New Feature: Reasons Why I Love TV

Over at the great Michael May's Adventureblog, he did a post about 100 things he loves about TV. He was inspired by Siskoid's Blog of Geekery and his 100 things he loves about television.

I love their lists, and agree with a bunch of their choices. So, I wanted to follow suit but hesitated, for two reasons. 1: I was afraid I would forget things, people, moments - whatever - and I would hate that. And 2: I would take forever to get it done.

Instead, I have decided to turn it into a feature here. When I think of one of the things I love about TV, I will do a short post and share. Hope you enjoy them and hope they bring back some memories for you, as well!

Reason #1 Why I Love TV:

Start this off with something near and dear to me: Friday the 13th: The Series.



Michael May had this show at # 64 on his list, saying "That Friday the 13th: The Series was way better than the movies it got its name from." I think the show and the movies are enjoyable in their own rights, but I am just so glad he mentioned it!

Too many times it gets knocked for either being "that Friday the 13th show" or "having nothing to do with Jason." I truly think this is one of those times when a show's title was both a boon and a curse. Having that name certainly brought eyes to the show in the beginning. What horror fan didn't want to see what this was all about? And, to this day, it gets mentioned merely for that association with the Jason Voorhees' franchise.

But it was also hindered by that title. Being unrelated to the movies turned off lots of fans, people who didn't stick around to see what the show had to offer on its own merits. And non-horror fans just disregarded the whole thing based on that name alone.

I admit that I tuned in at first because I was curious. Friday the 13th on the small screen, every week? Interesting. But I fell in love with the characters, the setting, the premise - all of it - from that first episode. Jason wasn't there, but there was a new, strange, dark world there that fascinated me. And I was hooked.

The show should have gone on longer, but that is ancient history now. We have the three seasons and can enjoy them again and again now, thanks to the DVD releases.

Friday the 13th: The Series. The #1 Reason Why I Love TV.

Halloween 13 Meme

SamuraiFrog @ Electronic Cerebrectomy posted this and I thought it would be fun to play along!

1. What is the worst treat to get when trick-or-treating?

Any loose candy, like unwrapped or even barely wrapped. Why?

2. What character from any horror film would you most like to play?

Jason Voorhees, I guess.

3. Would you rather be a zombie, alien, or psycho? (why)

Zombie would be easier, I suppose, but a psycho would be more challenging.


4. How many Halloween, Friday the 13th, or Nightmare on Elm Street movies combined do you have on dvd?

All of them, actually. Well, I don't have the Rob Zombie remakes (bleh) or the new Nightmare on Elm Street (but I supposedly won it, so that may change). And some, like the F13 movies, I have in different versions. And I have like 3 versions of Carpenter's Halloween. It is my favorite movie of all.

5. What is the scariest movie you have ever seen?

The original Halloween still has the ability to leave me unsettled. Calvaire is one that totally freaked me out.

6. Lamest costume you have worn on Halloween?

As I have gotten older, I have just worn horror t-shirts, usually. The lamest may be when I went in drag. Not a good look.

7. Favorite Halloween treat?

Pumpkin pie is good, but I usually have that around Thanksgiving. Maybe the Reeses' Peanut Butter Pumpkins or the Monster Cereals.

8. Friendly-faced jack o’lantern or scary one?

Scary.

9. Have you ever had nightmares about a scary movie character chasing you?

Yup. Michael Myers. And I still go back and watch again and again.

10. Best thing about Halloween?

What's not to like? The air is crisp, not too cold but not to hot. The television is filled with creepy flicks, some you never get to see at any other time of year. Homes are decorated in spooky and wonderful ways. Pumpkins abound and candy is plentiful. All good!

11. Strangest Halloween custom you’ve heard of?

What I find strange is people celebrating Halloween days ahead of time, to not scare their kids or whatever. What? It is HALLOWEEN, people!

12. Person in your family who most likes Halloween (not counting yourself)?

I guess my daughter. She loves the same aspects I do, except for the scary movies.

13. Are you superstitious? If so, name at least one superstition of yours.

No, don't believe any of it is real. All good for fun and merriment, but that's where it ends.

Tumblr Music Meme

This was cool. I posted it on my Tumblr and figured I would share it here, too:


Put your music player on shuffle. 


The first lines of twenty songs = a poem; the first line of the twenty-first song is the title.


WHEN ARE YOU GONNA COME DOWN?


Tall and tan and young and lovely,
When the outside temperature rises,
You must be my lucky star,
I am the biggest hypocrite.


There's a shadow just behind me,
This is the clock up on the wall,
Come on girls - Do you believe in love?
Here we are hanging on strains of greed and blues.


Everybody comes to Hollywood,
I was walking down the street,
Come with me, my love,
My baby makes me proud.


Well it's not working anymore,
They told him Don't you ever come around here,
Something has changed within me,
Well, since my baby left me.


When you're alone and life is making you lonely,
Well, we're movin' on up,
You walked in to the party,
Hello darkness my old friend.




via TumblFrog [via bellediablerie:(Idea from yousoldmeillusions.)]

Horror Blogger Meme

Pax Romano from Billy Loves Stu has created this meme, which has been all around the horror-themed blogs. I copied it from All Things Horror. Here are my answers:

1: In Ten Words or Less, Describe Your Blog

What I read, write, watch, listen to or do.

2: During What Cinematic Era Where you Born?

    A: The Classic Horror Era (late 30's to 40's)

    B: The Atomic Monster/Nuclear Angst Era (the late 40's through 50's)

    C: The Psycho Era (Early 60's)

    D: The Rosemary's Baby Era (Mid to Late 60's)

    E: The Exorcism Era (Early to mid 70's)

    F: The Halloween Era (Late 70's to Early 80's)

    G: The Slasher Era (Mid to late 80's)

    H: The Self Referential/Post Modern Era (1990 to 1999)

E... and I watched some stuff that warped my wee brain at an early age.

3: The Carrie Compatibility Question:

Er... no one?

4: You have been given an ungodly amount of money and total control of a major motion picture studio - what would your dream Horror project be?

Giving horror filmakers a place to make things without tons of interference. And also try and get a reunion movie made for my all time favorite show, Friday the 13th: The Series.

5: What horror film "franchise" that others have embraced, left you cold?

Saw alternately intrigues me and pushes me away. But another is Zombie flicks. I love Night of the Living Dead, but my love for that genre drops the further away it gets from that movie. That said, I have Zombieland set to record tomorrow on DVR. Always hopeful!

6:  Is Michael Bay the Antichrist?

Not a fan of Transformers or his other stuff, but I have to admit I was okay with his Texas Chainsaw Massacre redo, as I was with the Friday the 13th remake. Haven't seen the Nightmare on Elm Street redo yet.

7: Dracula, The Wolf Man, The Frankenstein Monster - which one of these classic villains scares you, and why?

Dracula. Frankenstein is just like a big, confused child and the Wolfman is tormented and trapped, but pretty much a wild animal. Drac knows who and what he is, and wants to keep on doing the evil he does.

8: Tell me about a scene from a NON HORROR Film that scares the crap out of you:

The flying monkeys tearing the beejeesus out of the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz.

9: Baby Jane Hudson invites you over to her house for lunch.  What do you bring?

First I would leave a note somewhere so people know where I am. And I would bring a weapon, something easily concealed.

10: So, between you and me, do you have any ulterior motives for blogging?  Come, on you 

can tell me, it will be our little secret, and I won't tell a soul.

To share what I like and hopefully find people who like it as well. Nothing "secret" about it.

11: What would you have brought to Rosemary Woodhouse's baby shower?

Booze. 

12: Godzilla vs. The Cloverfield Monster, who wins?

Godzilla, and then he would make sure to be caught on camera, so he could brag.

13: If you found out that Rob Zombie was reading your blog, what would you post in hopes that he read it?

A plea for him to go back to music and leave movies alone?

14: What is your favorite NON HORROR FILM, and why?

Depends, I guess, on my mood. Love Rear Window. Love Overboard. Guess I will go with The Princess Bride as my favorite Non-Horror Film.

15: If blogging technology did not exist, what would you be doing?

Guess just watching movies and reading books.

Another Meme

I stole this from Ravyn, who stole it from Cal, who stole it from Sunday Stealing. 

1. The phone rings; who don't you want it to be?

I hate the phone. I hate talking on the phone. I don't want it to be the police telling me bad news.

2. When shopping at the grocery store, do you return your cart?

Usually, unless there are already a few near my car.

3. In a social setting, are you more of a talker or a listener?

Listener.

4. What was the last compliment that someone gave you?

Good meatloaf muffins.
5. Do you play the lottery?

Not really. Every now and again I do, but not as frequent as I should if I want to win something.

6. If abandoned alone in the wilderness, who would you want with you?

Yogi Bear, he can find the picinic baskets!
7. Do you like to ride horses?

Rode one as a baby for a photo, that is all.
8. Did you ever go to camp as a kid?

Well, if you count the number of times I have "gone" to Camp Crystal Lake, then yeah.
9. What is your favorite party game?

I don't go to parties.

10. If a sexy person was pursuing you, but you knew he/she was married, would you go for it?

Well I'm married so I wouldn't be interested.

11. When was the last time that you lied?

Uh... No clue.

12. Could you date someone with different religious beliefs than you?

I married someone with different beliefs (I am an atheist, she was not), but if the person was some bible-thumper, then I think I would have had issues.

13. If you have a S/O, who pursued who? If not, do you like to pursue or be pursued?


She was. and I was lucky!

14. Use six words to describe yourself.

Chubby, hairy, funny, loving, loved, caffeinated
15. Name a song that could make you cry?

Don't know of one. 

16. Are you pleased with your education?

I graduated high school and stopped. Can't change the past.

17. How do you feel about gun control?

No guns in my house. I don't care what you do in yours.

18. If your house was on fire, what thing would be the first thing you grabbed?

Family.

19. How often do you have a romantic weekend?

What is that?

20. Do you think more about the past, present or future?

Depends.
21. What was the last adult magazine that you have read?

TV Guide count?

22. What are you told about your eyes?

Uh... "Hey, two eyes!" - I don't know!
23. How tall is just right?

Bit taller than I.
24. Where is your dream house located?

Wherever Nancy is.

25. Do you have a secret fetish?

Do you know what secret means? 

26. Have you tried bourbon? If yes, what type?

Nope.

27. Have you ever seen a male or female stripper?

On TV.

28. When was the last time you were at TGI Fridays?

A few weeks ago.

29. When was the last time you were at Church?

When I went to a funeral.

30. Where was the furthest place you traveled today?

Too early to say.

31. What was your favorite job?

Raising my kids. 

33. Bud is hosting Thursday Thunks this week. Will you play?

Who is Bud and what is Thursday Thunks?

34. Do you look like your mom or dad?

Trying to piss me off?
35. Who was the last person that you showered with (it's okay to leave out the name)?

Nancy.

Monster Meme

1.FULLNAME? 
Joseph

2.NICKNAME(S)? 
Joe, Dad, Wings

3.BIRTHPLACE? 
Fall River, MA
 
4.WEBSITE 
You are there


5.FAVORITE SALAD DRESSING? 
Italian or Caesar

6.FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? 
Vanilla

7.FUTURE CAREER GOALS? 
No clue

8.PROBABLE CAREER? 
No clue

9.FAVORITE FOOD? 
Pizza, cheeseburger, chicken parm 


10.FAVORITE DRINK? (Non-alcoholic) 
Coffee

11.FAVORITE SCHOOL SUBJECT? 
Art

12.FAVORITE SCHOOL ACTIVITY? 
Leaving

13.LEAST FAVORITE SCHOOL SUBJECT?

Social Studies

14.LEAST FAVORITE SCHOOL ACTIVITY? 
Gym

15.WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR TOWN? 
It has a sort of small-town thing still going on

16.WHAT DO YOU LIKE LEAST ABOUT YOUR TOWN? 
Budget issues

17.GREATEST ADVENTURE? 
Meeting my now-wife and taking the best leap ever

18.MOST ROMANTIC MOMENT? 
In the pool. In Florida. On our honeymoon.


19.HOW MANY PILLOWS? 
Two, one to sleep with, the other is there for sitting to read.

20.PETS? 
Dogs - Max, TJ; Rats - Heath, Colt

21.THREE FAVORITE MOVIES? (THIS YEAR) 
Toy Story 3, House of the Devil, ... not sure of a third

22.THREE FAVORITE MOVIES? (ALL TIME)
Halloween, The Princess Bride, It's a Wonderful Life

23.FAVORITE TV SHOWS (THIS YEAR)
Psych, Modern Family, The Middle, Burn Notice, White Collar, Royal Pains, Warehouse 13, Wipeout

24.THREE FAVORITE TV SHOWS? (ALL TIME) 
Friday the 13th: The Series, Star Trek: The Next Generation, The X-Files

25.LEAST FAVORITE TV SHOWS 
Reality shows. The only ones I care for are Wipeout and American Idol. 

26.THREE FAVORITE SONGS? (ALL TIME) 
Unforgettable; Coat of Many Colors; Cherry Bomb

27.THREE FAVORITE ALBUMS OR CDs? 
Dolly Parton has many, John Mellencamp, 80s compilations

28.THREE FAVORITE MUSIC VIDEOS? 
anything 80s, I guess

29.FAVORITE SINGER? 
Dolly Parton

30.FAVORITE MUSICAL GROUP? 
Red Hot Chili Peppers

31.MUSICAL SHAME? 
music from Xanadu

32.FAVORITE CELEBRITY? 
James Stewart

33.LEAST FAVORITE CELEBRITY? 
Lindsay Lohan


34.MALE STAR? 
Tom Hanks

35.FEMALE STAR? 
Jamie Lee Curtis

36.WORD OR PHRASE YOU OVER USE? 
Jinkies!

37.SUPERPOWER YOU WOULD WANT? 
Flight

38.BODY PIERCINGS OR TATTOOS? 
Pierced ear. Not tattoos, but plenty of scars.

39.IF YOU COULD WITNESS ONE EVENT IN HISTORY WHICH WOULD IT BE AND WHY WOULD YOU GO THERE? 
too many to choose from

40.WHAT DO YOU THINK OTHERS ADMIRE ABOUT YOU? 
caring, funny, the Mexican dip

41.WHAT DO YOU ADMIRE MOST ABOUT YOURSELF? 
I care

42.WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE ABOUT YOURSELF IF YOU COULD? 
not sure... less procrastinating?

43.IF YOU COULD LIVE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD WHERE WOULD YOU GO? 
WHY?
York, Maine

44.WHAT WOULD BE YOUR LAST MEAL? (INCLUDE EVERYTHING) 
Meat Pizza


45.WHAT IS YOUR PREFERRED METHOD OF EXECUTION? 
Firing Squad

46.WHAT LIVING PERSON WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO HAVE LUNCH WITH? 
Kristen Vangeness
 
47.WHAT DEAD PERSON WOULD YOU MOST HAVE LIKED TO HAVE LUNCH WITH? 
My wife's dad

48.THREE BOOKS TO TAKE TO A DESSERT ISLAND? 
The Princess Bride
Dashiell Hammett collection
collected Sherlock Holmes


49.THREE PEOPLE YOU KNOW TO TAKE TO A DESSERT ISLAND? 
Wife and kids

50.THREE WISHES? (NO FAIR WISHING FOR MORE WISHES) 
Peace
Health
Utopia

51.WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU UNIQUE? 
Born with AMC

52.SPORT YOU MOST LIKE TO WATCH? 
Baseball

53.SPORT YOU MOST LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN? 
Er...

54.WHAT DO YOU COLLECT? 
Horror movies; also have some horror film stuff and Aquaman figures

55.WHO DO YOU ADMIRE MOST IN YOUR LIFE? 
Nancy, my wife. She is amazing.

56.WHAT HISTORICAL PERIOD WOULD YOU HAVE LIKED TO LIVE IN? 
40s, maybe?

57.FAVORITE MONOPOLY PIECE? 
Dog

58.FAVORITE BOARD GAMES? 
Clue, Scrabble, Sorry, Trouble

59.SPIRIT ANIMAL? 
Uh... 

60.FAVORITE ANIMAL? 
Dog


61.BEST AND WORST PARTS OF LIVING IN THE FUTURE? 
Best: See how the world has changed.
Worst: Won't know anyone.


62.DO YOU PREFER CATS OR DOGS? 
Dogs

63.WHAT WOULD BE YOUR SPICE GIRL NAME IF YOU WERE IN THE GROUP? 
Barley

64.DO YOU PREFER COKE OR PEPSI? 
Cherry Coke Zero


via Ravyn's World