when I am 90...

Today I shared the awesome responsibility of distracting my 90 year old grandmother-in-law while over 50 family members, neighbors, and close friends were scrambling to pull off her surprise birthday bash across the street from her home. And for those of you who don’t know dear Grace- this is no small achievement. She’s been living on her block for the last oh, 50 years and she knows everything that goes on there. My husband and I were employed with escorting her and her lovely relatives (2 other people- a niece and her husband from Long Island, NY) OUT of the neighborhood for approx. 5 hours.

Of course hanging out with Grace is effortless and we spent the morning driving around beautiful old stoic (kind of like her) redwoods in Santa Cruz. And as we drove around curves and bends I got to thinking…about Grace and what I loved about her. There are countless things but the one that is my favorite is that she likes her television set. And she’s old school. She reads her TV guide and then turns the TV on to what she wants to watch. She’s not like me where I turn it on and have to look at all 500 channels before resting on something mundane or exciting. Anyway, Grace watches several critically acclaimed and interesting programs but her FAVORITE (and no she has never admitted this to me I can just tell) is reality programming. When I first met her 10 years ago I was astonished to learn that she was hooked to Survivor and Big Brother. Her newest fav is Dancing with the Stars. Although I do not share this love of programming I do admire Grace’s commitment and zeal for it.

So it got me thinking even more…what will I be watching in 60 years when I am 90? And how will I be watching it? For those who have studied TV history we really have NOT come very far. I mean the internet was more inventive in its first 5 years. We all know that HD is now among us. But when I was a freshman in college in 1995 they said it was due out in 1998. And I produce HD programs now and still don’t own a HD set. And I will go on a tangent right at this moment and tell you why:

1. LACK OF TIVO- If we buy a HD set we need to buy a HD Tivo unit. I am a Tivo addict and they ridiculously initially overpriced the new HD Tivo unit to $600. And as much as I love Tivo I will not pay! And even if they have lowered the price down now (after price gouging for OVER 9 months) to $300 I will never forgive Tivo for their lack of foresight and misjudging their clients. So I’m really stuck at #1 as I was raised in a boycott family and can’t get over Tivo screwing us.
2. PRICE- The last TV I bought was $500 – end of story. That is how much I want to pay for my new TV. Don’t ask me why I just won’t settle for any other price.
3. HD Programming- I’m not convinced that HD programming is a 24/7 reality yet- really its not- yes there are channels that have it. But I am still waiting to see the revolution so I can pay Comcast an extra $5 on top of the over-priced cable packaging I’m paying for.

OKAY, where was I? I went off on that tangent to prove that in 60 years maybe we won’t be that far away from what we have now. But here’s what I envision for the future. I really want projection 3D TV imaging. The kind - where it just appears in front of you in the air- as a projected screen- ON VOICE COMMAND. This could come in handy – let’s say when you’re in the tub enjoying a good soak and you want to watch the latest episode of Greys Anatomy or wait what will the latest medical soap be then….Anyway, you just say Grey’s Anatomy and it appears in front of you like a hologram. I really think this is going to happen. I would love it if in the morning I was getting ready I could see the news and weather report wherever I roamed. It could be right there in front of me. I really want this to happen. I did some research and they say its coming in the year 2020? Yeah right…

As for content in the future.. I’m not sure. What do you think? I’d like to say we could evolve and have really provocative thought provoking shows but it seems to fail me what they would exactly be in 60 years. And my biggest thought on this topic is what if in just a few years TV, as we know it falls apart. That is to say what if TV becomes more universal incorporated into all communication devices and we simply don’t sit down to watch that darn “tube.” Wait isn’t this already happening.

I know I’m rambling here but let's imagine if the founders of the TV set Philo T. Farnsworth, and Vladimir Zworykin could see now where their invention led. I don’t think they would be too happy. I don’t think they would’ve dreamed up what we have now in front of us.

THE PLOT TO KILL JESSE

Check out the HISTORY CHANNEL special: THE PLOT TO KILL JESSE JAMES tomorrow night and this week!

Thursday, September 20 11:00 PM

Friday, September 21 03:00 AM

Saturday, September 22 06:00 PM

This program is a beautifully directed chase thriller. I guarantee you've never seen a western docudrama like it. I was only a bit player on this docudrama team (not even sure why I got a credit!). Mike Loades directed, Josh Rosen wrote and produced, Evelyn Manangan and Eileen Rivera were the dream team that pulled it off. There's also this hot guy who plays Jesse-- I promise he will deliver more than that- oh what's his name- Brad Pitt in the movie version. Oh, and if you're wondering this TV show is much better than that movie. Hope you can catch it- and sorry for the short notice! :)

The Plot to Kill Jesse James

This one-hour special tells the story of Robert Ford, the man who joined James's gang only to become resentful of the legendary outlaw and hatch a plan to kill him. With expert interviews, archival materials, dramatic re-enactments, and eyewitness accounts, this
program brings to life the man, motives, and means focused on doing away with the "fastest gun in the West."

After James' assassination, Robert Ford and his brother Charlie were pardoned, by pre-arrangement with the governor, but they felt the
sting of public contempt. Charlie Ford committed suicide and Bob's fortunes sunk ever lower until he, too, was shot in an act of
vengeance.

ACL up close and personal

Are any of you familiar with Austin City Limits?

I got to experience it up close this past week when I journeyed to Austin, Texas for the annual Austin City Limits Music Festival. ACL is a long running live music show on PBS. I’ve tivoed it for a couple years now and it provides me with intimate well directed performances of my favorite artists. For the past 5 years my husband and I have been trying to get to their music festival. And this year we started planning early—6 months early. 65,000 people daily attend the fest and it gets a bit crazy. So we booked flight, hotel and car in March! The effort was worth it.

3 days, 8 stages and 60 bands, seriously, 60 acts LIVE on stage- It was crazy! And the best part every act was filmed and a live show directed on large screen. I assume they had the ACL camera people employed as every shot was well thought out and beautifully composed. When I wasn’t glued to the stage my eyes would wander to the jumbo screen and sometime it seemed much more interesting than what saw on stage.

And just if you are curious, our hotel was fabulous- stayed at the Grand Hyatt on Town Lake. We had a room looking over the lake and downtown Austin. The food at the fest was amazing, all local restaurants- most gourmet- contributed to the food options. And there was all these fun chill out areas like Zilka Beach where you could get cooled off with fans and lay out on sand. There was a grove of trees sponsored by Heineken where you could sit and see two stages. Then a tent labeled the BAR where you could see another stage and sit in comfy reclining chairs. Water was available FREE, you just had to fill up your own or you could buy it at $2 a bottle (take that Coachella!) And there were a lot of mister areas where you could you know mist your body.

Lastly I’ll add that it was blazing HOT, you know that kind of humidity at 92 degrees where your body just pours out with sweat. That’s my only complaint – really—it’s hard to complain when you’re treated to amazing music for 3 straight days.

Here’s a taste of what I got to see every day! I’ve added some of my commentary…I’ll get back to real TV and my belated EMMY opinions tomorrow.

FRIDAY
» Pete Yorn- Good start to a very busy day.
» Queens of the Stone Age- Angry and Lovely
» Crowded House- Good ole classic.
» Kaiser Chiefs—Loved them. Never really paid much attention to this band until now. Very pop inspired, good beats, kind of like a British Weezer.
» Blonde Redhead—Relaxed and Imaginative.
» The Killers- Very disappointing. They don’t live up to their studio album. The sound was off and everything was way too staged, very unlike ACL.
» Bjork—she’s a freak and I love it. Neon colors, electronica, a gold bird costume (was that what it was??!?) and a fire started in a speaker when things really got out of control.

SATURDAY
» Steve Earle- Solid sound and presence.
» Clap Your Hands Say Yeah- Can’t remember this one, sorry to say. I think I may have been overwhelmed.
» Andrew Bird- Little disappointing but he did redeem himself by showing up the next day with My Morning Jacket.
» Damien Rice—His set made me go buy his new album. As we were watching the craziest sunset occurred and it made the experience surreal.
» Indigo Girls- Cruised by this stage. Saw these ladies many moons ago. Same playlist and set, I was dancing all the way to Arcade Fire.
» Arcade Fire- FABULOUS, although I saw them a couple months ago at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley (the greatest venue on earth) and it was the same playlist and set so I made my way over to the Muse stage.
» Muse- My favorite set! Unbelievable. Presentation was amazing. Music was stellar. A+++++


SUNDAY
» The National- First time for this band. Was pretty impressed.
» Yo La Tengo- Fun band.
» Ben Kweller- Not too eventful but he did seem talented.
» Amos Lee- As a cowboy said it at the portolets while I was waiting in line, “Who’s that guy putting that shit down over there!” AMAZING. Soulful and lovely.
» My Morning Jacket= AMAZING, came in as a close second as my favorite. The band was amazingly tight and they just ROCKED hard!
» Wilco- Loved it. Everytime I see Wilco it’s like home. Sounds cheesy but I love this band. Had a great time jamming to their set.
» The Decemberists- Little immature but a young band with much promise.
» Bob Dylan & His Band- Can I just say no comment on this one? I know I’ll get railed if I say my true comments which are….HE DIDN’T SOUND GOOD. But he’s a legend….

Cadbury Gorilla: Eclipse of the Heart

i don't discriminate against internet tv....check out this hilarious tv commercial roaming around today. haven't seen it on actual broadcast tv. i think it's english anyway. watch to your hearts content...

My TV is burning up

With J.T. oh ladies you know it…he’s so sweet and cute...and uber talented. All my music taste goes out the window with this man. I can’t stop watching. He’s on HBO and its completely watchable. Did you catch it? I hope so-- FutureSex/LoveShow

Who cares about the old school from my childhood Michael Jackson. This is a man who can play the keyboard dance and sing all at the same time. And he’s certainly not cheesy. It’s all my childhood wrapped into one- Madonna and Michael Jackson. But it’s a REAL MAN.

It was exciting. I’ll have to go back to listening to the Shins and White Stripes on my iPod after this. But can’t you see Jack White and Justin Timberlake rocking out. I can. It’s burning in my mind. Keytars and bongo drums rolled into one it could work.

And…for all of you who were worried I did get to watch Weeds. Thanks Showtime! They actually put it online so after my moaning and crying I found it right there on their website. But it’s just one episode so OH WELL! Back at square one. I have to find someone who has Showtime—who has it? I’m over in a flash.

In other channels…for those who watch network television. I’ve been dropping in on The New Adventures of Old Christine. I haven’t watched CBS in a looong time. In fact I can’t even remember the last show – maybe Survivor in its 1st season 7 years ago??!?/ Anyway (sorry the network needs a serious facelift) this show is not half bad. And I love Julia Louis-Dreyfus. She’s so darn funny. The show is about her and her ex-husband. Their lives are forever intertwined with their young son. An ongoing banter/fighting always exists between them and it makes the show work. Although I’m not so sure how long it will work. But while it does, I love lines...like (after her husband comments on his fab-u-lous current love life) she turns to her live in brother and says, “He worked me like he was scratching a lottery ticket.” Makes me giggle. Looking forward to the new season.