Random Thoughts

So yesterday I said NBC had it sown up with their line up of Chuck, Heroes, and Journeyman, was I correct?


Chuck was awesome, if they can keep up the quality of show that I saw last night; Chuck is going to be a great hit. There was not one moment that the story felt rushed, pinched, or bogged. The show hit it on all cylinders, it was a great view. It was nail biting, edge of seat at times, adrenaline pumping at others, and out right hilarious at the right times. Chuck has the formula dialed in perfectly. I can't wait to see more of this show.

Heroes was decent. Heroes is Heroes and after the great first season I will defiantly keep watching to see where season 2 goes but I was a little disappointed in last nights season 2 opening. I think the season 2 opener would have gone better as a 2 hour slot. The whole episode last night felt rushed and it jumped back and forth and revealed so much information and detail in so short of a time, even with limited commercials, that it left you feeling like you had just scarfed a whole gourmet meal but didn't have time to actually get to taste or enjoy it.

Journeyman, ohh... Journeyman. Forty minutes into the show I was ready to write off the show as being a total loss. They redeemed themselves in last 20 minutes but I don't think it will be enough. This was another show that suffered from being squeezed into just an hour opening. The story has you jumping back and forth through time so often and quickly in the first 40 minutes it almost leaves you with motion sickness. The last 20 minutes you finally get the hang of the time switch gimmick and they finally add a unique twist to the story that until that point had been generic and bland. I'm afraid though that it is to little to late. My prediction is this show won't last beyond one season and may even be a candidate for early closure. The scenes from future episodes and the ending of last night's show left me feeling that the story/show still has potential and may actually be a good show but first impressions, especially in an already crowded fall lineup are vital, and Journeyman came out swinging and missing for most of their opening night.

FINALLY!!! The fall season is here and not a moment to soon. While there was a little more to watch this summer than the usually reruns, there were a few unique new shows that run summer only, it still has been a dry viewing summer. That is finally over. Starting tonight is the new fall line up. Now this is my opinions and my opinions only, why not leave comment on your favorites for the new season starting tonight.

So what is tonights must watch TV?

Easy answer, NBC has it wrapped up tight, with 2 new shows and 1 returning show for season 2.. (All times are Central time zone.)


7pm - Chuck
"Chuck" is one of the new potential hits this fall. Chuck is a geeky manager of the local Nerd Herd computer support company until he accidentally downloads all the government secrets into his mind. Now he is a wanted man in the wrong way, so CIA sends in a hot agent to protect him.
This one has potential to be great, lets see if they can live up to it.
IMDb - Chuck
TV.com - Chuck


8pm - Heroes
If you don't know about Heroes, welcome to Earth, TV, and the Internet in general; they apartment you just got has to be better than that cave you were living in.
Season 1 ended with the Heroes seemingly stopping the nuclear explosion that lead to the awful Sylar created nightmare that Hiro visited. Season 1 was just the beginning of a whole new unknown future with many questions still to be answered. Season 1 left us with Hiro in feudal japan. Season 2 opens 4 months after the events of the Season 1 ending.
IMDb - Heroes
TV.com - Heroes


9pm - Journeyman
This is the 2nd new fall show tonight. Dan is happily married with a son. He seems to have everything going for him. Until coming home after a bad day, he finds someone else living in his home who claims it is 1987. When he finally makes it home his wife wants to know where he has been for the last 2 days. He is given the chance to changes peoples lives, maybe for the better, maybe for the worse.
This show is yet another new potential hit, I have high hopes for this show.
IMDb - Journeyman
TV.com - Journeyman


Will post tomorrow with my reviews of the 2 new shows and whether they might have the staying power to become great hits. I will also review the next day or 2 of new fall potentials.
Why not leave a comment on what you think of my choices? What are you're choices for tonights lineup?

Well been long wait but Season 3 of Albatross is finally here.


Check out this video: Albatross 18 Season 3




The short video wets your appetite but doesn't even begin to touch on all the new features.
There is the new character, seen in the video, Kaz. He has a dark past and possible evil future.
A new course, main component of video, Deep Inferno. This course is built around numerous volcanic activity and volcanoes with lots of lava flowing around.
Also 3 new features, the Personal Shop, PSquares, and the Spike Shot.
The Spike Shot is briefly seen in the video. At the height of the shot the ball suddenly spikes down to the target area.
The PSquare (aka Player Square, Personal Square, or People Square) allows players to create their own 3D virtual lobby with a backdrop of any of the courses. Each square can hold 30 players and allows for chatting, socializing, group/guild meetings and setting up Personal Shops
Which brings us to the 3rd feature, Personal Shops. The Personal Shop now allows you to set up your own little store and sell/buy/trade those items don't need any more or for that item been wanting but didn't have the astro's or pang for.

For those who are new to the game the PC version is played online and is free to play. Some special items require Astro's, in game currency bought with real money, but they are not required to enjoy the game. You can have fun and be a contender for best player without Astro items.
Also be sure to check out Super Swing Golf for the Wii. (Based on the Albatross 18 game) And keep an eye out for the sequel Super Swing Golf 2 for the Wii.

Some accompanying links:
Official Season 3 Site
Albatross18 Main Site
My Personal Space - My Space
The YouTube posting of Season 3 Teaser

Am I alone in my disgust with todays television commercial market. I'm sure most people have at least seen a decrease in commercial production. Some recent prime examples that are just awful.


1. The "So Easy A Caveman Cab Do It - Geico Commercials"

This is one offender, that while awful took a turn for the worst recently. On top of over playing this commercial to no end, they are now producing a new fall tv show based of the caveman idea from these commercials. Which of course encouraged Geico to produce yet more of these awful pieces of junk.
TV.com is a great site for tv news and information on shows. They have a listing of all the fall shows and lineup and people have been voting on what will watch and will pass. Currently 75% of voters (10,000+) have voted to pass. This should be a clear sign, I just hope the tv exec.'s take the clue and end this fest of swill.

2. The "Yaz" Commercial.

This is a case of TMI (too much information). The worse is the one set in the club with the group of lady's talking about their periods. To make things even worse is the infomercial like presentation by the "doctor" lady of the group. This commercial is lame, annoying, and just plain wrong.

First random thought. I am SICK & TIRED of those DirectTV commercials. They are full have half-truths, misleading information, and out right lies in some cases.


The biggest one is DirectTV is cheaper than cable. The monthly fees may be lower BUT once you figure in the equipment cost, instillation costs, and the required 2 year contract it is not really cheaper. Not for a t least 2-4 years.
Then there is the signal. You are getting signal from a satellite, now I will admit it has been a while since had DirectTV but my past experience has always been awful on reception. If it is raining, wind is blowing, its overcast, its snowing you get degraded signal and even possible signal loss. I even had problems with signal degradation and lost signal for no reason in middle of a sunny day.
Also with cable you can package high speed internet with your TV service. Know you could get internet through satellite but it requires more equipment, another 2 year contract and same problems as the TV signal.
DirectTV does claim to have the most digital channels which may be true, I can't say either way. But you factor in the previous problems it negates the benefit of having digital channels. Ditto, for all their other unique packages and TV services.

Now don't get me wrong. Cable TV is far from perfect either. It could use with more variety in digital channels and TV services and it is also quite expensive but it is the better of the 2 evils in my book.