Friday, November 27, 2009

Scrubs Returns! (Niddler, Don't read this unless you've caught up to the end of Season 8!!)

Next week brings us the start of season 9 of Scrubs. Apparently the name is staying as it's seen as a 'brand'. If Bill Lawrence has his way it will be renamed 'Med School'. but.. for me, it will be Scrubs:TNG i think!

So. the premise is that it's based in med school, with Cox, Turk, JD and Bob as professors.. Now.. quite how the Chief of Medicine and Chief of Surgery at Sacred Heart can fit time in their schedules to teach is beyond me.. but i guess we'll find out next week.

I'm looking forward to it, mainly as it's going to be a different show; something fresh and new, but built on familiar foundations. Unfortunately, no Janitor though as Neil Flynn has his own show. Although, he basically plays the same character under a different name.. shades of Jimmy Rabbitte Sr from The Commitments maybe?

In other news, I am having a slow Friday but have been on the phone to Bangalore all morning interviewing candidates for an Oracle DBA position I have going. Think I may have found someone, so am quite pleased.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Life on Mars... (or lack of, after Doctor Who)

OK, so Duncan beat me to the Doctor Who post.

I've just been watching 'Blink' on iPlayer, which is quite possibly the best episode of DW since 'New Who' started (and ironically, the one with the least Doctor) and it's really making me look forward to the new series, when Steven Moffat takes over as the creative genius behind the scenes.

Now, don't get me wrong, I enjoy RTD's stories; they have the wants and needs of the fans down to a fine art, they pull out the epic stories and crowd pleasing characters but at the end of the day I feel they are fluffy, childlike and sometimes lack substance.

SM on the other hand, writes drama, immersive stories and scares, while delivering a heavier, more grown up episode.

Whereas RTD's DW is seen as a 'kids' show, i'm hoping SM's DW will be more a 'young adult' show. After all, it's been back on our screens for almost 5 years, and many of the kids who formed a new generation of fans are growing up and are probably teenagers now.. so maybe DW (a bit like Harry Potter has done) is growing up with it's audience.

As much as I like David Tennant's Doctor, I'm looking forward to seeing how Matt Smith will play our favourite Time Lord. It's especially interesting as to how the character will be compared to the Doctor we have seen of late. In 'Waters of Mars' - Which contains one of TV's best puns in the naming of the Mars base - The Doctor became reckless, 'The Time Lord Victorious' and made a mistake, one which I'm sure is the catalyst for the final two specials, and the Doctor's impending regeneration. As of yet, I don't think we've seen the Doctor make a mistake.. or a lapse in judgment; he's always been the knowledgeable fix-it man. However, now he is vulnerable and I think we will see a new side of him. From a plot point of view, i'm sure this is to add a chink in his armour, so we will be more ready to accept a new Doctor, a Doctor Atoned, for want of a better phrase.

I'm also hoping that the new series will end the continual bringing back of old characters. Well, except for Sarah Jane, since she has her own show AND has traveled with 3 doctors now! The only exception should be characters from SM stories.. so Jack, River Song and Sally Sparrow would be OK. And PLEASE let's have a 'Weeping Angel' appear somewhere. Even if it is in a 'Where's Wally?' capacity just like 'Bad Wolf' was in Season 1.

So, 2 more eps to go before 'New New Who' - Can't wait!

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Do you ever.....

.... really want to just tell someone something but know that if you do you will most likely screw things up as a result?

But anyway! It's November and monday was one of the nicest days we've had in a long time; the sun was out, was crisp and clear and the autumn shades of red and orange are appearing!

I do love this time of year!