Visions of Winchesters: The Supernatural Blog Carnival, Sept. 30

Welcome to the September 30, 2009 edition of Visions of Winchesters: The Supernatural Blog Carnival.

• Last Week’s Episode
• This Week’s Episode
• News
• Spoilers: On a separate page to protect the spoilerphobes

Last Week’s Episode

Supernatural: Free to Be You and Me
Suzanne presents her recap posted at Damsel Undistressed. Suzanne used to recap Supernatural at Sci Fi Chicks but has now moved them to her own site.

Supernatural’s “Free to Be You and Me”: Giving the Devil His Due
Maureen Ryan, the Chicago Tribune’s TV Watcher, shares her reactions to last week’s episodes. She has also added three preview clips for tomorrow’s episode, “The End.”

Supernatural Recap: Cas and Dean, Two Wild and Crazy Guys
Buddy TV’s recap is here mainly because of the kick-ass title. I loved Steve Martin and Dan Aykroyd as the Wild and Crazy Guys on Saturday Night Live, you know, when SNL made headlines for being funny, not just for f-bombs.

This Week’s Episode

5.04 Unaired Episode
Supernatural wiki has a collection of all of the important info for “The End.”

Supernatural Episode Preview: “The End”
Bruce Miller posts a preview and pics at Screen Rants.

How is John Winchester Connected to This Week’s Supernatural?
John Kubicek, of Buddy TV, shares a little story about the connections between “The End” and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. (Hine: They shared a set of sets.)

News
Supernatural Showdown: Get Ready for Sam Versus Dean
Blayne Kyllo discusses the set-up for the potential brother versus brother showdown at the end of Season 5. Do you buy it? Or do you think they’ll lead us down that path and give us something even more awesome?

Jeffrey Dean Morgan Says Yes to More John Winchester
According to Ace Showbiz, Jeffrey Dean Morgan would love to come back to Supernatural for the final season. I, of course, don’t see how they could pull it off, unless it were flashbacks. Well, I guess they did a fine job bringing back Jess.

That concludes this edition. Don’t forget that I’m still looking for a Sam girl to do a guest post. Email me at popculture AT jennifer-roland.com if you’re interested.

And submit your blog article to the next edition of The Supernatural Blog Carnival using the carnival submission form. Past posts can be found on the blog carnival index page or by clicking Supernatural in the tag cloud.

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Weary (A Rant)

After all of the hullabaloo of the past week about Mackenzie Phillips and Roman Polanski, I’m tired.

I’m tired of hearing about incest and rape. I’m tired of apologists trying to ignore the fact that these crimes were committed.

Is it okay that John Phillips coerced his daughter into a sexual relationship because he also happened to be an influential musician? I don’t think so.

Is it okay that Roman Polanski drugged and raped a 13-year-old girl, admitted to the crime in a binding legal document, and then fled the country just because he is an amazing director? Again, not so much.

I am appalled at all of the people who say that he suffered enough. I’m sorry, but living in Europe actually sounds pretty cool, so unless France is actually a gulag with really good PR department, I don’t but that argument.

I’m even more appalled by those who refuse to admit that what he did was a crime. The girl testified that she told him no more than once. She was also well below the age of consent, so even if she had said yes, it would still be a violation of a child.

One of the authors I follow on Twitter posed an interesting question:

eliza_writes if he had drugged & raped a 13 year old boy, would he have gone free for 30 years?

I responded that not only would he likely have been apprehended, but he also would have been unable to work for a very long time. Eliza agreed, saying that it points out the relative value of boys and girls in our society.

I agree with that assessment, but I also believe it speaks to our fear of homosexuality. Homosexuality challenges gender roles in a way that many think challenges the underlying structure of our society. Even though rape is a crime of power and not sex, the rape of a boy is much more of a taboo in our society because it is “gay.” I mean, would the Catholic priest scandal have been such a big deal in the media and the courts if the victims had been altar girls?

The concept of power is yet another excuse I have heard offered for Polanski’s crime. If he has lived a life in which he felt powerless, I feel sympathy for him. I hope that others can learn about rape prevention from his story. But it is not an excuse. No matter what his family went through, no matter how awful he felt being accused of killing his wife and unborn child, there is no reason to violate a child.

And yet, French and Polish officials, Debra Winger, Harvey Weinstein, and others want to drop the charges and deny that what Polanski did was so terrible. It just goes back to my argument this summer that celebrities are held to a different standard. Athletic, musical, or artistic talent is no excuse for committing vile acts.

And that, loyal readers, is the total airtime I will allow to these two stories. Thank you for indulging me. I will try not to trip on my soapbox on the way out.

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The Fall Season So Far

So far, I think the new fall TV season has gotten off to a good start. There have been some misses (Accidentally on Purpose, to name one really big one), but I’ve been impressed with a few of the new and returning shows.

The Vampire Diaries is fun, though it is a DVR show. Flash Forward is awesome, interesting, and thought-provoking. And Glee. Wonderful, fun Glee. It should go without saying that I am completely and hopelessly in love with this season of Supernatural, but I’m saying it anyway.

I’m embarassed to admit it, but Cougar Town is actually pretty funny. I still think the word “cougar” is one of the most offensive current terms to refer to a woman, but Courtney Cox is very likeable and the show itself isn’t offensive.

The jury is still out on Dollhouse. It is improving, but I’m not sure the underlying premise is that strong. Case of the week doesn’t require glorified whores who can ‘t remember they are whores.

The CW made a good decision to cancel The Beautiful Life, but the back 9 order for Melrose Place? Really?

My Mondays and Thursdays are manageable. Tuesday is a nightmare. And Wednesday offers nothing at 8, but a glut of shows in the 9:00 hour. (Okay, maybe not a glut, but the only things worth watching mid-week are all on opposite each other.)

How about you. How is your fall shaping up so far?

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• Thursdays Will Be Super Stacked This Fall
• Countdown to New Shows: Spring 2010
• Visions of Winchesters: Supernatural Blog Carnival, Oct. 14
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• Visions of Winchesters: Supernatural Blog Carnival, Sept. 23

What Is up with the CW?

I have a notion about how the network TV world should work. Producers make pilots and shop them to the networks. The networks order episodes based on the pilot and sink some money into ensuring that the shows bring in eyeballs when they debut.

In a perfect world, a show that doesn’t do so well out of the gate will be given a chance to grow. I mean, by the time the first episode airs, the network has invested a good chunk of money into the show, so it seems that they would at least want to air the episodes they’ve paid for. Especially if the only other option they have is re-airing episodes of a show from the previous night.

But the CW has no patience. In 2007, they cancelled Runaway after only four episodes. Last season, they cancelled their outsourced Sunday night in early November. And now, they have pulled the plug on The Beautiful Life after two episodes. Will repeats of Melrose Place bring in more eyes in that timeslot?

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The Beautiful Life: TBL Is So Over

I just read in the LA Times that The CW has canceled The Beautiful Life: TBL and will replace it with repeats of Melrose Place. Apparently, one night a week isn’t enough for that awful show.

I think TBL failed with viewers because (a) it was not a good show and (b) it used its name twice. Every single person who said anything about the show (and those people were few and far between) asked why they didn’t pick one of the names. New York may be the city so nice they named it twice, but, TBL, I’ve seen New York, and you are no New York.

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Who Will Be the Next Big Infomercial Star

With the passing of Billy Mays and the downward spiral of Vince of Slap Chop and Sham-Wow fame, there appears to be a vacuum in the infomercial host world.

Who will fill it? And what do you look for in your infomercial spokespeople? Volume? Craziness? Or just great screen presence?

My favorite fake infomercial of all time is from Friends, naturally. When Joey is the stupid guy who can’t open the milk carton on The One with the Metaphorical Tunnel. Love it.

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The Return of Happy TV

I like dark shows. Porbably more than the average person.

I loved the seedy underbelly of the small Pacific northwest town Twin Peaks.

I couldn’t get enough of the depressing and violent near-future depicted in Strange Days.

But even I have to throw up my hands sometimes and say, “Please show me some color, some light, some happiness.”

Pushing Daisies (RIP) gave me some of that. I ended each episode feeling happier than when I started.

I’ve got a few current shows I go to for the happy. Gossip Girl and 90210 amuse me with their ridiculousness. And Castle thrills me with the rapport between Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic as they solve sometimes grisly murders.

My number one go-to happy show, though, is Glee. It’s exuberance is infectious. I don’t always like the songs they sing. In fact, I rarely like musical performances in my TV shows and movies. I don’t always like the characters or the choices they make. But it is all put together in a package that can’t help but make me smile.

What about you? Are you in love with Glee, or do you dismiss it as an over-hyped, over-sold disappointment? Do you prefer your TV to show stark, gritty reality; dark depravity; lighthearted, feel-good fare; or some combination of all of these elements?

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• My Fall TV Viewing Schedule
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• Countdown to New Shows: Spring 2010
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Visions of Winchesters: Supernatural Blog Carnival, Sept. 23

Welcome to the September 23, 2009 edition of Visions of Winchesters: The Supernatural Blog Carnival.

• Last Week’s Episode
• This Week’s Episode
• News
• Spoilers: On a separate page to protect the spoiler-phobes.

Last Week’s Episode
5.02 Good God, Y’All: I Don’t Trust Me, Either
Bardicvoice presents a recap posted at Bardic’s Descant. Episode summary, commentary/meta analysis, and production notes – settle in for a long read!

Supernatural: Good God, Y’All
Suzanne presents her recap posted at Damsel Undistressed. A reminder that Suzanne used to post her recaps at Sci Fi Chicks but has now moved them to her own site.

Supernatural 5.02: Good God, Y’all”
John Keegan posts his reflections on last week’s episode at Media Blvd.

Good God, Y’all: That’s Almost Perfect
M.R. Reed shares his thoughts on last week’s episode at Eclipse Magazine.

This Week’s Episode

Preview of Supernatural Episode 5.3 “Free to Be You and Me”
Buddy TV gives a glimpse of what the boys will experience in tomorrow’s episode. The title reminds me of the Marlo Thomas and Co. PBS special and accompanying album from my childhood–happiness–but the fact that our boys are separated belies the lightheardedness of the title.

Supernatural “Free to Be You and Me”
Daemon’s TV includes a clip with a brief description of the episode.

Supernatural Season 5 Episode 3
Shock ti You Drop ups the ante with a teaser trailer and a clip.

Mike Hale includes SPN in his roundup of tomorrow’s

News
Supernatural is a Hit … on DVD
Nick C is back to bash The CW’s shoddy treatment of our favorite show, pointing out that Season 4 DVD sales have blown most other genre and all CW shows sales out of the water.

Pic Post
The folks at After Elton have gathered some nice photos of our boys, even Lucifer’s meatsuit.

More Scripts Ordered for Vampire Diaries
Michael Hinman reports that The CW is looking into ordering the back 9 for The Vampire Diaries and discusses Supernatural’s ratings.

Same Old, Same Old
Pop Culture Vulture Elizabeth Tai laments the lack on interesting new blood in this year’s Emmy winners, including the snubbing of Supernatural stars in the acting categories.

Spoilers for Smallville
Need more of a Jim Beaver fix than you can get on SPN? Here is a little snippet about Jim Beaver’s upcoming appearance on Smallville.

That concludes this edition. Don’t forget that I’m still looking for a Sam girl to do a guest post. Email me at popculture AT jennifer-roland.com if you’re interested.

And submit your blog article to the next edition of The Supernatural Blog Carnival using the carnival submission form. Past posts can be found on the blog carnival index page or by clicking Supernatural in the tag cloud.

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Related Posts:

• Visions of Winchesters: The Supernatural Blog Carnival, Sept. 9
• Supernatural Blog Carnival, Aug. 14
• Visions of Winchesters: The Supernatural Blog Carnival, Nov. 18
• Visions of Winchesters: Supernatural Blog Carnival, Oct. 14
• Visions of Winchesters: A Supernatural Blog Carnival, May 6

Should Genre Shows Get Their Own Emmy Category?

Many of us have lamented the fact that Jensen Ackles will never get an Emmy nod while he is on Supernatural, even though his work is Emmy caliber. Or that Battlestar Gallactica may have gotten some nominations, but was never considered a serious contender for any categories shown on the broadcast. Or <insert genre show name here> will never get serious consideration from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

With the rise in genre shows that have good production value, great writing, and award-caliber acting, it is time to broaden the categories and allow more good shows to be recognized at this mainstream awards show.

I remember in the 1980s when we complained and complained that no heavy metal acts ever got any Grammy love. So, the Grammys added a category for Hard Rock/Heavy Metal. (Fans of Rap and Hip Hop fought the same battle, and got a category of their own, too.)

Reality TV shows got a couple awards categories added recently. It’s time for the Academy to recognize our speculative fiction shows, too.

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• Pop Culture Roundup, April 15
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• Visions of Winchesters: The Supernatural Blog Carnival, Nov. 18
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• Visions of Winchesters: Supernatural Blog Carnival, Sept. 23

We Agree That Kanye West Is a Tool

In last week’s poll, we got a 100% response that Kanye West is, indeed, a tool.

He needs to have a better handler, I think, one who will help him channel his arrogance and impulsiveness to better activities than embarassing a teenage girl on national television.

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• Kanye West: Tool or Not?
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