In the intense universe of fandom surrounding Supernatural — the CW series that follows the chisel-jawed Winchester brothers as they drive around the country snuffing out demons — there are ''Sam girls'' and ''Dean girls.'' Websites chronicle every scrap of minutiae (including the fellas' sweet ride, a '67 Chevy Impala), and bloggers dig around casting directors' sites looking for snippets of scenes to post online (they've even managed to spoil entire scripts). There's also a unique and very creepy subset of romantic fan fiction dedicated to siblings Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) called ''Wincest'' — the less said about it the better. One creative fan actually showed up on set in an orange vest, pretending to be a production assistant. ''They gave her a walkie-talkie!'' recalls Ackles. ''She worked the entire day there until somebody finally figured it out. Obviously now they've stepped up the protocol.'' Meaning, the stars have a bodyguard when they're working. Says Padalecki, ''I guess the network or the studio said, 'We [only] have two guys on this show. We'd better protect them.'''
It might be time to beef up the security detail even more, because the Supernatural cult is swelling. Sure, the show may not crack the top 10, or even the top 80 — ''You go to a dinner party and someone asks you what show you work on and you say 'Supernatural,' and they've never heard of it,'' says creator/exec producer Eric Kripke. ''Then they say, 'What network is it on?' and you say 'The CW,' and they've never heard of it'' — but lately it's been making almost otherworldly gains in viewership. Season 4, which has centered on the brothers battling angels as well as their usual demon enemies, is up an impressive 13 percent over last year, with new episodes averaging 3.3 million viewers a week — and that's against Thursday-night stalwarts Grey's Anatomy and CSI. All those new Supernatural acolytes, however, may find themselves wishing they'd showed up sooner: The cast and crew's ''godfather,'' executive producer and director Kim Manners (The X-Files), passed away in January; Padalecki, 26, and Ackles, 31, are exhausted; and Kripke has long maintained that he wants the series to last only five seasons — that's one more, then they're done. As Kripke told his writers at the beginning of this season, ''Let's be bold. Let's delve into the stories headlong. Let's not tap-dance around them because we're scared, or because we have to save something for tomorrow. Because we don't know if there will be a tomorrow
2009年4月12日星期日
Why Do People Love Supernatural?
There seems to be a pretty strong fanbase for the CW series Supernatural. I’ve never seen an episode of the show and a good part of that is probably because it’s on The CW. That said, I’m not above considering a series based on the hype but I’d need a reason to watch it. So I’m curious, Supernatural fans: What’s the big deal with this show?
I don’t know anyone who watches Supernatural but I do know there are plenty of people out there online who love it, which is why I’m opening up the discussion here. I’m not asking to be spoiled. I don’t want specific details about the show. What I want to know is; What is it about this series that people just love? I know it follows two brothers who investigate supernatural-related mysteries. And something about a missing father. I can’t say I’m a person who loves supernatural-type series, but I did love Buffy and Angel because both of those shows had other things to offer, including compelling character arcs, frequent comedic moments and all around great writing. To those of you who’ve seen the mentioned Joss Whedon series, does Supernatural measure up in those areas? Is it even comparable? Or is this the kind of show that really just caters to people who like vampires, werewolves and the like?
I’m putting it to you, die-hard Supernatural fans. I’m strongly considering Netflixing the first season to check this show out. If you think it’s worth the time, for me (and anyone else reading this), post a comment below and let me know why you think Supernatural is great (or why it isn’t). What does this series have to offer people who like good TV?
I don’t know anyone who watches Supernatural but I do know there are plenty of people out there online who love it, which is why I’m opening up the discussion here. I’m not asking to be spoiled. I don’t want specific details about the show. What I want to know is; What is it about this series that people just love? I know it follows two brothers who investigate supernatural-related mysteries. And something about a missing father. I can’t say I’m a person who loves supernatural-type series, but I did love Buffy and Angel because both of those shows had other things to offer, including compelling character arcs, frequent comedic moments and all around great writing. To those of you who’ve seen the mentioned Joss Whedon series, does Supernatural measure up in those areas? Is it even comparable? Or is this the kind of show that really just caters to people who like vampires, werewolves and the like?
I’m putting it to you, die-hard Supernatural fans. I’m strongly considering Netflixing the first season to check this show out. If you think it’s worth the time, for me (and anyone else reading this), post a comment below and let me know why you think Supernatural is great (or why it isn’t). What does this series have to offer people who like good TV?
Supernatural: Repeat of Afterschool Special
No new eps for a couple more weeks, but you can get your fix by watching Sam take down a bully tonight. Again. As in it's a repeat, not as in he takes down the bully's ghost, though he does that too. Nevermind.
Anyway, I thought this one was entertaining, though personally I wish they would show some episodes from previous seasons. Specifically, I think this would be a great time to show the Pilot episode, plus the final 2 episodes of Season 1, Salvation and Devil's Trap.
Feel free to use the comments to talk about tonight's repeat, your favorite episodes they never replay, where you think things are going, or whatever else Supernatural-related that's on your mind.
In other news
Our favorite junkyard owner, Bobby Singer (not Fred Sanford!) shows up on another network and show tonight. Or rather, the actor who plays him, Jim Beaver, has a new show. Harper's Island - a 13 episode murder mystery mini-series (try saying that 3 times fast) - premieres tonight, thankfully after Supernatural's timeslot. The series has been redone and delayed for quite a while, but it's a go now. You can see it at 10 pm on CBS.
Oh, and I forgot to mention, the series also stars our favorite Ruby (or mine, at least), Katie Cassidy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anyway, I thought this one was entertaining, though personally I wish they would show some episodes from previous seasons. Specifically, I think this would be a great time to show the Pilot episode, plus the final 2 episodes of Season 1, Salvation and Devil's Trap.
Feel free to use the comments to talk about tonight's repeat, your favorite episodes they never replay, where you think things are going, or whatever else Supernatural-related that's on your mind.
In other news
Our favorite junkyard owner, Bobby Singer (not Fred Sanford!) shows up on another network and show tonight. Or rather, the actor who plays him, Jim Beaver, has a new show. Harper's Island - a 13 episode murder mystery mini-series (try saying that 3 times fast) - premieres tonight, thankfully after Supernatural's timeslot. The series has been redone and delayed for quite a while, but it's a go now. You can see it at 10 pm on CBS.
Oh, and I forgot to mention, the series also stars our favorite Ruby (or mine, at least), Katie Cassidy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harper's Island' Review: A Killer New Series
CBS is often derided by TV critics for being a network entirely built on boilerplate procedural crime dramas. The new drama Harper’s Island, premiering tonight at 10pm, goes against that trend in the polar opposite direction. As serialized as TV can be, the 13-episode horror show chronicles a doomed wedding party on a remote island as a serial killer picks them off one by one.
It’s a lot like Friday the 13th, but as a series. The cast starts out huge at 25 major characters, but Harper’s Island promises to kill at least one off every episode, slowly whittling the cast down until the killer is revealed. With the fate’s of the characters unknown, it plays more like a reality show than a typical scripted drama
The story begins when Henry (Christopher Gorham) and Trish (Supernatural’s Katie Cassidy) set sail for Harper’s Island where they will be married. She’s a rich girl with a wealthy, ruthless father (Richard Burgi) and he’s from a poor, working class family, being guided through life by his wacky uncle (Harry Hamlin).
Between their families, bridesmaids and groomsmen, the cast is a bit too large, a necessary problem when you plan to kill off most of your cast in 13 episodes. The hour-long pilot is way too short and it’s almost impossible to remember all the characters, but a few pop out, mostly Trish’s ditzy friend Chloe and her foppish British boyfriend.
The story is primarily driven by Abby Mills, Henry’s best friend and a former resident of Harper’s Island. She left a long time ago when a serial killer named John Wakefield killed a lot of people, including her mother. While Abby is reluctant to return home, her father, the local sheriff (played by another Supernatural star, Jim Beaver) is happy to see her.
The first episode gets off to a very promising start, despite the unwieldy cast size, thanks to some gruesome deaths and classic soap opera intrigue. Veteran older actors like Burgi, Hamlin and Beaver are all perfect as the stereotypical caricatures of their classic horror film roles. It’s impossible to make a show based on the premise of any horror film seem realistic or genuinely dramatic, so going over the top is the only way to do it.
It be a bit difficult to get into the large cast and intensely serialized nature, but for fans who start following along now, there will be a wonderfully satisfying conclusion during June when every other scripted show has gone off the air.
And you can follow along at BuddyTV all season long and play our new Fantasy TV league for Harper’s Island. Instead of predicting eliminated reality show contestants, now you can predict who will get killed off every week, so make your picks and try to figure out who’s the killer.
It’s a lot like Friday the 13th, but as a series. The cast starts out huge at 25 major characters, but Harper’s Island promises to kill at least one off every episode, slowly whittling the cast down until the killer is revealed. With the fate’s of the characters unknown, it plays more like a reality show than a typical scripted drama
The story begins when Henry (Christopher Gorham) and Trish (Supernatural’s Katie Cassidy) set sail for Harper’s Island where they will be married. She’s a rich girl with a wealthy, ruthless father (Richard Burgi) and he’s from a poor, working class family, being guided through life by his wacky uncle (Harry Hamlin).
Between their families, bridesmaids and groomsmen, the cast is a bit too large, a necessary problem when you plan to kill off most of your cast in 13 episodes. The hour-long pilot is way too short and it’s almost impossible to remember all the characters, but a few pop out, mostly Trish’s ditzy friend Chloe and her foppish British boyfriend.
The story is primarily driven by Abby Mills, Henry’s best friend and a former resident of Harper’s Island. She left a long time ago when a serial killer named John Wakefield killed a lot of people, including her mother. While Abby is reluctant to return home, her father, the local sheriff (played by another Supernatural star, Jim Beaver) is happy to see her.
The first episode gets off to a very promising start, despite the unwieldy cast size, thanks to some gruesome deaths and classic soap opera intrigue. Veteran older actors like Burgi, Hamlin and Beaver are all perfect as the stereotypical caricatures of their classic horror film roles. It’s impossible to make a show based on the premise of any horror film seem realistic or genuinely dramatic, so going over the top is the only way to do it.
It be a bit difficult to get into the large cast and intensely serialized nature, but for fans who start following along now, there will be a wonderfully satisfying conclusion during June when every other scripted show has gone off the air.
And you can follow along at BuddyTV all season long and play our new Fantasy TV league for Harper’s Island. Instead of predicting eliminated reality show contestants, now you can predict who will get killed off every week, so make your picks and try to figure out who’s the killer.
Once more into the Suffolk abyss
AND so our trip to The Land that Time Forgot looms before us again. I can't say that I look forward to these visits to Suffolk's Smallville, and this year promises to be as unpleasant as any.
The Man, ahead of today's game at Swansea, is quite prepared for the **** game to be one of the most miserable days of his football supporting existence.
From the moment the fixture list was published the date seemed to have something ominous about it.
After the Coventry defeat at home a few weeks ago, when all seemed lost, The Man wondered if he could even face going to the Norwich Union Stadium at all.
But as one Ipswich fan put it to me, in typical mockney phraseology, I had to “front it up”. Too right.
Let's get into them, let's get behind the team, and who knows what could happen? OTBC.
LET'S be honest - the atmosphere against Sheffield Wednesday was crap.
Yes we didn't play well, yes the sun was on the Barclay, yes it's all just a bit rubbish nowadays - but come on.
We are on the verge of a potentially catastrophic relegation, and if we can't get behind the team now then we never will.
Against Sheffield Wednesday it just felt to me that Carrow Road was too easy a place to come and play, off the pitch as well as on it.
Nice surface, sunny, their fans having a party in the corner of the ground - hardly a bear pit.
Of course, this is Norwich's traditional charm.
As an away fan, you have a nice pint by the river, toddle down to the ground in your colours, and invariably watch your team win. Especially if you are Sheffield Wednesday.
Hell, we'll even be nice to you (most of the time) in the pubs after the game too.
But while Carrow Road will never be La Bombonera, we can at least try to make it a little bit intimidating for the opposition, especially in the current predicament? Just a little bit?
WE'LL TAKE THE HIGH ROAD TO WATCH CITY
AS THE Carrow Road credit crunch continues to bite, supporters hoping for a relatively exotic pre-season tour are set to be disappointed.
My Colney spy tells me that a one-week trip to Gunny's native Scotland is being lined up, with provisional plans for games against Hibernian and Falkirk.
Gunny's contract only runs until the end of the season of course; nudge, nudge, wink, wink…
Another trip to Jockland (we were last there in 2006) won't be the end of the world, but for a hardy band of City supporters a European pre-season “tour” - somewhat perversely - has become something of a highlight in recent years. The prospect of trekking to a foreign field to watch your team play has assumed an increased charm, especially if you can have a beer and sit in the sun. In a sense it is a way of escaping the banality that the rest of a joyless season will inevitably hold.
During last season's pre-season The Man found himself stumbling through a field in the middle of nowhere (Sweden) desperately trying to find where we were playing.
After regaining my balance and avoiding the cowpat, I had the football fans' equivalent of what alcoholics call a moment of clarity. At least I think it was. The Man said to himself: “So let me get this straight. You are a grown man, in a field, in the middle of agricultural Sweden, in July, trying to find out where Norwich City are playing the local village team. You have travelled hundreds of miles and paid hundreds of pounds to be here. And you just dropped your packet of salt and vinegar crisps. What, in the name of Kevin Drinkell, are you doing?”
I pondered whether I had finally gone insane. Realised I had, laughed, and carried on until I met up with all the other lunatics who suffer from a similar affliction. Scotland won't quite be the same, but we can but try.
HATTERS' FANS MUST SHOULDER SOME OF THE BLAME
FOOTBALL fans can be a sanctimonious bunch.
We'll point the finger at overpaid players, agents, owners and Sky for the problems our clubs face; but very rarely take any responsibility ourselves.
That's why The Man couldn't fully embrace all the thumb-sucking and supporter indignation that surrounded Luton Town's trip to Wembley last weekend.
We were told The Hatters, armed with 40,000 fans, were showing the FA and the Football League exactly what they were missing out on by effectively pushing such a great club into the Conference.
The Man has sympathy for those Luton fans who've seen their club plummet through the divisions since singing “we are invincible” while 2-0 up at Carrow Road in 2006.
But the simple fact is that, even if just one quarter of the Luton “fans” who made the trip to Wembley last weekend had regularly visited Kenilworth Road in the past couple of years, they would not be in anywhere near the financial trouble they find themselves in now. They only averaged 8,500 in our division and crowds have plunged since.
Yes, the club was clearly poorly run from the top down, but taking 40,000 fans a few miles up the road to Wembley is one thing, having the passion to sustain decent support and keep the club going week-on-week is another. So while those Luton fans were busy vilifying the football authorities last week for “destroying” their club, they could have equally taken umbrage with a few people sitting next to them too.
The Man, ahead of today's game at Swansea, is quite prepared for the **** game to be one of the most miserable days of his football supporting existence.
From the moment the fixture list was published the date seemed to have something ominous about it.
After the Coventry defeat at home a few weeks ago, when all seemed lost, The Man wondered if he could even face going to the Norwich Union Stadium at all.
But as one Ipswich fan put it to me, in typical mockney phraseology, I had to “front it up”. Too right.
Let's get into them, let's get behind the team, and who knows what could happen? OTBC.
LET'S be honest - the atmosphere against Sheffield Wednesday was crap.
Yes we didn't play well, yes the sun was on the Barclay, yes it's all just a bit rubbish nowadays - but come on.
We are on the verge of a potentially catastrophic relegation, and if we can't get behind the team now then we never will.
Against Sheffield Wednesday it just felt to me that Carrow Road was too easy a place to come and play, off the pitch as well as on it.
Nice surface, sunny, their fans having a party in the corner of the ground - hardly a bear pit.
Of course, this is Norwich's traditional charm.
As an away fan, you have a nice pint by the river, toddle down to the ground in your colours, and invariably watch your team win. Especially if you are Sheffield Wednesday.
Hell, we'll even be nice to you (most of the time) in the pubs after the game too.
But while Carrow Road will never be La Bombonera, we can at least try to make it a little bit intimidating for the opposition, especially in the current predicament? Just a little bit?
WE'LL TAKE THE HIGH ROAD TO WATCH CITY
AS THE Carrow Road credit crunch continues to bite, supporters hoping for a relatively exotic pre-season tour are set to be disappointed.
My Colney spy tells me that a one-week trip to Gunny's native Scotland is being lined up, with provisional plans for games against Hibernian and Falkirk.
Gunny's contract only runs until the end of the season of course; nudge, nudge, wink, wink…
Another trip to Jockland (we were last there in 2006) won't be the end of the world, but for a hardy band of City supporters a European pre-season “tour” - somewhat perversely - has become something of a highlight in recent years. The prospect of trekking to a foreign field to watch your team play has assumed an increased charm, especially if you can have a beer and sit in the sun. In a sense it is a way of escaping the banality that the rest of a joyless season will inevitably hold.
During last season's pre-season The Man found himself stumbling through a field in the middle of nowhere (Sweden) desperately trying to find where we were playing.
After regaining my balance and avoiding the cowpat, I had the football fans' equivalent of what alcoholics call a moment of clarity. At least I think it was. The Man said to himself: “So let me get this straight. You are a grown man, in a field, in the middle of agricultural Sweden, in July, trying to find out where Norwich City are playing the local village team. You have travelled hundreds of miles and paid hundreds of pounds to be here. And you just dropped your packet of salt and vinegar crisps. What, in the name of Kevin Drinkell, are you doing?”
I pondered whether I had finally gone insane. Realised I had, laughed, and carried on until I met up with all the other lunatics who suffer from a similar affliction. Scotland won't quite be the same, but we can but try.
HATTERS' FANS MUST SHOULDER SOME OF THE BLAME
FOOTBALL fans can be a sanctimonious bunch.
We'll point the finger at overpaid players, agents, owners and Sky for the problems our clubs face; but very rarely take any responsibility ourselves.
That's why The Man couldn't fully embrace all the thumb-sucking and supporter indignation that surrounded Luton Town's trip to Wembley last weekend.
We were told The Hatters, armed with 40,000 fans, were showing the FA and the Football League exactly what they were missing out on by effectively pushing such a great club into the Conference.
The Man has sympathy for those Luton fans who've seen their club plummet through the divisions since singing “we are invincible” while 2-0 up at Carrow Road in 2006.
But the simple fact is that, even if just one quarter of the Luton “fans” who made the trip to Wembley last weekend had regularly visited Kenilworth Road in the past couple of years, they would not be in anywhere near the financial trouble they find themselves in now. They only averaged 8,500 in our division and crowds have plunged since.
Yes, the club was clearly poorly run from the top down, but taking 40,000 fans a few miles up the road to Wembley is one thing, having the passion to sustain decent support and keep the club going week-on-week is another. So while those Luton fans were busy vilifying the football authorities last week for “destroying” their club, they could have equally taken umbrage with a few people sitting next to them too.
2009年4月9日星期四
Harper's Island' Review: A Killer New Series
CBS is often derided by TV critics for being a network entirely built on boilerplate procedural crime dramas. The new drama Harper’s Island, premiering tonight at 10pm, goes against that trend in the polar opposite direction. As serialized as TV can be, the 13-episode horror show chronicles a doomed wedding party on a remote island as a serial killer picks them off one by one.
It’s a lot like Friday the 13th, but as a series. The cast starts out huge at 25 major characters, but Harper’s Island promises to kill at least one off every episode, slowly whittling the cast down until the killer is revealed. With the fate’s of the characters unknown, it plays more like a reality show than a typical scripted drama.
Don't Miss
* Predict Who Will Die on 'Harper's Island'
* 'Harper's Island' Review: A Killer New Series
More on...Harper's Island >>
The story begins when Henry (Christopher Gorham) and Trish (Supernatural’s Katie Cassidy) set sail for Harper’s Island where they will be married. She’s a rich girl with a wealthy, ruthless father (Richard Burgi) and he’s from a poor, working class family, being guided through life by his wacky uncle (Harry Hamlin).
Between their families, bridesmaids and groomsmen, the cast is a bit too large, a necessary problem when you plan to kill off most of your cast in 13 episodes. The hour-long pilot is way too short and it’s almost impossible to remember all the characters, but a few pop out, mostly Trish’s ditzy friend Chloe and her foppish British boyfriend.
The story is primarily driven by Abby Mills, Henry’s best friend and a former resident of Harper’s Island. She left a long time ago when a serial killer named John Wakefield killed a lot of people, including her mother. While Abby is reluctant to return home, her father, the local sheriff (played by another Supernatural star, Jim Beaver) is happy to see her.
The first episode gets off to a very promising start, despite the unwieldy cast size, thanks to some gruesome deaths and classic soap opera intrigue. Veteran older actors like Burgi, Hamlin and Beaver are all perfect as the stereotypical caricatures of their classic horror film roles. It’s impossible to make a show based on the premise of any horror film seem realistic or genuinely dramatic, so going over the top is the only way to do it.
It be a bit difficult to get into the large cast and intensely serialized nature, but for fans who start following along now, there will be a wonderfully satisfying conclusion during June when every other scripted show has gone off the air.
And you can follow along at BuddyTV all season long and play our new Fantasy TV league for Harper’s Island. Instead of predicting eliminated reality show contestants, now you can predict who will get killed off every week, so make your picks and try to figure out who’s the killer.
It’s a lot like Friday the 13th, but as a series. The cast starts out huge at 25 major characters, but Harper’s Island promises to kill at least one off every episode, slowly whittling the cast down until the killer is revealed. With the fate’s of the characters unknown, it plays more like a reality show than a typical scripted drama.
Don't Miss
* Predict Who Will Die on 'Harper's Island'
* 'Harper's Island' Review: A Killer New Series
More on...Harper's Island >>
The story begins when Henry (Christopher Gorham) and Trish (Supernatural’s Katie Cassidy) set sail for Harper’s Island where they will be married. She’s a rich girl with a wealthy, ruthless father (Richard Burgi) and he’s from a poor, working class family, being guided through life by his wacky uncle (Harry Hamlin).
Between their families, bridesmaids and groomsmen, the cast is a bit too large, a necessary problem when you plan to kill off most of your cast in 13 episodes. The hour-long pilot is way too short and it’s almost impossible to remember all the characters, but a few pop out, mostly Trish’s ditzy friend Chloe and her foppish British boyfriend.
The story is primarily driven by Abby Mills, Henry’s best friend and a former resident of Harper’s Island. She left a long time ago when a serial killer named John Wakefield killed a lot of people, including her mother. While Abby is reluctant to return home, her father, the local sheriff (played by another Supernatural star, Jim Beaver) is happy to see her.
The first episode gets off to a very promising start, despite the unwieldy cast size, thanks to some gruesome deaths and classic soap opera intrigue. Veteran older actors like Burgi, Hamlin and Beaver are all perfect as the stereotypical caricatures of their classic horror film roles. It’s impossible to make a show based on the premise of any horror film seem realistic or genuinely dramatic, so going over the top is the only way to do it.
It be a bit difficult to get into the large cast and intensely serialized nature, but for fans who start following along now, there will be a wonderfully satisfying conclusion during June when every other scripted show has gone off the air.
And you can follow along at BuddyTV all season long and play our new Fantasy TV league for Harper’s Island. Instead of predicting eliminated reality show contestants, now you can predict who will get killed off every week, so make your picks and try to figure out who’s the killer.
Season 2 of 'Sanctuary' starts shooting
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 7 (UPI) -- The second season of the TV series "Sanctuary" has begun production in Vancouver, Canada, Sci Fi Channel said.
The show is the first based on an online series to be picked up for a second season, the channel said.
Slated to return this fall, the one-hour drama's 13-episode sophomore season will include the addition of Agam Darshi as Kate Freelander, a witty and sarcastic con artist and thief.
Darshi has appeared in TV's "The L-Word," "Supernatural," "Criminal Minds," "Dead Zone," "Stargate Atlantis," CTV's "Custody" and the Lifetime Original Movie "The Haunting on Sorority Row." Her feature film credits include "Final Destination 3" and "Snakes on a Plane."
Next Story:
The show is the first based on an online series to be picked up for a second season, the channel said.
Slated to return this fall, the one-hour drama's 13-episode sophomore season will include the addition of Agam Darshi as Kate Freelander, a witty and sarcastic con artist and thief.
Darshi has appeared in TV's "The L-Word," "Supernatural," "Criminal Minds," "Dead Zone," "Stargate Atlantis," CTV's "Custody" and the Lifetime Original Movie "The Haunting on Sorority Row." Her feature film credits include "Final Destination 3" and "Snakes on a Plane."
Next Story:
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