Archive for category Tribute

Okay, so before we can wave goodbye to the Emmys for another year (remember, they were held last Sunday night, US time), I can’t resist the chance at having a bit of a sook. As usual, I think some shows were VERY hard done by (True Blood especially) but it wouldn’t be the first time, would it? Here are my Top 5 Emmy snubs in history!

Wow, look at that denim jacket! Can anyone say "bad fashion?"

#5: Roseanne

So, how do the judges embrace the stars of a show but fail to dish out any love for its writers or the show itself? That’s bad form in our books!

You don't want to mess with her!

#4: Heather Locklear/ Melrose Place

Oh come on! How could the one character that made the entire show be soooo completely ignored? Correct me if I’m wrong but there has never been a better BEEP (that bad word that starts with a “B”) on television!

Courtney can't believe it either!

#3: Courtney Cox/Friends

How was Monica (Cox) the only “friend” ignored? It seems as though three really is a crowd (both Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow picked up awards for their roles as Rachel and Pheobe)!

How blonde is Christina Applegate's hair?

#2: Married With Children

We all remember the jingle: “Love and the marriage, love and the marriage…” How neither Ed O’Neill or Katey Sagal landed a golden statue for their portrayals of the loveable (yet rather outrageous) Al and Peggy, is a tragedy!

Well... she dressed for the Emmys red carpet...

#1: Lauren Graham/Gilmore Girls

Hey, I really think this should be a bit of a Sarah Michelle Gellar/Buffy sook on my part, but guess what? I’ve been banned from whining anymore about it. That said, Graham perfectly played the mother every girl wishes for on the Gilmore Girls. Hey, maybe that’s because she was more like an older sister than a mum!

So, what do you think of my list? I’m sure you’ve got your own thoughts on which television shows were poorly treated. Let me know by posting a comment below and then join me for more fascinating bloggy fun.

Sometimes, here at Done Dirt Cheap DVD, we have to sit back and take in just how cool our job is. In case you haven’t already heard, even though we were screaming about it on Facebook, we were treated to a VERY special preview screening of The Expendables last Wednesday. It packs a massive A-list cast that includes Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Steve Austin and Mickey Rourke not to mention, a few decent B-listers as well in Eric Roberts, Dolph Lundgren and Charisma Carpenter.

What a cast!

So, is it any good? Well, to label it as “action-packed” is an understatement and there are a few scenes that’ll make you squirm. Not to mention the witty humour that fades in and out. But did you know that The Expendables was also written and directed by Stallone? You probably already knew that but am I the only one who thought Stallone’s career was over? Hmm, I was wrong (yeah, it’s okay if I admit it myself) so to make up for my horrible mistake, I’m going to list some reasons why Stallone still very much has “it”.

Back in "the day"

Stallone is still the man because:

• He’s in his 60s and still VERY buff (I’m ignoring the fact that we all know that he gets help in that regard… and no, for the record, we don’t condone that sort of thing).

Very plastic indeed!

• He’s plastic fantastic (c’mon, he’s had a lot of work done) but we still love him.
• You’ve gotta love a guy that has a big enough ego to have his own magazine called SLY and put himself on the cover of every issue (oh well, Oprah does that too).
• He defied what his fellow classmates predicted for him when they voted him as the most likely to end up in the electric chair in high school. Seriously! (I DID NOT make that up).
• He loves Bollywood movies… imagine this guy shakin’ those hips in a bright coloured costume.

Long hair - yeah, yeah!

• Knocked back 5 million dollars to star in a beer commercial because he didn’t want to cut his hair. Hmm, now that’s tough guy stuff!

My wish list for Stallone in the future:

• No more plastic surgery because I fear that he soon will be unable to utter any dialogue in his future movie roles.

That's one mean looking weapon!

• No more Rambo flicks: please… it’s important to leave good things in the past sometimes.
• I’d love to see him outside of his comfort zone for his next role: a rom-com maybe?

• No more facelifts – I read quite the nasty article the other day that said that Sly’s eyebrows were sooooo high up that they were almost off his face.

C'mon, who's the man?

Hmm… there are my thoughts but I want to know what you think. Post your comments below and join me Monday for more bloggy-goodness!

I still remember my first recollection that a show called Gossip Girl existed. I was at the cinemas and couldn’t miss the massive billboard of a whole bunch of “beautiful people”. As you can imagine, it was the HOT, HOT, HOT Chace Crawford who first caught my eye. After actually seeing the show, now I know that Gossip Girl pretty much revolves around one burning question: Who’s the better Upper East sider – Serena or Blair? Check out my problem-solving skills that are on show below!

We never wore our school uniforms like that!

Who: Serena

Played By: Blake Lively

Why we love her:

• She’s sugar and spice and all things nice.
• She sees beyond the dollar signs (she’s dating Dan who’s played by Penn Badgley – the “poor boy”).
• Even though she’s nice, she’s capable of being VERY bad (she did have an affair with her best friend’s boyfriend).

Who could blame her by being tempted by this hot guy?

• She has flaws (if she was too perfect, then we wouldn’t like her that much).
• Even though she’s rich and beautiful, her character still has “issues” (her brother tried to commit suicide for a start!).
• She puts others’ needs before her own (let’s face it, the irresistible Nate, played by Chace Crawford, has the hots for her big time).

That's a "don't mess with me" look!

Who: Blair

Played By: Leighton Meester

Why we love her:

• Everybody loves a bad girl.
• She’s one multi-faceted character: she has her good moments and then she has her very, very, very bad moments.
• She uses what she can to get what she wants (like Chuck, played by Ed Westwick. By the way, did you catch him when he came Down Under. Talk about EGO!!).

Mr. Ego himself!

• She’s not the most liked girl… her own mother prefers Serena
• At the end of the day, what’s a good television show without a badass?
• She sings (or at least, Meester does)
• Is it just me, or does she remind you of Sarah Michelle Gellar’s conniving character in Cruel Intentions?

Okay, so I’ve listed a couple of things here but who would I want to be? Keep reading…

If could be either Serena or Blair I would be… Serena

Serena wearing the colour of angels!

Why:

• All of the boys would be into me (both the hot ones like Nate and the nice ones like Dan… it’s a perfect world!).
• I’d be rich (but that’s the same as if I were Blair so that’s not really a valid reason but I’m listing it anyway).
• I’d have a heart of gold even though I have my flaws.
• I’d have a mother who cares (Blair’s mother cares only for fashion… she sort of reminds me of Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada).

A different kind of "don't mess with me" look!

That’s my conclusion. What do you think? Let me know by posting a comment below. See you Wednesday for New Releases.

Okay, so this pasty guy named Edward (Robert Pattinson) may be all the rage right now (apart from the lack of colour, he is pretty hot!), but if you ask me, there are other vamps that are far more kissable than Edward from Twilight. Check out my list (by the way, they’re all guys ‘cause I’m a girl and if I included chicks, that would just be… er… weird!).

Love the long locks!

#5: Louis (Brad Pitt)

From: Interview with the Vampire

Why: Umm… have you seen this guy? If you ask me, while Pitt may be getting a little too wrinkly for my liking these days (hello… I’m only 23 so grandpas don’t really appeal), he was at his hottest here (and Meet Joe Black as well, just for the record).

Vamp hotness factor: 6.5/10

This is pretty much the most clothes you'll see him wearing...

#4: Eric (Alexander Skarsgard)

From: True Blood

Why: While he may not be the hottest guy floating about in search of blood, Eric has one of the best male bodies that has ever graced the screen. He’s not almost ALWAYS half-naked for nothing you know!

Vamp hotness factor: 7/10

There's always leather involved when someone turns bad!

#3: Vamp Xander (Nicholas Brendon)

From: Buffy: The Vampire Slayer

Why: What is it about a good boy turned bad that suddenly makes him soooo much hotter? It’s amazing how some leather and hair gel can transform a guy from being seen as a loveable nerd into hot stuff! Bring it on!

Vamp hotness factor: 8/10

More leather...

#2: Damon (Ian Somerhalder)

From: The Vampire Diaries

Why: Holy smokes, this guy is scorching! He may be bad but that only makes him more appealing in my books (it’s complicated but sometimes, that bad boy factor really appeals to girls even though you know they’re not good for you).

Vamp hotness factor: 9.5/10

Gotta love the thinking types!

#1: Angel (David Boreanaz)

From: Angel

Why: Angel is the complete package and call me crazy, but his moody nature only makes him even more appealing to me (I don’t like bubbly guys!). He’s mature (he is over 200-years-old) and isn’t scare to express his feelings (remember that Claddagh ring he gives Buffy?).

Vamp hotness factor: 10/10

That’s my list of the hottest 5 vamps… in my books, Edward just can’t compare to these guys. I want to know what you think. Let me know by posting a comment. Guess what Wednesday means? New releases!

There are times when I just LOVE my job. This is one of those times because I get to dedicate a small portion of my time to listing ten reasons why you need to watch Buffy. Yep, sometimes I just sit back in my chair and marvel at what I get to do for money… not that I’m trying to make you jealous or anything. Let’s cut to the chase. Here are my top 10 reasons as to why you should get into the best show on the planet (and believe me, cutting it down to only 10 reasons was a chore).

Those were the days...

#10: The vast range of genres explored

There aren’t too many shows out there that will make you laugh, cry and even sing in just the one episode. Whether it’s comedy, drama, horror, action or another genre, Buffy has it all.

Yes... the number of genres explored really is surprising!

#9: The metaphors and analogies used

Yikes, I know I’ve used a couple of complicated words there but nothing is what it seems in the Buffy universe. I love the fact that the writers don’t smack us in the face with their literal meanings and that they challenge us to think a little beyond what seems plain obvious. I know you want me to illustrate my point so who am I to deny you? Angel (David Boreanaz) turning into a vampire after Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) sleeps with him is really a metaphor for the perfect boyfriend turning nasty after his besotted girlfriend gives into temptation and sleeps with him. You see what I’m talkin’ about now?

Well, that's one way to deal with your ex when he turns nasty.

#8: The Buffy-isms

What do you do if you just can’t quite find the right word to describe what you’re thinking or feeling? Well, if you’re Joss Whedon (the creator of Buffy), you just plow right ahead and make your own words up. Let’s see, there’s “snitch”, “five by five” and even “hootenanny”. At a loss as to what these words mean? Well… you’re just going to have to go and watch the relevant eps now aren’t you?

"I'm five by five, B" - before Faith took a turn for the worse...

#7: The classic stand-alone eps

While every one of the 22 episodes of each season (apart from season one, which only had 11 eps) all help build up to the brilliant finales, certain stand-alone episodes deserve to be stamped as classics. I recommend you check out the sing-along ep Once More With Feeling, the silent episode Hush (talk about going from extremes), The Body, where Buffy’s mother dies and Normal Again in which Buffy is trapped in a mental institution for an entire episode. You won’t be sorry!

Hush: not just one of the best eps of Buffy... one of the best eps of TV ever!

#6: The continuity

I know that number 7 sort of contradicts number 6 but both are valid. Let me explain…while the stand-alone eps are great, it’s the running gags, the different character eccentricities that are developed over time and the general story-arcs that keep you coming back episode after episode. And hey, it’s usually the final couple of eps of each season that really push the seasons from being “good” to “out of this world, brilliant!” Just look at season 6… badass Willow single-handedly resurrected the season. You go girl!

After Buffy reveals that her friends pulled her out of heaven

#5: The dialogue

If a show lasts seven seasons, you can wager a safe bet that there are gonna be a few absolute ripper quotes. It was a hard task but I’ve manage to list my top 3. Here we go:

1. “There’s moments in your life that make you, that set the course of who you’re gonna be. Sometimes they’re little, subtle moments. Sometimes they’re not. I’ll show you what I mean.” (Whistler, What’s My Line, Part 1)

What I say: Aaah… here’s a little bit of Whedon magic at play And in regards to the quote itself, Whistler is sooo right, isn’t he?

1. “Dawn, the hardest thing in this world… is to live in it. Be brave. Live. For me.” (Buffy, The Gift)

Buffy plunging to her death and saving her sister Dawn in the season 5 finale, The Gift.

What I say: More magic and once again it rings true: it is hard to live in this world sometimes.

1. “I laugh in the face of danger. Then I hide until it goes away.” (Xander, Welcome to the Hellmouth)

What I say: I just couldn’t resist throwing a funny one in and so I called upon the King of funny (Xander) to provide me with the laughs!

#4: The ensemble cast

The show may be called Buffy: The Vampire Slayer but so much depends on the people around Buffy, especially Giles (Anthony Stewart Head), Willow (Alyson Hannigan) and Xander (Nicholas Brendan). It’s hard to imagine the show without any one of these major characters. After all, it is all about “the Slayer and the Slayerettes”.

You can't have the Slayer without the Slayerettes (we could diss Cordy though)...

#3: The Buffy and Angel love story

Like Ross (David Schwimmer) and Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) and Homer and Marge, there are some TV couples that are just iconic. In fact, it’s hard to believe that Angel was originally never meant to be a regular character. The story is quite poetic: she’s the slayer, he’s a 240-year-old and counting vamp cursed with a soul. Yep, it proved to be one very nice ratings winner until the writers discovered they had nowhere to go with the love story. And you just know that it was all going to end tragically (how does Buffy killing Angel to save the world sound?).

Forget Buffy and Spike or Buffy and Riley...

#2: It can be so real while still being unrealistic

Yeah… I’m having trouble getting my head around this one too but gimme a minute to explain. I think we can all agree that there’s not much chance that one of our best friends is going to get carried away with her addiction to magic, attempt to raise the altar of an ancient Satanic Buddhist temple and end the world. But… I bet we’ve all had a friend who’s turned on us at some point and we’ve been treated to their rather nasty side. Buffy offers us the best of both worlds: real life issues and the chance to escape.

We've all had a friend turn on us like Evil Willow!

#1 Buffy

So much of the show’s success hinges on us actually liking Buffy. Make a girl attractive, pretty much invincible and capable of great one-liners and you’re not always going to get a likeable character. But Buffy isn’t perfect… she’s incredibly selfless (sacrificing herself to save her sister, Dawn) and at times, selfish as well (running away from her friends and family after season 2 in order to cope with Angel’s death). Take away the slaying abilities and this girl is human and that’s what we love about her: she has the same dreams, fears and insecurities that most people have had at some point in their lives.

One girl you don't want to mess with!

Aww… have I reached number 1 already? Well, it was fun while it lasted. Care to put your own spin on my list? I’m open to suggestions so post whatever you think below. When you’re done posting your own comments, prepare yourself for new release Wednesday.

Hey, we know that for many people, Rob Schneider is a little bit of a joke. You might think that all he does is make the same style of lowbrow comedy every single time. You might think that his sole contribution to acting is a mildly diverting variant of the fart joke. You might think that he looks, well, just plain odd. Well, you might be wrong.

Interesting pose...

In fact, you can forget about Russell Crowe, Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Brad Pitt, George Clooney and all of those other Hollywood golden boys. Rob Schneider can out-act any of them. And don’t think we’ve forgotten about you either Robert Downey, Jr. Rob will make you look like a Tin Man, not an Iron Man.

Yeah... why would want Brad Pitt in a role when you could have this!

Here, see if we’re wrong.

1. He really can act

How Rob hasn’t even been nominated for an Oscar, let alone won one, is a mystery worthy of Sherlock Holmes (and how much better would that movie have been with Schneider in the lead role?) Look at his scene stealing work as Ula in 50 First Dates. Not only did Schneider craft a note-perfect Hawaiian accent, not only did he work in a tan so deep that he looked like a well worn leather couch, but he single-handedly disproved that old show business adage that you shouldn’t work with animals or children. Hell, he did both. Beat that George Clooney, you pretender.

He looks like he's enjoying this a little too much for his own good!

2. No, seriously, he can.

Need more proof? How about exhibit B: Big Stan. Never before has an actor so convincingly displayed his intense fear of being, er, taken advantage of in prison. Throughout the film, he conveyed an almost primal sense of survival, as he scrambled to avoid being the prison, um, toy. You say that Russell Crowe showed his inner soul in that scene in Gladiator when he sees his dead family? We say that Schneider’s talents are really something to Crowe about.

Could he look any less sexy if he tried?

3. His way with the ladies

For a man who could be accurately described as looking like a bus reversed into him, he’s not afraid to work his mojo. Do you think that those Deuce Bigalow films were pure fantasy? Uh-uh, that’s Schneider’s life. Everywhere he goes, he has to watch out for women throwing themselves at him. Even Brad Pitt has to bow down and pay respect to a man with such undeniable chick-magnet skills as Schneider. Why do think it was Schneider and not Pitt who starred in The Hot Chick? Because only Schneider can understand women the way he does.

In his dreams!

4. He’s not afraid to cry

Probably.

5. He’s committed to his art

You want Schneider to play an animal? He’ll do it. You want Schneider to get his butt kicked by Drew Barrymore? He’ll do it. You want Schneider to seduce a 300 kilogram woman? He’ll do it. (In fact, with that one, he’ll probably do it twice). Oh sure, you can bring up how Tom Hanks lost 50 pounds for Cast Away, but if Schneider had that role, he’d have not only lost 51 pounds, but he’d have made sweet, passionate love to Wilson too.

This is the sexy look!

6. He can do it!

Does Denzel Washington have a catchphrase? We think not. That’s 1-0 to Schneider.

Okay, so it’s not exactly news that a sneak peek of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows has been released. It all looks very exciting if you ask me (seriously, my geek-o-meter is bursting out of control right now) and that got me thinkin’ of what a sad day it’ll be once the Harry Potter series finishes up completely. I’ve become quite accustomed to looking forward to a new and better Potter extravaganza being rolled out each year. And while all good things must come to an end (even though the last outing has been split into two separate parts), that doesn’t stop me from paying Potter and his pals a massive tribute. Yep, let’s run through all of the flicks one by one!

Aww... weren't they cute back in the day?

Flick: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

This installment sees Harry and his pals… gettin’ in on all of the magical fun for the first time ever. It’s always wonderful when you discover something special for the first time and let’s face it: Harry Potter has that classic from rags to riches feel about it.

My two cents worth: Who knew that the boy that was locked in the cupboard by his fat (oh come on, he’s evil, I shouldn’t have to be censored for that cheap shot) Uncle could prove to pack such a punch when given a chance? I recall Harry having the last laugh in a BIG way… let’s just say that someone blew up (yeah I know, he was already massive enough) and flew away.

Who could forget this geezer?

Flick: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

This installment sees Harry and his pals… meeting Dobby the house elf and what an interesting and puzzling creature this little fella is (he’s alien-like but for some reason, he evokes cuteness beyond belief). Oh, and the Chamber of Secrets has been opened, putting the fear of Voldemort in all the kiddies hearts.

My two cents worth: Is it just me or did Daniel Radcliffe’s eyebrows get tweezed somewhere along the way? In one scene, they’re quite bushy and then POOF, they’re all perfect. Yes people, I pay attention to all of the important details.

Well, this is very macho of Harry!

Flick: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

This installment sees Harry and his pals… coming to terms with the fact that Sirius Black (Gary Oldman), who is thought to be a criminal, is actually related to Harry. Yikes!

My two cents worth: My favourite of all the flicks, this installment has a darkness that’s just plain creepy! You gotta love those Death Eaters!

That dude on the left looks familiar... isn't his name Edward?

Flick: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

This installment sees Harry and his pals… figuring out what we’ve known all along: it really is all about Harry. Well, what other conclusion could you come to after Potter’s name is pulled out of the Goblet of Fire when it shouldn’t have even been there in the first place? Oh dear!

My two cents worth: Well, little mister Potter is starting to lose his boyish looks and is starting to become a man. Even his voice is starting to break… notice how it goes HIGH and low, HIGH and low all the time? Yes, it’s puberty!

Harry's not looking too flash now, is he?

Flick: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

This installment sees Harry and his pals… involved in a far more complex storyline (things always have to get more complicated as people grow up). Harry even creates his own underground group that name themselves Dumbledore’s Army. Well, well, well: someone’s got their rebellious hat on.

My two cents worth: Okay, so Harry’s glasses are iconic but it’s been five years now since Potter discovered his magical talents. He should either upgrade his glasses or find a way to magically correct his eyesight. Either way, I’m happy (how easy am I?).

Good to see Ron's thinking ahead... you never know what might hit you inside!

Flick: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

This installment sees Harry and his pals… face more dark encounters with Tom Riddle (who later becomes Voldemort). When books start responding to what you write in them it can’t be good.

My two cents worth: I’m not sure about you but I’ve discovered plenty of empty books in my time but when I’ve put pen to paper, they’ve never responded to me before. Sheesh, if they had, those high school years might not have been so lonely after all (oops… did I just spill a secret?).

And this is a sneak peek of what's heading our way soon...

Yes, it’s been a long journey but you should enjoy it while you can because it’s rapidly coming to an end. We’ve seen Radcliffe and his pals grow up (some have lost that cute charm in their adulthood but Radcliffe is still quite the dish, isn’t he?) and now it’s time for us to let go. What are we going to do? Maybe you’re happier than ever never to have to see another Potter flick. Whatever the case, tell me about it by posting a comment. Be sure to check back on Wednesday because there are three hot new releases demanding your attention.

When Dreamworks released the first Shrek flick, I’ve gotta wonder whether they imagined it would be such a massive hit. I’m pretty sure they were expecting big things from the loveable ogre – after all, you don’t load up a flick with the likes of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, John Lithgow and Cameron Diaz without expecting it to do rather well. But expecting another 3 flicks to follow and a whole generation of kids being able to recognise the loveable Ogre over most things (like the Prime Minister of Australia for example) that surround them everyday… it’s pretty outta this world if you ask me!

This is just Donkey being Donkey!

Yes, we are up to our fourth outing with Shrek and the whole concept hasn’t grown old which is good to hear. I’m not going to give a single thing about the latest Shrek away because if there’s one thing I’m not, it’s a walking spoiler!

Donkey lays down the law.

That got me thinking about just how awesome the other Shrek flicks were, especially the first one when everything was completely new. You know what I think was the best part of the movie? That pretty priceless karaoke scene at the end of the movie – it was completely unexpected and it just gave me the chance to revel in the dancing and the music.

I think now’s the perfect time to write up a little tribute to each Shrek character so here we go!

Being green has never looked so good!

Who? Shrek

Played by: Mike Myers

Why they’re so awesome: Well, he is the main man and behind all of the green and the stench (just imagine that swamp smell!), there’s a pretty good bloke deep down (oops, I meant ogre!). This guy’s so charming that he convinced a princess to become an ogre (so, she went from looking like Angelina Jolie to looking and smelling quite the opposite!). I wonder if she has any regrets…

It's a good thing that dress is stretchy!

Who? Princess Fiona

Played by: Cameron Diaz

Why they’re so awesome: It takes a big person to see beyond looks. You see, Princess Fiona pretty much chose Shrek over a life of luxury. That means she chose living in a swamp as opposed to living in something similar to Buckingham Palace… hmm, interesting! What I found strange while watching Shrek was just how much better Diaz’s voice was since she had her little solo in My Best Friend’s Wedding… then I learned that it wasn’t her voice at all! Well, that would explain things.

Smiiilllleeee!!

Who? Donkey

Played by: Eddie Murphy

Why they’re so awesome: I gotta say that Donkey is my favourite character because he has the best lines. In fact, every time I think of this character, I hear him breaking out into the “I like big butts and I cannot lie…” jingle from the end of Shrek. And can I say… I’ve seen Murphy being interviewed and it’s pretty funny just how unfunny this guy is in real life (yep, he definitely needs a script to provide the funnies for him!).

Stylish!

Who? Puss in Boots

Played by: Antonio Banderas

Why they’re so awesome: This guy’s just behind Donkey as my fave character. I love the Spanish accent (even though you know I don’t exactly love Banderas) and the bravery exuded from this pint-sized midget! He may have only made his first appearance in Shrek 2 but he’s definitely a key ingredient in the mix if you ask me.

Awww!

I’ve taken a look at just four characters that make the Shrek universe as awesome as it is but there are loads more characters that could’ve made the final cut. Oh well, that’s life!

You know, I’m pretty sure that everyone has become accustomed to my tastes by now, especially on television. While I’ve been banned from saying the “B” and “A” words (hint: vamps, slayers and demons involved), you’ve probably also gathered that I’m not into my cop inspired shows. But think again… when I was younger, I did have a weird fascination with Blue Heelers (remember Mt. Thomas? That country town with a dangerously high death rate…) that sat well with my childhood dreams of becoming a police woman. Wow… those were the days when I was so clueless. Well, I have matured, put away my bullet proof vest and batton and can safely claim that usually, I steer clear of police inspired shows. That said, when a show as loved and respected as Law & Order bows out after 20 years well… there has to be a bit of a fuss doesn’t there?

My childhood heroes!

Yes, there does. After all, television shows don’t get spin-offs for nothing (you know: SVU, CI, GYI, DFA, HGY, FYZ… no seriously, the first two are real!).

Hey... that actress used to be on Angel.

From what I can tell, it’s all a pretty standard format during every Law & Order episode: the first half of the show sees some thug being captured by the cops and by hook or by crook, they’re made to pay for their crimes in the second half of the show. Yes… it’s half cops and half courts.

I always remembered thinking what an unattractive cryer James Van Der Beek was...

And I’m sure we’ve all noticed that some of the crimes explored in certain episodes are terribly close to real-life crimes. That’s another thing that a good television show always has going for it: controversy! I still remember how much fuss Dawson’s Creek created back when I was in primary school… parents just couldn’t believe that Jen (Michelle Williams) would engage in pre-marital sex and experiment with drugs and alcohol. My question? Where have they been? Anyway, they didn’t know what they were in for because Dawson’s Creek was nothing compared to shows such as Sex and the City that would later follow it.

Now these girls were controversial!

Back to Law & Order (I’ve been side tracked again… well, at least I’m consistent!) now and one of the things that this show has done successfully is replace actors once they’ve decided they’d had enough of the show. First, George Dzundza was replaced by Paul Sorvino who got traded in for Jerry Orbach. And who could remember when Benjamin Bratt (sorry, I don’t think he’s a stud like a lot of girls do) replaced Chris Noth (aka: Mr. Big)? Regardless of all of the casting changeovers, people still watched. Now, there are a couple of other shows that have done this successfully but I tend to think more of soapies when a voiceover tells you out of the blue that “the role of Rick Forrester is now being played by…”

And hey, could there be a bigger guest star than Julia Roberts whose face popped up along the way? Nuh-uh!

I just saw Goren meet a grisly end the other night... different show though (just maybe I could have left this pic out by oh well).

Sure, it’ll be sad for all Law & Order’s fans out there to see it go but good things come and good things go but I’ve got something that just might help to ease that pain a little. What is it you ask? I’ve read that another spin-off called Law & Order: Los Angeles is on its way. Wow… that’ll be 7 spin-offs in total now. I gotta say, that’s good work! Would you agree? Let me know by posting a comment.

It’s not as though I take pleasure in being nasty but sometimes, there’s no other way to describe an actor or an actress but as a “has-been”. So what’s my definition of a “has-been”? Well, it’s someone who started off with so much promise (or even a little promise) but have gone all “pop” into thin air. In other words, they’ve disappeared out of sight and the only reason we hear about them (if at all) is when they’ve done something illegal or in relation to someone else. Yes… it’s all very cruel and nasty but very funny!

I wasn't the only one who thought this guy was a bit of a spunk!

There was a time back in my teens when I just couldn’t get enough of Freddie Prinze Jnr. Do you know how much time I spent defending his acting ability? I used to get all red in the face when people would associate the words “stiff” and “pretty boy” with him. Even to this day, I don’t think he’s any worse an actor than some others that no one ever picks on (Josh Hartnett anyone?).

Why didn't they just get a blonde actor to play Fred?

But in hindsight, I will admit that this guy’s flicks pretty much all sucked with the exception of She’s All That and even that’s no Oscar winner now is it? Believe me, I sat through some absolute stinkers… while Scooby Doo wasn’t great it was nothing compared to Wing Commander, Summer Catch, Head Over Heels… need I go on? Oh, the things I did for my teeny bopper crush!

And you can just imagine my excitement when he got together with my favourite actress, Sarah Michelle Gellar. Yep, it was one heavenly pairing if you ask me (no, I’m not one of these girls who was holding out in hope that someday, somehow, I’d get together with Freddie).

Sooooo cute!

Now onto someone that I just can’t resist talking about: Macaulay Culkin. What happened to this cute Home Alone star? To put it bluntly, nothing! He floated off into oblivion and these days, he resurfaces every now and again when he does something illegal.

Why do I automatically think of Santa when I look at this guy?

As weird as it sounds, I don’t even think Home Alone was his finest moment… give me Uncle Buck any day. Although, that might be a biased opinion because I’m a bit of a John Candy (what happened to this chubby fella sure makes you think twice before your next Mars Bar now doesn’t it?) fan.

But back to Culkin, he’s a strange one isn’t he? He married terribly early on in his life (I think he was 18 or 19 from memory which just screamed “doomed” to me) and got involved in a lot of bad things after he discovered that he probably wasn’t going to be the next big thing in Hollywood. Maybe he should have just taken his money and put his energy into doing something else with his life. Oh and how could I forget? I also heard that he sued his parents… wow! That’s a lot to swallow but the bottom line is that being a cute, blonde kid blessed with killer dialogue is different to cutting it as an adult, pasty (yikes… that’s mean!) actor.

Can anyone say "dodgy"?

There just has to be a female added to spice up this mix and I think Melissa Joan Hart is the perfect candidate. First of all, I don’t even understand why she became famous in the first place: Sabrina was a tacky show. Just get a load of that fake as cat for a second. I don’t even think his mouth moved in accordance to the dialogue. But for some reason, this television show struck it big and one of Sabrina’s aunties would even turn up hosting The Biggest Loser in America later in her career.

Clearly, blondes are all the rage in this family!

In any case, where on earth has Sabrina disappeared to? I definitely haven’t seen her… from memory, she did a couple of films back in her hey day here and there (like Drive Me Crazy) but since the show finished its run in 2003, she hasn’t really done much to make you remember who she is. Oh well, you never know… she could become another Mickey Rourke and re-ignite her career when she’s in her fifties. However you look at it, that’s a long way away! Think I’m wrong? Let me know by leaving a comment below.