Soo Much

There are some cool aliens out there. Some kick ass while others look rad. There are many types and many options but you’re reading this because I am writing what I think the best 5 are. So sit back, drink some soda, and enjoy my top 5 aliens list.

5. Tripods (War of the Worlds)

To be honest this spot almost went to the Daleks from Dr. Who. But as I reassessed the #5 spot I decided to go with the Tripods. In Speilberg’s War of the Worlds these things are just brutal. Buried within the Earth and driven by an alien force that shows up in lightning storms. Their destructive power is showcased in an awesome moment when people try and investigate what’s happening. The theme of our own history with the Native Americans is another tremendous aspect to these ETs.  Aesthetically they are a pretty cool piece of alien technology that actually mirrors their physical appearance. The Tripods are a very ruthless, but very enjoyable extra terrestrial experience.

4. The Strangers (Dark City)

The Strangers are a very vampire-esque alien species.  In Dark City they create this total noir environment that really makes an impression, and puts them on this list. Their whole mission of human manipulation and study as their driving force just makes them so fun to watch. The fact that they are parasites just adds to the whole vampire aspect of them. They are ever present and all powerful and a great alien villain.

3. Zabrak  (Star Wars)

This species gave us Darth Maul and Savage Opress, that’s almost enough said right there. My reason for liking them is mainly these two characters. Darth Maul is basically everyone’s favorite part of Episode I (if not please let me know what else there is to like about that movie). He is a fast, furious lightsaberist who just flat out looks remarkable. Sure, he went out like a punk, but putting that aside he is still one of the coolest things to happen to Star Wars. Then you have Savage Opress. If you aren’t watching Clone Wars right now, you should be (it’s rad). This new character makes a good show even better. Honestly if a 3rd cool Zabrak character shows up, I may have a stroke.

2. Timelords (Doctor Who)

Sure they just look like normal dudes. They have two hearts and that’s about all that physically distinguishes them from humans. But the last of their species, the Doctor, has something that is so cool. The TARDIS. Being able to travel in time and space makes the timelords an easy number two for my list. They are able to see and do things other aliens can’t even dream of. On top of that, they regenerate. With each regeneration comes a new face, a new personality.. a new person! This makes for a lot of good television to watch as each doctor has his adventures with his human companion.

1. Krogan (Mass Effect)

The Krogan in the Mass Effect series are the end all be all of alien warriors. Living on a planet where predators are a constant threat, as well as the major cause of death, the Krogan embrace violence as a way of life. These reptilian looking aliens are hostile and impatient, but man when you have one on your side in Mass Effect, you are happy to have him. Their culture and mannerisms are very well developed for a video game species.  Whether it’s Wrex or Grunt, it’s great to have them in your shore party any chance you get. If you haven’t played these games yet your missing out on a ton, not least of which is a chance to experience these astounding alien behemoths of combat.

I decided to count down my top 5 favorite Stargate moments. This is in both Stargate Atlantis and SG-1. They might be different from your favorites, thus why I am saying they are MINE (for those of you who might choose to disagree with me).

5. “YOTZ!” – SG-1 spoofs Farscape:

For those of you who are both Stargate and Farscape fans, then, like me, you must have beamed with joy when you saw both Ben Bowder and Claudia Black in seasons 9 and 10 of Stargate SG-1. And, you probably flailed when Stargate did a short spoof of Farscape for their 200th episode.

4. Steve the Wraith + John Sheppard = BFF? :

You have to admit, Shep is pretttty amazing at naming things (unlike Ford, who had his naming privileges revoked), especially Wraith. Bob, Todd, Kenny and (my personal favorite) Steve are some names to be found among the Wraith our dear ol’ Shep has encountered. It’s the moments between Steve the Wraith and Shep that have brought me giggles and glee in the first season of Stargate Atlantis.

3. Exchanging Recipes with the powerless Ori:

Now, of all the moments of SG-1 that I could choose for my 3rd most favorite, there are plenty I could have gone with.. but I had to choose this one. Why? Because it was the moment that I knew I would love SG-1. See, I did the Stargate thing all bass ackwards and watched SGA before SG-1. When I decided it was time for me to get into SG-1 it took me 4 months just to get through the first season. The first season just didn’t do it for me.. I don’t know why, maybe I wasn’t attached to any of the characters (except for Daniel.. but that’s because he was adorable and geeky, just my type). But I knew that there had to be something that people loved about the show, I mean, you don’t get a massive following and 10 seasons for nothing. So, I cheated and skipped ahead 8 seasons to season 9. I knew Ben and Claud were in it, so if I still wasn’t feeling it, it wouldn’t be a total waste. Season 9 had it’s moments, and I was enjoying it much more than I had season one, but it wasn’t until the scene where Cameron was telling the Ori his recipe for goat cheese omelette that I knew I would enjoy this show. I mean, if 9 season into the show they have a character doing something that random and silly, it can’t be that out of place compared to events that occurred previously.

2. “And a pretty girl and a caveman” – McKay got shot in the bum bum:

I adore Rodney in SGA. It took me a while to warm up to him, and now he’s one of my most favorite characters ever. I know he’s one that people either love or hate, and I love him. The whole scene from him getting shot in the ass to him laying face down on Beckett’s operating table describing the other members of his team, had me in tears from laughter. And that is when I realized, even though I started watching the show because of Sheppard’s amazingly beautiful pointy hair, I had started to stray from those strands of love and began to adore Rodney’s eccentricities and massive ego.

1. “In the middle of my back swing?!?!” – The events of Window of Opportunity.

Honestly, what can I say? This ENTIRE episode is one of my most favorite (non-Jossverse) episodes of television, ever. In SG-1 when both Teal’c and Jack get stuck in a time loop, and Daniel points out to them they can do anything without consequences… awesomeness ensues!

I’ve been watching Ghost Hunters since it first started airing in 2004. Having lived in Rhode Island for part of my life, I had heard of TAPS when I was in Elementary school, before there was even a show. So, being that I am a huge fan of the show and ghosts, I tend to watch the show quite frequently.  About a month ago I was watching an episode with Alex when I started joking about how you could totally make the show in to a drinking game. I came up with a TON of rules, but narrowed it down to just a few… as to not send anyone to the hospital for alcohol poisoning. And so… I present you with the Ghost Hunters Drinking Game! Have fun, and be safe!

- Take a drink if the guys (Grant and Jay) are at a Roto Rooters Job and get a call about a case.

- Take a drink every time a “haunted” location claims to hear foot steps or doors opening and closing.

- Take a drink every time someone explains what an EMF, EVP, COLD SPOT or K2 Meter is.

- Take a drink every time someone asks:
“Hello?”
“Was that you?”
“Is anybody there?”
“Did you hear that?”

- Take a drink if someone jumps/screams/gets scared and there’s a cut to commercial break.

- Take an extra drink if it wasn’t because of something paranormal.

- Take a drink for every piece of evidence they capture.

- Take 2 drinks for every piece of evidence they debunk.

- Chug your drink if they have not captured any evidence.

**Please note : This post has NOTHING to do with whether or not you think everything in the show is real.. Any comments made on that subject will be deleted. Thanks

A few years ago, when I was slowly turning from a movie girl to a tv show girl, I started to become obsessed with underrated tv shows that were (in my opinion) cancelled before they got a chance to become great.  Below is a list of my top 5 favorite underrated tv shows that you have (probably) never seen. *Note: I’m leaving all UK tv shows out of this list.

5. Dead Like Me

Dead Like Me is a show about a small group of reapers “living” in Seattle, WA where their job is to remove the souls of people, preferably right before they die, and escort them until they move on into their afterlife.  The show has that dark fairytale feel that Fuller tends to give his shows.  It  also has the intelligence and wit that you find on Fuller’s shows as well.  A perfect mixture of comedy and drama, with a dash of grim.

4. Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

Alex actually got me into Studio 60 recently, and I am REALLY sad that it got cancelled, but I can see why.  Going up against a show like 30 Rock, which is in your face funny, Studio 60 is much more smart and witty.  Two totally different kinds of comedy. Even though you can compare it to 30 Rock, it is different in many ways. The cast is brilliant, I love watching Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford play off each other.

3. Freaks and Geeks

This show has everybody before they were somebody.  Okay, not EVERYBODY.. but some big names in comedy were on this show.  James Franco, Seth Rogen and Jason Segel to name a few. The show follows 2 groups of kids though high school in the 80s. The D&D playing, star wars watching, comic book reading “geeks”, and the music loving, class skipping, party going “freaks”.  The show is hilarious and brilliant. The characters are SO easy to relate to, and the cast is great.  This show was definitely ahead of it’s time.

2. Wonderfalls

Every time I try and describe this show to someone, I feel silly.  The show is about a sarcastic, antisocial slacker with a college degree who works in retail and lives in a trailer park named Jaye.  One day, out of no where, all the toy animals start talking to her and telling her to do things that end up helping people. It sounds ridiculous, but it’s actually hilarious. The dialogue is hysterical, the cast is full of unique and talented actors. The show is from the same creator as Dead Like Me and Pushing Daisies, so it has the fairy tale elements.

1. Firefly

Surprise, surprise! I’ll admit, this show is pretty well known for Sci-Fi fans, but outside of that, not too many people have seen this show.  This show was my “gateway drug” into sci-fi tv.  A space western, the new frontier of the future, the show follows a team of outlaws trying to make their way in the verse. With the wit that you find in all of Joss Whedon’s shows and a cunning cast, Firefly was definitely a show before it’s time.

Summer is here, and so is my love for summer programming.  I know that there are easily a dozen summer tv shows I SHOULD be watching, but  too many shows, so little time!  So here is a list of the shows that I do watch and enjoy.

Here is my top 5 list of Summer TV shows that I love!

5. Burn Notice
Alex just recently started showing me Burn Notice and I fell in love instantly.  Even though I’m still on the first season, I hope to finish in time for this season.

4. Eureka
I’m not going to lie, one of my main reasons for loving this show as much as I do is the cast.  My first panel at my first year at Comic Con was for Eureka. It had just wrapped up it’s first season, and the cast had just found out there was going to be a 2nd.  All the main characters were up there (minus Neil Grayston who plays Fargo) and they were completely grateful for all their fans and for the chance to be a part of the show. During the Q&A, everyone from kids in first grade, to teenagers, young adults, adults and grandparents went up and asked questions.  And when they ran out of time for questions, the cast offered to hang out and talk after. This show is charming and original, the characters are fun and interesting and it does a great job of merging future technology and thinking with modern day living.  Oh, and this year, “No More Mister Nice” Gaius from Battlestar will be joining the cast.

3. Warehouse 13
This was my favorite new show last summer.  Its got character chemistry similar to Bones, the fun and futuristic feel of Eureka and is a bit like X-Files with less aliens, but still has an originality that is all it’s own.  The two main characters have a playful and endearing relationship, and the show itself is light and off beat.  Again, it’s a show that will appeal to all ages.  Also, sci-fi fans will love the guest appearances this upcoming season from people like Gina Torres, Jewel Staite and Sean Maher (firefly).  Last season Tricia Helfer (BSG), Michael Hogan (BSG) and Joe Flanigan (SGA) showed up along with Erica Cerra, Niall Matter and Joe Morton (Eureka) as well as Mark Sheppard (every sci-fi show I could think of).

2. Psych
Fake Psychics, Real Detectives. Psych is a show that I randomly caught a few episodes of in it’s first season, and instantly got hooked.  It’s hilarious, each episode has parts that make me laugh til my sides ache.  Shawn and Gus, the show’s main characters, have amazing chemistry and are the definition of “opposites attract”.  I love this show not only for James Roday’s hilarious outbursts, spontaneous rants, random pop-culture references and wacky covers, but also because the show spends almost no time on the characters being worried that their secret will be discovered.  Unlike most shows where the main character has a big secret they’re trying to keep, this show doesn’t lose itself in the typical, boring plot line where they’re trying to keep everyone from finding out.  It’s very much a modern day, American version of Sherlock Holmes with a twist.. and a psychic detective.. who isn’t psychic.

1. True Blood
In a world where all Vampires are painted as sparkley teenage boys who don’t kill, a show that isn’t afraid to take vampires back to what they really are. This show has a very southern gothic feel to it and draws you in with it’s variety of character personalities, satirical elements, soap opera like story lines and who aren’t afraid to be vampires.

Perspective of an audience member on the last Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien
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10 UK TV Shows Americans Should Watch (pt 1: 1-5)

It’s common knowledge among my friends that I watch way more British television than American television.  I’d wager that a majority of the people living in the states have had very little exposure to British Television, and that makes me sad.  If there’s one thing I love about British television, it’s the complete originaliy of almost every show that airs overseas. With British television you get unique plots that present storylines and ideas that are far from the norm.  So if you’re sick of the typical shows that air in the states, or you’re tired of seeing shows with plots that have been done before, you should check out the shows listed below.

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