iTunes and download the thing, so you can enjoy it for years to come. Act 1 is only $1.99, and since it's jam-packed with awesome, that's quite a value. As expected, Nathan Fillion as self-absorbed superhero Captain Hammer is smugly hilarious. Felicia Day as Penny is adorable. The songs are witty, funny and catchy. Simon Helberg, who plays "ladies man" Howard on Big Bang Theory, is another wannabe villain "Moist." Because he makes everything around him, well, moist. But Neil Patrick Harris as Dr. Horrible is just legen.....wait for it.....dary. Part 2 comes out tomorrow.

Speaking of Whedon musicals, one of my laments about iTunes was that the soundtrack to Buffy's "Once More With Feeling" wasn't availale in the iTunes store. I thought for a while that I was going to have to purchase the old fashioned CD and import it, but it turns out that the soundtrack is available on Amazon's digital downloads store. That was my first MP3 purchase there, but it worked like a charm. 5 seconds to install their "digital downloader," and OMWF was magically appearing into iTunes, even using the payment methods and account set up for "normal" Amazon purchases. Easy.

Anyone feel like singing today?