Ms. Smarty Pants Know It All

Dollhouse

The second episode was so much better than the Pilot, but it was an episode that could have been in any other television show. I’m starting to fear that Eliza Dushku doesn’t have what it takes to make such a varied show work.

It doesn’t help that with her flying dark hair and strong, effective African-American handler, this show visually reminds me of Alias. And Alias would have done this most-dangerous-game episode so much better.

Oscars

I’m not sure why the Academy Awards are always scrumming for ratings. Do they really believe that the people who will not go to see these nominated movies are going to turn in to watch an awards ceremony for them?

I, on the other hand, really enjoy good movies. I also really enjoy me some Hugh Jackman.

The first time I heard him sing was when he hosted Saturday Night Live. And there he was—singing—in leather pants.

I was gone.

Like him, I’m also a huge fan of movie musicals. While most of the audience probably hated his two big musical productions, I was riveted. A musical montage with tons of dancers? Yes, please.

Sure, it was more appropriate for the Tony Awards, but if it is right in front of me, I might as well enjoy it.

I also liked the multiple presenter format for the acting categories. After I caught on, it was fun trying to guess which presenter would comment on which nominee. Plus, as a movie fan, I totally geeked out at the excitement of having those people together.

If the political talking heads can rave about all the ex-, current, and future Presidents getting together for brunch, why can’t I enjoy seeing Robert DeNiro make fun of Sean Penn?

So it ran long. That’s what Oscar telecasts do. I’d rather it go long than to repeatedly feel awkward as winner after winner gets music-ed off the stage. We don’t expect the Super Bowl to end on time. Let the Academy Awards go on as it needs to. (within reason of course)

Tags: TV by Ms. SP
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Tomorrow, I’ll write about when I first fell for Hugh Jackman. Today, I’ll tell about how I fell for the president last night.

Sure I’ve been pro-Obama before this, but to me, being president-elect is nowhere near the same thing as actually doing the job. And watching him do his job last night? Whoo was he hot.

It was almost too good to be true. A smart guy like him breaking out the triple threat of

1. history,
2. responsibility, and
3. pragmatism.

These are right up my alley, buddy.

Not to mention—the social contract? Are you kidding me? He broke out the social contract?

I’m probably his forever.

I wish it could be communicated somehow that the morality of good citizenry is more effective, more powerful, and farther reaching than any government run according to a morality of religion. A government of citizenship has character. A government of citizenship has integrity.

When the overarching powers of society operate like that, it does permeate through the rest of life. A trickle-down effect if you will.

An ethical standard does make lies, cheats, and crimes more shameful.

Citizenship and posterity are two things that George Washington especially understood. And that understanding makes a difference. He, now and in his own time, holds a revered spot above all the other Founders.

It heartens me to think that we may have placed another man with similar understandings in office last year.

Tags: Governance, Politics by Ms. SP
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Caution: spoilers for “Deadlock” (4.16)

Whew. After being BSG-less all weekend, Comcast finally posted it. So here we go.

Boomer

I don’t know how Boomer knew where the fleet is, but it worries me. I wonder if Grace Park, the actress who plays the Eights, ever gets confused in her scenes given just how many of them are in that holding cell.

God and Liam

I can’t help but think that those in our society screaming about the biblical sanctity of marriage would blanch and run from a true enforcement of such a belief—especially if that enforcement came from God himself.

Extrapolating that thought into the BSG world—

If there ever was a god who limited conception to those who truly loved, who would follow that god? Ok, so that doesn’t sound so bad. But now add…

That god will take back those children should the love of the parents’ falter. Now who would worship him?

A bunch of dumb metal head robots who don’t really understand something that they never had is who.

Love or Die

I don’t think this idea has been proven as fact yet within the series, but it’s an interesting idea to consider. I’ve always thought that the show presented procreation as a step forward from downloading, but…if a species ever had such a huge procreation challenge to overcome, I would think that species would immediately task its scientists to find a way around this natural barrier.

What if the Cylons couldn’t birth enough of the next generation to be viable as a species and therefore had to keep resurrecting the previous one?  Procreation was first but a problem. Resurrection came next as a solution.

Or, if the humans built the Cylons, this would be an awesome fail-safe to write into the programming. Perhaps this is what Ellen meant when she thought that the Cylon God of Love would result in a different future.

Just a thought.

Baltar

Way to make me feel sorry for Baltar, Episode. He is truly now Fortune’s fool. I wonder what Head Six’s end game is.

Paulla might as well have twirled a mustache. We all know that she’s up to no good.

Most religions start as cults on the Left. Somewhere along the way, they become recognized by the State and turn into the authoritarian Right. Then, it’s as much about political power and control as it is about god.

I wonder if this is Baltar’s and the One True God’s moment.

Tags: TV by Ms. SP
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