So at the request of TAB, I watched the new "Doctor Who" show on the SciFi Channel last night. I look forward to reading his review of the new show -- I'm curious about how it compares to the old version -- but I can't say I found anything to be terribly interesting about these eps. I suspect that the show's appeal for a lot of people will be based upon its connection to the old show and the simple fact that it is science fiction, but when I get into scifi -- or anime, or horror, or anything really -- it's not just for the sake of the genre, but for more the more substantial stuff. I really dug the neat alternate Earths to which they traveled in "Sliders", for example, but that would've meant diddly without complex, likable characters and a pleasant group dynamic. Buffy worked not only because of the interesting life metaphors presented in her battles with the undead, but also, again, because of likable characters and the group dynamic (until the latter two seasons, which is one of the reasons that they pretty much sucked). People have recently expressed surprise at my affection for the earlier seasons of "Dawson's Creek" -- but given that it was largely founded upon (again!) likable characters and the group dynamic, it's really not all that shocking. Same deal with "Teen Titans", Ninja Turtles, X-Men (at least in the comics and the cartoons; the lack of these elements in the live action movies is one reason that they've been such disappointments), etc., etc. Hell, in addition to the batshit insanity, the interplay between characters was even central to the appeal of "Pee-wee's Playhouse" .

Anyway, with the new Dr. Who, you get a goofy dude making Pee-wee faces and a displaced girl with a connection to each other that is shallow at best (yeah, I know, first episodes and all, but even the depiction of the bonding efforts between the two was extremely superficial) and situations that aren't terribly different from stuff I've seen before. Mindless mannequins might as well be zombies (and next week's episode actually features zombies, so whoop-dee-doo), and processions of wacky aliens making passing references to current pop culture is pretty standard fare even in popular scifi. Maybe "Battlestar Galactica" deals with "deep, philosophical questions" (I kinda doubt that, and seeing as how it would cost me in the neighborhood of $40 to find out I doubt that I will anytime soon...), but this Dr. Who seems like pure conceptiovisual geekery. Which is to say that people will simply get off on the wacky visuals and the idea of this guy traveling to alternate universes, because that's pretty much all the show has going for it thus far. Maybe things will change as the series progresses, but these initial episodes lead me to doubt it.

Speaking of things I doubt, following the parenthetical link in the first paragraph (or just clicking here) will take you to an article in which I explain why I doubt that X3 will be worth watching at all. Scary-Crayon has been plugged. All for now -- ja ne, minna-san!

Man, I'd forgotten how much I liked this show. It's kinda weird watching it without the commercials, though -- I keep expecting the dancing frog or Nikki Cox to pop out and say something about tonight's sponsors. When DVD-9 discs become the norm, I think they should start making television series DVDs with commercials which, like commentary and subtitles, can be activated via a submenu. Not only would they considerably ramp up the nostalgia factor -- especially if they could get current advertisers to provide their old spots for older shows -- but the advertising revenues could allow companies to sell DVD box sets at significantly lower prices. Why hasn't anyone thought to do this? It's a total win-win.

Does anybody remember that South Park episode when Cartman went back to colonial times and beat that messenger boy to death with a 2x4 while singing the Dawson's Creek theme song? Why the hell was that so funny? I crack up every time I think about it.

And for those of you who've enjoyed our culinary experiments over at Scary-Crayon, there's a new sandwich in town. It's legendary.

Couldn't let the month go by without commenting at length on the subject, could we? Actually, I'd very much intended to, but then I happened to catch the latter half of this "That's So Raven" episode. If you get around to reading it, lemme know what you think of the article. Later!

I mean that, people. 🙂 And for an amusing treat, head on over to Scary-Crayon for a couple of relevant articles: a review of Triton's Chocolate Dipped Banana Bits and a rather... thorough assessment of LifeStyles Flavored Condoms! Craziness. It's also kind of interesting that I reference sex ed courses in both of the pieces, since my view of sex in those days still very much represents my attitude towards and understanding of the topic. As in those days, sex isn't something that I think much about at all (except in the joking way reflected in many of the SC Hot Flashes), and while I had crushes at that age and continue to have them, I guess, my romantic fantasies involve moonlit jogs in the park and falling asleep together on the couch watching indie horror films -- not Barry White and naked bedroom romps.

Now that I think about it, it's kind of weird that they taught and continue to teach sex ed to kids at that age, given that the kids who were interested in sex and/or sexually active already knew far more than the courses intended to teach, whereas the rest of us fell into fits of laughter whenever the teacher said "penis" and "vagina". Are the schools trying to sexualize America's youth? I wonder if that's part of their hidden agenda. Hmmm.

Anyway, if you want to celebrate the day with some Teen Titans video goodness, check out this Terra and Beast Boy tribute by amvfan. And if you dig Terra and want to see more of her (why wouldn't you? Terra rocks!), check out this and this too.

Happy V-Day, minna-san! Ja ne. 🙂

You may get a kick out of the 75th Dusty Plastic HELL: Hot Flash.