Fan Expo Live

We’re taking this double bitch on the road! We’ll be checking in all weekend with updates from FanExpo 2010 in Toronto. Join us or follow us on twitter @JerkDoubleBitch

Check out our Friday coverage under the cut!
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True Blood – The Return of Talbot

This week’s episode of True Blood 3.10 “I Smell a Rat” was packed with action that moved not only the overall plot but revealed some major secrets and developed on a number of smaller relationships. For the sake of the recap, we learned about Crystal, we found out Sookie’s true nature, we saw Sam be a sexycrook with Arielle Kibbel and we learned about Jesus and Lafayette’s backgrounds. We saw the development of the Jessica – Hoytt – Tommy triangle and the Sookie – Bill – Eric thing. Hoytt drank Vamp blood, Jason told off Bill, Jason admitted to killing Eggs, Terry proves yet again that he’ll be an awesome dad and Sookie got captured. Oh and my favorite part was when Bill called Eric Russell’s butt boy.

All of this was packed with win but the scene that really stole the show for me was watching the King make that hooker his dead lover. What an ingenious way to bring someone back from the dead…twice. If this was Inception, Talbot was hiding in that snow army fort thing. It proves once again that Denis O’Hare is not only perfect for this role but just awesome in general. It was touching to see that closure for a flat out insane, evil character.

The writing was spot on in this episode. If they could grasp this kind of hold on the story in every episode they would be set. That’s the feeling I get from the books, that there is constant motion. No matter where you are in the book, you are headed into or out of another mess. The casting just keeps getting better and better. I am not afraid to say this is the best large ensemble cast on TV right now.

-DB

Bring Out Your Dead!

Smallville has just added another dead guy to their roster for the upcoming tenth season (being dubbed SmallvilleX by fans).  Lionel Luthor will be showing up, don’t know when, don’t know how but it’s a two episode arc making it hard to believe it will be just another flashback.  While I never really believed Lionel was dead, I have to wonder just how they plan on doing this on top of bringing back Pa Kent and other less dead characters like Kara, Brainiac and the ever hilarious Hawkman.

I think we’re all holding our breath for Lex to put the X in …SmallvilleX but Lionel will be a welcomed substitute since I truly believe Rosenbaum has given the show the big sayonara for good.

I’m really depending on the show to pull out all the stops for this final season.  I’d like to see Smallville go out on 21 big banging episodes.  The show and the story deserve to go out on that high.

-DoubleBitch

Further Thoughts on Futurama

Tomorrow night the tenth new Futurama ep will air, so I figured it was time to talk about it a bit more. When last we spoke, I was trying to reconcile the fact that things like Venture Bros have aired during the time since we last had new Futurama eps airing. Now that we’re a third of the way through the season, I think I’ve seen enough to know where I stand on the subject. Is it better than something like, say the third season of Venture Bros, or season two of Frisky Dingo? No, but at the same time it’s absolutely the same show that was leagues ahead of the Simpsons during its original run.

It’s actually kinda freaky, because the tone, the comedy, the characters, it’s all so very much exactly as it was that I’d almost assume these eps had been written in 2003, were it not for the fact that they’re mocking the iPhone and Twitter.

Speaking of, Attack of the Killer App has easily been my favourite episode of the new run, although the time travel and evolution episodes were really great too. I laughed watching those episodes in a way I haven’t any time I’ve caught an ep of the Simpsons in the past… decade. The show’s ability to go high- and low-brow at the same time has always really appealed to me, because honestly science and math are untapped goldmines of comedic potential. At the same time, I’ve been giggling to myself insanely at work for a week now over the Homo Farnsworth bit. High and low, it’s wonderful.

-Jerk

Burton Joins White Collar

Hilarie Burton has had quite a year already, with becoming JDM’s surprise baby mama and escaping One Tree Hill for the much more successful and interesting show White Collar.    I’d say that’s Hilarie – 2, Chad Michael Murray – 0, but who’s counting?

I’ve been looking forward to seeing Miss Burton on White Collar since the casting news was announced.  As you may have noticed by the sidebar, I got into One Tree Hill as a guilty pleasure late in the game.  There was a point around seasons 4 and 5 that my boyfriend could have quoted you the entire plot just from my addiction and affinity for talking about nothing at length.   He’s a good man.

I wouldn’t have said that the MTV VJ turned actress was the best actor on the show but that’s not really a fair comparison.  What’s important is that I did like her character and I found the show compelling enough to watch.  I was looking forward to seeing her spread her wings in a new format with a little more … shall we say credibility.  It’s a progression to adult entertainment and I’m making the switch with her.

All that said, I’m not sure where I sit on her addition to White Collar.  It really depends on how the 6 episode stint plays out.  As of now, after her first appearance, I don’t understand how her character could become necessary for that much time.  At the beginning of the episode, I really didn’t like her but by the end I was actually okay with her being around.  It’s a delicate thing, adding a woman to an incredible bromance.  Supernatural has tried and mostly failed to do so.

Her character is a lot of things.  She’s independent and lonely, she’s an insurance investigator/bounty hunter – think Nate Ford’s old job.  She’s ruthless and curious and in your face but also edgy, addicted to coffee and a little sad.  They showed her right off the bat as strong then softened her with weakness, also making sure that we noticed she was a woman and susceptible to romantic feelings. I’m a little confused as to whether she’s really complicated or just not very well thought out.

What it comes down to is that I’m not sure the show needs her.  I don’t watch White Collar for the great mysteries they solve.  Honestly, I couldn’t even recall three if I had to but I could recall some great Peter/Neil moments, some shining qualities about Elizabeth or something quirky pulled off by Mozzie.  USA – Characters Welcome is their moto and it really is true in this show.  It’s character driven and I hope they manage to keep it that way without too quickly pushing another girl at Neil, or the pair of them for that matter.

I’ll keep my fingers crossed.

-DoubleBitch

J/DB Actor Spotlight: James Frain

As the summer rolls on and we’re using the free time in our watchness schedule to catch up on older things (DB has started The Shield, I’m going to try and get through what I’ve got left of The Wire), I thought it was a good time to introduce a couple of new features here, taking a look at some of our favourite actors and characters. I thought I’d kick it off with someone a bit topical, so our first actor spotlight is on James Frain!

James has quietly built up a pretty impressive resume, in spite of the fact that he spends a lot of his time acting on stage, especially in his native England. I first encountered James as Paul Raines in the fourth season of 24, where he was probably the nicest guy Jack Bauer ever tortured. He was pretty awesome from the get-go, with the implication that he may be a terrorist and all, but it was that first time he said ‘Audrey’, like he was secretly half horse and had just eaten a peanut butter sando that really caught my attention.

The Tudors remains on my “I’ll get to it eventually” list, so for the couple years I only really saw him in guest appearances on things like Fringe, Grey’s, and as an awesome quasi-pedo douchetank on Californication.

But with this summer season he’s shown up as Franklin Mott on True Blood, easily the break-out new character of the season (and that’s saying a lot, because Russel is awesome). He’s just so wonderfully insane, rambling on about the pronunciation of hooker, showing off his texting skills, getting his head switched from convex to concave…. Franklin’s a complete joy to watch every time he’s on screen.

It says a lot that he’s stuck in my memory so well, considering that before his current work on True Blood the only somewhat major  role I’d seen him in was on 24, but every time I’ve seen James Frain in something he’s been great, and honestly the fact that he’s in the pilot of The Cape is a big draw for me. Though I do have a slight tendency to say “Aaaauuuhhhdry” whenever he shows up on camera.

-Jerk

Random Question #12 Leverage Jail Time

Let’s just put it out there.  Who do you think has done some real, hard time when it comes to our Leverage family of criminals?

This week we learned that Parker did a 6 month stint in Juvie and we all know about Nate’s recent escape but what about the rest of ‘em?   These are the best of the best.  Getting caught is just not what they do.  I’m going to go out on a limb and say Eliot’s spent some time in some sort of prisons but probably not American.  Hardison has run into the law before but I don’t think he’s seen more than a slap on the wrist.

Now Sophie is the big conundrum.  There’s so little we know about who she really is and what makes her the way she is.  I don’t feel like she’s that damaged, but she could be.  She’s clearly spent a long time running away from something about herself.

I also think it’s possible Parker has escaped from a prison or two in her day.

-Doublebitch

Well That Was Fast

I ended my previous Top Gear post by saying “Now if we can just get a classic ‘car versus something-that-isn’t-a-car’ race before the end of the season I’ll be happy that Top Gear has righted itself.” Well, the very next episode opened with Hammond racing the Dakar Touareg down a snowy mountain and across a frozen lake, against two guys on snowmobiles. So, that was quite nice.

But Top Gear didn’t stop there, oh no! Next up we had May trying to hit the top speed of the new Veyron Super Sport, followed by the Stig setting the fastest lap time they’ve had with it. And after that, Cameron Diaz and Tom Cruise in the reasonably-priced car, which Cruise tried his best to flip over during his lap. Clarkson ended the show with a look back at the life of the amazing F1 driver Ayrton Senna.

Overall it was one of my favourite Top Gear episodes, and easily the best one they’ve had in… three series? I’m very happy with the show right now. Too bad that this Sunday’s episode is the series finale, huh?

-Jerk

LEVERAGE SHOWDOWN – YOUR WINNER!

A big thanks to everyone who voted, we’ll be contacting or winners soon to get them their awesome prizes from the Leverage team at TNT! But now, what you’ve really been waiting for! We’ve tabulated all the votes and the winner of the J/DB LEVERAGE SHOWDOWN is….

JIM STERLING!

—wait, I may have tabulated these results wrong, lemme see here…. Hmm, yeah seems I forgot to carry the one. Ooops, sorry about that! Now, the real winner of the J/DB LEVERAGE SHOWDOWN is…

PARKER!

Yes, no weird math errors here, you people sure do love Parker! We were pretty sure Eliot had this one all wrapped up (and he did put up quite the fight, make no mistake) but in the end it was Parker’s particular brand of crazy that came out on top!

Thanks to everyone who took the time to tell us why they love these characters, and thanks to TNT for giving us some sweet prizes and also for renewing Leverage for a fourth season!

LEVERAGE SHOWDOWN – Vote For Your Fave!

We’ve now written down our thoughts on what makes each member of the Leverage crew awesome, check them out at the links right here:

• Nate • Parker • Eliot • Hardison • Sophie •

Now it’s time for you to decide the winner! Tell us who on the crew is the most awesome/sexy/funny/competent/win in any of our LEVERAGE SHOWDOWN posts, and you could win a great prize from the Leverage team over at TNT! We’ll also give out a prize for our favourite comment, so make sure you tell us why you love who you love!

We’ve got a copy of The Con Artist Handbook, Safecracker game for PC, and for a grand prize this cool Robin Hood-themed chess set! How sweet does that look!?!?

Remember, we’ll need your email address from your comment to get in touch with the winners, and the contest is open to US residents only.

Now get typing and tell us who you love!

Don’t forget to tune in to Leverage Sundays at 9/8c on TNT or catch up at TNT.tv