You may know I'm not the biggest fan of summer. Sure, TV's less of a wasteland than it used to be June through August, and there were some halfway decent movies in the theaters this year. But as the days wore on, I still found myself checking fall premiere dates and looking longingly ahead to Oscarbait. Fall may not technically start for a few weeks, but with Labor Day past us (and despite the fact that it hit 90 out there today), I'm declaring summer officially over.

But first, I'm looking back. Because though I may bitch and complain about my least favorite season, I did manage to keep myself fairly well entertained this year. These are the five things that I most enjoyed in between cases of heat exhaustion:

I owe rm one for insisting in comments to my post about the Tonys that Passing Strange was something special, and needed to be seen in context, context being something that one underwhelming televised song performance couldn't provide. Her rave was in the back of my mind when, on a restless weekend when my husband was out of town, I took advantage of the newly opened TKTS booth near me on a whim and scored myself a half price orchestra seat for one of the final performances. Excellent move. It's the most emotionally and ideologically sophisticated piece of theatre I've ever seen. It also rocks; I'd never seen an entire Broadway audience literally bounce around in their seats before. Luckily, Spike Lee was there the same day I was, filming the show for broadcast in 2009, where it will hopefully be discovered by those who couldn't catch it during its all too brief run.

Unconvinced that the network that considers the works of Jean-Claude Van Damme Classically American was likely to be behind quality original programming, I skipped the first season of Mad Men when it aired last year. But since the buzz built and built, I eagerly Netflixed it. It quickly turned into a running downstairs late at night to drop outgoing discs into the mailbox for the early pickup so I could get more ASAP situation. It has a Sopranos-esque depth (which isn't surprising considering that's where the creator cut his dramatic teeth), only with superior female characters and kickass production design. Season 2 is really cooking now, and wow, is it great. I suspect it may remain my favorite hour of TV even after other shows start returning.

Because of a series of programming conflicts, I also missed Cranford when it was on PBS in May. Despite its flawless pedigree, I sort of dragged my feet when it came to getting around to it on DVD, having surpassed even my very high limit on costume drama after all those weeks of Austen on Masterpiece Theatre. But then I suddenly found myself in the mood again and was richly rewarded. I sobbed my way through a good deal of it (yes, I consider that a good thing). Everyone in it is fantastic, but I especially enjoyed seeing a side of Philip Glenister that I hadn't seen before. And now I absolutely need to see every Elizabeth Gaskell adaptation ever made. You're next, North and South!

I must have some special kind of amnesia, because somehow, I always forget how much I enjoy the Olympics until I find myself on the edge of my couch, rooting hard for some athlete I'd never previously heard of competing in a sport I don't actually care about. The Michael Phelps thing is totally played out by now, and I'll be completely sick of him by the time he shows up to host Saturday Night Live, but it really was exciting to watch him be so freakishly good. And props to Yimou Zhang for a gorgeous opening ceremony, too. I don't know that they'll ever top that torch lighting.

Okay, please don't be too quick to judge me for getting a good deal of pleasure out of the Twilight series, which I consumed in one big weeklong binge courtesy of my library. My god, do those books suck. Suck, suck, suuuuuuck. The writing is frequently amateurish, the plot is sometimes absent for three quarters of a volume, and many of the characters have no discernable personalities. The "heroine" is the Sue-iest Sue who ever did Sue, and if she has more than a couple of redeeming qualities, I did not spot them. But it's so perversely fun to hate her. Most of the time I was reading with my mouth open in either horror at their deeply disturbing sociopolitical underpinnings or the sheer cracked out-ness of where the story goes and goes and then goes some more in WTeverlovingF-inducing fashion. Sadly, I will totally be going to see the movie in November, as though I'm loathe to throw any actual money Stephenie Meyer's way, I am unable to resist the opportunity to laugh my ass off at the absurdity that is vampires in baseball uniforms. For I, unlike the Cullens, am not made of stone.

Apologies in advance to my non-U.S.-dwelling and/or non-BBC-America-having readers.



Tonight, BBC America begins airing Gavin and Stacey, a show I completely and utterly adore and would be remiss in not strongly suggesting you do whatever you can to catch.

It's a simple story: English boy finally meets Welsh girl he's known only over the phone. They hit it off, and thus begins a series of celebrations and aggravations involving their best friends and families. It's full of fantastic characters who are realistic people first and collections of comedic quirks second. That has everything to do with its writers, the fantastic Ruth Jones and James Corden, who also play the best friends brilliantly. They're only two in a very talented cast. I particularly love Rob Brydon (who plays Stacey's odd, kind Uncle Bryn) and Alison Steadman (Gavin's overwrought, doting mother Pam), actors with whom, if you're reading this blog, you're probably already familiar.

It's gentle, warm, and sweet, like the TV equivalent of a s'more. But it also has a refreshing naughtiness that keeps it on the right side of treacly. It makes me laugh, and more often than not, it also makes me well up a little. Look, just trust me that it's special. Or at least see it so you can join me down the line in one of my favorite pastimes: casting a doubtful eye at the Americanized version that NBC plans on making soon.

So, in a feat of ridiculously awful timing, there are a bunch of new Half-Blood Prince images out tonight. ( Yeah, you're pissed at Warner Bros. but you still want to look anyway, don't you? )




( ETA four more: )

In conclusion, look at the bright side: you'll forget all about these over the next eleven months, and the whole movie will feel fresh and new...or something. Hey, I'm trying here! Work with me, people!

Oh, boo: Warner Bros. is pushing the Half-Blood Prince movie back from November to next July:

In making the announcement, Mr. Horn stated, "Our reasons for shifting 'Half-Blood Prince' to summer are twofold: we know the summer season is an ideal window for a family tent pole release, as proven by the success of our last Harry Potter film, which is the second-highest grossing film in the franchise, behind only the first installment. Additionally, like every other studio, we are still feeling the repercussions of the writers' strike, which impacted the readiness of scripts for other films--changing the competitive landscape for 2009 and offering new windows of opportunity that we wanted to take advantage of. We agreed the best strategy was to move 'Half-Blood Prince' to July, where it perfectly fills the gap for a major tent pole release for mid-summer."

Translation: We looked at our release schedule again and realized that because of those damn greedy writers, we've got fuck-all coming out next summer! Plus, this year's coffers are overflowing thanks to The Dark Knight doing a bazillion dollars more than we were hoping, so really, we're good for 2008. And if we want 2009 not to look like a horrible disaster by comparison, best move the trusty boy wizard there. Problems solved! Now Bianca, hold my calls. I've got 18 holes with Aaron Eckhart.

Me, I'm just hoping that my preferred multiplex with the midnight showings manages to get their air conditioning right this time around, which is something I didn't expect to be worrying about again until the very last movie. I'm also finding it slightly hilarious that in doing this, they managed to retroactively make their very late-in-arriving teaser trailer, in fact, early. Ha!

Trailer's up! Sorry for the shitty link; better alternatives will no doubt soon become are available: direct downloads in HD in sizes smallish, medium, and large. You can also stream it via Moviefone or here (it's the same player on another AOL-owned site, but for some reason, it worked better for me), but I highly recommend skipping all of that irritating buffering and just downloading and using VLC instead. It looks so much prettier that way.

( And when all else fails, there's always a blurry YouTube embed: )

( With the tech stuff out of the way, a quick reaction: )

From USA Today, two images from the very imminent-as-in-will-be-arriving-in-a-matter-of-mere-hours Half-Blood Prince trailer:

( Not super spoilery, but better safe than sorry, I always say. )

( ETA three more re: memories: )

So yeah, trailer soon. Be back then.

Remember when I said I was looking forward to what Disney would do with their new version of At The Movies? Uh, yeah, not so much now.

I'm not at all familiar with Mankiewicz, but even with the Turner Classic Movies hosting gig on his résumé, I'm automatically turned off by his association with TMZ. Lyons I've seen doing Oscar nominations analysis on E!, and while he generally seems to know his stuff, he's...well, he didn't seem at all out of place on E!, the on air staff of which is a bunch of nauseating celebrity ass kissers and Joel McHale. That combined with the fact that Ben Lyons is the son of Jeffrey Lyons, who's one of the most soft-headed critics going, I suspect we may be in for a lot of gushing nonsense. (And as has been pointed out elsewhere: wow, hiring a couple of white dudes with familial ties to the industry. Way to shake it up.)

At least there's one positive tidbit in there: Michael Phillips is still on board for the show that Roeper is working to find a home for, so they'll likely be able to keep their good thing going, at least.

It's the end of an era, for as CNN so succinctly puts it, Ebert and Roeper are leaving 'Ebert & Roeper':

Chicago Sun-Times film critic Roger Ebert says he's cutting ties with the television show that he and the late Gene Siskel made famous.

In an e-mail to The Associated Press on Monday, Ebert said Disney-ABC Domestic Television had decided to take "At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper" "in a new direction" and he won't be associated with it.

In a statement, Ebert said, "The show was a wonderful experience," and added that he and Siskel's widow, Marlene Iglitzen, retain the trademark to the phrase, "Two thumbs up."

"The thumbs will return," Ebert's statement continued. "We are discussing possibilities, and plan to continue the show's tradition."

Ebert's announcement came a day after Chicago Sun-Times columnist Richard Roeper said he was leaving the nationally syndicated show.

Roeper said in a statement Sunday that he had failed to agree on a contract extension with Disney-ABC Domestic Television so his last appearance on the show will air the weekend of August 16-17.

This show has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, and was hugely influential in forming the way I think about movies. I loved watching Siskel and Ebert go at it over everything from a stupid blockbuster to a tiny art film, enjoyed the way Ebert ribbed Roeper, and, though I've missed the heck out of Roger these last couple of years, I've even come to appreciate Richard himself, especially as he'd finally settled in pretty nicely with Michael Phillips. I'm interested in seeing what's going to come next for Disney's show and for Ebert and Roeper individually, but the anchor of my lazy Saturday afternoons in front of the TV won't be easily replaced.

If anyone still cares: thoughts about Emmy nominations!

( Blah blah, bitch complain, rinse repeat... )

Wow. What a teaser. I'm dying of anticipation over herezzzzzzzz...mmmmph, wuh?

Seriously, the loltastic Twilight* -- due out a month before HBP -- already has both a teaser and a full trailer, and Warner Bros. themselves released a fantastic teaser for 2009's Watchmen**, and we get a black screen and Dumbledore with, apparently, marbles in his mouth. I know this is meant for the IMAX audience, and likely none of that footage is ready yet, but still, way to build the excitement, guys.



*I may still read those books, though, for said sparkly lulz. I've picked the first one up in book stores a couple of times and haven't yet been able to get past the bit about the eyelet top without wanting to smack the female protagonist. But then I heard that she's actually so hateable that it's fun, which is something I think I can embrace in the summertime. Also, the premise reminds me of a very similar series I adored in high school, so some nostalgia is admittedly at work here, too.

**That I will definitely read before the movie comes out; I've been meaning to for years.