When True Blood started up for the second season it was as if the show picked up exactly where it left off.  No significant time had passed, viewers were simply thrown back into the mix.  It was great!

As the season moved the story became less focused on the vampire storyline, expanding into the overall “super natural.  Things continue to unfold and I have to admit that I miss the vampire focus; however, I am enjoying the story regardless.  From what I’ve been told the series is keeping rather true to the books.

Back to the renew…

It turns out True Blood has managed to accomplish something no other series has managed to do (except The Soprano’s) – increase viewership almost every single episode:

“True Blood” in particular has managed to increase its audience with nearly every episode, giving the network its most-watched show since “The Sopranos.” “True Blood” has averaged 3.8 million viewers (11.2 when you add repeats, DVR and On Demand viewing),

Not bad!  This season hasn’t come to a conclusion yet and I’m already looking forward to next year.

Just to get things out of the way – if you are a fan of True Blood but have not yet watched the first episode of season two be aware there will be spoilers in the following thoughts.  I  know that people have issues (I sure do!) when they are not made aware that potentially critical story/plot information is divulged in a post.

You have been warned!

I sit myself down to watch the season premier of True Blood, all excited about where the story is going to go, and I was caught a bit off guard.  The story picked up *exactly* where it had left off last year.  There was not time gap, no events that took placed since the last season.  Literally just picked up from where we left off.

I think I was caught off guard simply due to the fact that it had been some time since I saw the last season, I had forgotten some of the events that took place. The show, however, does a good job a reminding the view of what had happened and what the characters were dealing with.

The first surprise is the dead individual in the car… was the killer a vampire?  Another creature? Another person?  Not being up to date on my mythology, I cannot recall if there was a predator that took the hearts of individuals as their means of killing.

Remember Lafayette?  Well, his situation did not turn out the way one may have expected last season.  I’m unsure of exactly why he ended up in this position in the story, but it’s obvious the writers are pushing him toward the underworld.  Will he actually make the transition remains to be seen, and if he does how will that advance the story forward.

Bill and Sookie once again are dealing with the issues that any relationship deals with… plus that whole “You’re dead, I’m not” thing.  In this episode, it felt as if Bill and Sookie were background and the focus was on Tara, Jason, Sam and Andy. Speaking of Andy, it appears he is now being set up as the “loose cannon” who cannot deal with his life.

Jessica, the young girl Bill turned into a Vampire, is also back in season two.  She is truly annoying.  Like “she makes me not want to watch the show annoying”.  I don’t know if this is a common thing for Alan Ball to do, but I had the same reaction to a member of the Six Feet Under staff as well.  Eventually, that person went away – and I hope the Jessica character does as well.

The back-story of Maryann and Sam is really starting to come out.  Apparently there was a bigger connection between the two than last season indicated.  I am still unsure of what abilities Maryann possess, but they put fear into Sam.  It’s also apparent Maryann is attempted to steer Tara in a specific direction but for what purpose?

Yes sir, season two picked up right were season one left off… It will be interesting to watch who ends up being the focus this year.  Bill and Sookie?  Sam and Maryann? Maryann and Tara?  Not sure, but I’m going to find out!

A Google Alert jump into my inbox just now for Little Britain USA, one of my favorite shows of the last 6 months. The alert linked to the story “As season ends, networks can learn from cable”, which I quickly clicked on, and was horrified to see the following:

HBO had a bigger hit-and-miss ratio with the superb animated series “The Life and Times of Tim,” and the woefully unfunny “Little Britain USA.”

Woefully unfunny?

Aside from two reoccurring characters on the show that I found to be unfunny, the rest was side splitting hilarious. Like “I was laughing so hard I was crying” funny. Now, to turn the tables, I found The Life and Times of Tim to be enjoyable but it lost steam by then end of the season.

Ok, let’s continue on:

…FX had an uncommon bomb of its own in “Testees”…

WHAT!?? A bomb?!?

I admit that the show did not bat 1000%, but a bomb it was not. The humor was crude, sometimes things were just plain creepy – which was part of the magic – but in no way was it a bomb.

HBO imported the comedy “Summer Heights High” from Australia and it was funnier than some of its originals.

Really? You are joking right?

After watching the imported version, I was annoyed. Fingernails on a chalkboard annoyed. Someone breaking wind on an elevator annoyed. Screaming kids running around breaking your fine china and crystal ware while the parents look on thinking its cute annoyed.

The imported version was just bad as compared to the original. HBO took a funny series and butchered it in the hopes of making a U.S. friendly version.

HBO’s one-note (and yes, that one note is pretty funny) “Eastbound & Down” split opinions on whether HBO’s programming was too inconsistent.

Well, at least we agree on Eastbound & Down.

All this makes me ask, what did I miss? Really. Is my sense of humor that warped that only equally warped programming is interesting to me but not to the rest of the world?

Ah, Sunday… Usually Sundays are usually relaxing for me as they are the middle of my weekend (I have three day weekends) Monday, however, I have a 4 hour meeting that I need to attend in the office so it’s back to a two day weekend… and I feel the stress building up a bit.  Alas..

A second bailout?

I need to understand something that is currently be discussed in politics and business circles.  Why would a second stimulus bee needed at this point?  

I’m not suggesting that another stimulus would be needed in the future, but what action has taken place thus far was not even a stimulus.  It was a $787 Billion dollar black hole.  At this point, luckily, Nancy Pelois say that no second package is coming in the short term:

yesterday that a second economic stimulus package is not “in the cards” in the short term, disappointing those seeking another quick infusion of federal money into the struggling economy. 

I also believe that there would be no political support to pass a second package right now.  There is major public backlash with everything thus far (AIG, Banks), another bailout would enrage the public even more.

The press is giving Joe Biden a hard time over the “F” word?

I think people tend to focus on the wrong things in life.  Take this bit of “news” coming out of ABC.

At an event at Union Station today where Vice President Joe Biden was heralding the $1.3 billion in investments in rebuilding train stations and passenger rails, a microphone picked up one of the former senator’s myriad Senate colleagues addressing him, formally, as “Mr. Vice President.”

That met with Vice President Biden’s standard reply.

“Gimme a f*&$#ing break,” he said, apparently unaware that the microphone was on. 

The individual, while correct in addressing Mr. Biden as “Mr. Vice President”, is a long time friend of Biden.  This helps explains why Biden responded the way he did – there was a long time, personal, connection… they guys are friends. Let’s not focus on something that everyone has said at some point or another.  

Not important.  Not news.  Move on.

Sunday night viewing

I’m a fan of HBO’s Big Love but apparently Mormons are not.  

The episode that will air this evening is stirring up controversy as a sacred, closed door, Mormon tradition will be portrayed and people are unhappy about it.  Show writers stated the scene is done with respect, a good amount of research, and that no disrespect is intended.  Some followers of the religion still have issues, but I have an issue…

• Christian ceremonies (mass, the crucifixion, confession) are shown in all form of entertainment
• Jewish traditions are in movies
• Muslims are portrayed while praying behind closed doors

…yet no one complains about this.  Mormons are – and should be -no different.

What if, however, the issue is not about disrespect or misrepresentation? What if the complaint is linked to control?  

I believe that some organized religions have the potential act as controlling entities.  They have a strong desire to limit their followers, for whatever reason.  Any version of the truth regarding a “secret” ceremony presented the public eye raises conversation, if not questions, thereby threatening an organizations power.

Maybe that is really what some Mormons have an issue with.

I’m off, Enjoy your evening.

Some weeks ago I saw a coming attraction on HBO for a new comedy series the station was producing titled “Eastbound & Down”.  The basis for the show is a bigger than life, past his prime, white trash, major league relief pitcher all of a sudden much face “real life” once his career is on hold (over really). The coming attraction peaked my interest… Yesterday I happened to catch the premier episode.

Holy Funny!

The main character, Kenny Powers, is rude, crass, overtly sexual, and seems to be in a drunken, depressed, or drug induced stupor most of the time… and the stuff that comes out of his mouth, the way of thinking in his reality, is so over the top, it’s almost hard not to laugh.

Take a look at the first 3 minutes of the premier episode (not safe for work in ANY way)

Oh, look.. it happens to be on right now! So much for going to bed.

Woo hoo!  

Today is the day – The Flight of the Conchords Season Two is kicked off on funnyordie.com.

The show will run from 12/17/2008 through 12/21.  If you miss it during this period, you will have to wait until January when it finds its way to HBO Sunday evenings.

Anywy, I know what I will be doing this evening.

Mr. Media has an interview with Steven Dildarian, the creator of “The Life and Times of Tim”.  Sounds like an interesting guy, take a listen.

In 2007 Flight of the Conchords won a Grammy for Best Comedy Album, and it looks like they are back making another run at the award for their self titled album.

With a new season Flight of the Conchords only about a month away, maybe HBO will wake up to the fact that they have a hit here – even thought the following of the group is rather small.  

Never underestimate the dedicated fans!

This news is even better than finding out Little Britain USA will be back for a second season – The Kids in the Hall will be back for an 8 episode miniseries, but the show will not be sketch comedy.  

“It’ll be an eight-episode arc with a narrative running through it and we will play all the characters but it won’t be sketch, it’ll be a single narrative miniseries. Probably the closest thing to it will probably be something like (the defunct cult British series) ‘League of Gentlemen,’ which I think was brilliant. So I hope it will be close to that.”says Dave Foley, Kids in the Hall member.

No word on when the show will be aired, but stilll…Rock on!

Good news, everybody! The Flight of the Conchords Season 2 premier will be online, available at Funny or Die.com starting 12/17/2008 at noon and will run through 12/21.

As cool as this is, I’m conflicted with the policies of HBO.

They go and cancel highly acclaimed, well followed shows, such as Deadwood, leaving fans in a lurch, yet they do something progressive like have a  premiers online or have shows available “On Demand” before they air on the network.

Regardless, I know what I will be doing come 12/17