The Return of Mad Men

Don't miss the third season of Mad Men, starting tonight on AMC at 10pm EST/9pm CST.

Yes, it's a guilty pleasure watching this show. First you say to youself, "How can they treat women and minorities like this?" And it is truly amazing and scary when you realize how our society was ordered not so long ago. But then you also notice the warm tones, old songs and innocent simplicity of a society that does not self-censure when it comes to smoking, drinking or even child rearing, and you say to yourself, "The past was truly another country." And it was.

If only we could save some of the past and throw out other aspects. So enjoy it for what it is; days gone by, beautifully recreated, with warts and all.

Defying a Clear Plot - Another Sci Fi Show This Season

I guess everything comes in pairs nowadays. First it was Fox's Virtuality (see my earlier comments) and now it's ABC's Defying Gravity. The fourth episode starts tomorrow night (Sunday's at 10pm EST/ 9pm CST). Overall, the show seems to be more about dating and relationships then any keen interest in space, but it's still early. This crew seems to be hand-picked by the ship (okay, spaceships don't have hands) for a 6 year voyage through the solar system.

So far it seems more like space camp then any serious effort to tackle great tasks. We have come a long way from the Right Stuff. Our steely astronauts have been replaced by whiny individuals who either go wacko when the mission shifts or hear mysterious baby cries while tending to ship duties. The acting has been strong to date, regardless of the script, but the story needs to pick up. I can watch 90210 (even the horrible remake) and get all the teenage antics I need. Let's get with the program, people.

And don't expect many scenes showing a modern America, even though this is supposed to be the 2050s. In fact, in one scene the character is getting onto what seems to be the same city bus I see on the streets today. The only difference was the noise the bus made. Maybe its some sort of new fuel, but I was not impressed. I guess all the set money was used on the spacecraft. Oh well, you can check out the past episodes on the ABC site as well.

Haunted Britain - Vampires, Werewolves and Ghosts

BBC America has a fun new show where a vampire, a werewolf and a ghost share a room. I know, I know, it sounds like another reality show, but it is scripted and far better. The new show, Being Human, is broadcast on Saturday evenings at 9pm EST/8pm CST. The first episode started a few weeks ago and you can catch episode 3 in reruns this week. Episode 4 will start on August 15th.

A few things in the new show are worth mentioning. First, no one likes their plight, so expect a fair amount of moaning. I guess that's what it like being human. For example, Mitchell, the vampire in the trio, does not want to drain humans (yes, the same as Twilight, Vampire Diaries, Buffy, True Blood, etc.). Also, I still cannot figure out Annie. How can she lift objects as a ghost while also walking through walls? Maybe we will get a greater understanding as the show progresses. Maybe not.

I already like where the show is going. For instance, it appears the vampires are planning some form of world conquest and they have infiltrated key parts of the "human" infrastructure. This storyline has promise (of course, it's close to where True Blood has gone, but I hope it has a new twist).