Geek of the Week: Daniel Radcliffe

Of course, most people know Daniel Radcliffe as the titular character of the Harry Potter film adaptations, but did you also know that he memorized the Periodic Table of Elements?



Kind of reminds me of these:

Zombies and Conan

There's some exciting news from AMC! "The Walking Dead", the cable channel's new series based on the graphic novel of the same name, has received a second season!!!

In other TV news, Conan O'Brien's new show, "Conan", is premiering tonight on TBS. Although experts have projected that O'Brien's ratings will not be able to compete with "The Tonight Show" (by virtue of being on cable versus network television), I hope he will be very successful and I will be a regular viewer, as I was a fan of "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" from way back. Go Team Conan!!!

Mike White has been offered the chance to direct Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, which is exciting, considering his success with School of Rock. I think White is an excellent choice and I am crossing my fingers that he will accept the offer. Scarlett Johansson has been approached to play Elizabeth Bennett and Bradley Cooper has signed on to play Darcy. I am definitely looking forward to this hilarious adaptation coming to the big screen.

Image: Conan

2010 Geek Fright Fest: AMC's "Walking Dead" Premiere

"The Walking Dead"
Rated MA (for disturbing images)

Directed by Frank Darabont

Starring:
Andrew Lincoln
Jon Bernthal
Lennie James
Adrian Kali Turner

"The Walking Dead" is based on the graphic novel of the same name, written by Robert Kirkman and illustrated by Tony Moore. The series is directed by Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile) and premiered today on AMC.

In the first episode, sherrif's deputy Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) is wounded in a shootout with three criminals. He slips into a coma and when he awakes, he finds the town deserted . . . except for "the walkers". Rick decides to head to Atlanta to find his wife and son.

All I can say is "Wow". So far, this show is amazing. The acting is exceptional(aside from Lincoln's on and off American accent) and I was SO pleased to see Lennie James (Snatch) in a role that uses his wonderful talent. James plays Morgan Jones, a grieving widower trying to help his son, Duane (Adrian Kali Turner), survive. Darabont opted for a less-is-more philosophy, skipping excess dialogue and sticking to showing emotional reactions to the zombie carnage, which is far more effective. The desolation is palpable, but Darabont manages to sneak a few pleasant scenes in, most notably, one in which three characters get a hot shower for the first time in months. Morgan's grief over his wife's death is heart-wrenching and his breakdown had me on the verge of tears.

The most awe-inducing quality by far are the amazing makeup effecs created by veteran FX artist, Greg Nicotero. Nicotero is a genius with an enormous and impressive resume. His effects bump the series up to film quality and are arguably the lynch-pin of the show. I applaud the producers at AMC for not shying away from the kind of violence, gore, and gruesome makeup effects needed to create effective zombies. Finally, a channel that produces intelligent, boundary-breaking, and quality programming! (Keep it up, AMC!)

Fright Rating: 3 gasps out of a possible 5

Tonight's episode was mainly about showing the aftermath of the zombie apocalypse, but there were some majorly gory moments. If you're a zombie-lover, you'll adore this series, but judging from the premiere episode, the series will also be character driven and very cinematic. If you can deal with the gore, I highly suggest watching this series.

AMC Rocks My World

If you're a regular reader, you know about my love for zombies. You can imagine how delighted I was, then, to discover that AMC is premiering a series based on the Walking Dead graphic novels by Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore. AMC has become known for their excellent regular programming, including "Mad Men" and "Breaking Bad". From the first trailer (released on imdb.com today), it looks like "The Walking Dead" will be no different. AMC has tapped A-list director Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, etc.) to write and direct the series and special effects veteran Greg Nicotero will do the makeup (which looks fantastic!) The cast is made up of relative unknowns, but both "Mad Men" and "Breaking Bad" began with lesser known actors and have become major hits, so this type of casting could be a brillant strategy for AMC.

The first season will have a 6 episode run and will premiere on October 31st. The 90-minute pilot is the culmination of the channel's month-long "Fearfest".

Ready to be excited? Behold:

Mind the Gap

It feels like it's been forever since I wrote a real post! With inventory last week and taking the weekend off to relax, I haven't had much time to sit down and write. Never fear, "Geek of the Week" and "It Came From the $5 Bin" will return next week . . . with a vengeance!

I have today off, and it's a good thing because Discovery ID is having a "Deadly Women" marathon. "Deadly Women" is pretty much my favorite show. (The new season starts tonight!) On each episode, three women are featured. Their one commonality is that they are all murderers. The episodes have a theme ("The Disturbed", "Young Blood", "Mothers Who Kill", etc.) and the stories are told through stylized dramatic reenactments. The reenactments are interspersed with interview sound bites from people involved in the case and analysis by experts. The show's main expert is Candice Delong, a former FBI profiler and the basis for Silence of the Lambs character Clarice Starling. (Side note: Delong is my hero. She is a total bad ass and seems like she wouldn't take crap from anybody!)

The show rocks mostly because of Delong, but I also like that they actively try to find actors that look like the real people. The music is appropriately ominous and the vignettes are well done. As a true crime fan, it is refreshing to hear about female killers and cases that are not well-known.



I won't just be watching TV all day, though. We have plans to go for sushi and . . . we are going to the midnight showing of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World!!!! I am SO excited for this movie. (Expect a review sometimes this week!)

In celebration of my return to posting, I leave you with a picture of my new awesomely epic purse from Angry, Young, and Poor:

Living For the Weekend!!!

Yay! I finally have a weekend off! In celebration, instead of our regularly scheduled post, here is the theme song to the awesome cartoon, "The Weekenders":




As an added bonus . . . the theme from "Pepper Ann":



And as a bonus geeky bonus . . . the theme from "Reboot":

Sundays Just Got a Little Cooler

I'd say about 90% of the TV I watch is the "Forensic Files"/"Deadly Women"/"Cold Case Files" type. The other ten percent is nerdy sitcoms ("Big Bang Theory" and "The IT Crowd") and one of the coolest shows on TV right now - "Mad Men".

Season 4 starts tonight at 10 PM Eastern (8:00 PM for those of us in Mountain Time). Here are the Top 5 reasons you should watch it . . .

5. Juicy story lines - I was never a big soap opera fan and shows like "Desperate Housewives" aren't really my thing, but I love how the "Mad Men" writers combine historical events with the sordid every day lives of the characters. The show is smart and intriguing, which is a huge draw for me. I feel like I'm watching something salacious and learning at the same time!

4. The cast is amazing. Everyone, down to the most minor of characters, acts the crap out of their roles. Even little Kiernan Shipka (Sally Draper) is awesome as the lead character's troubled young daughter. They feel like real people and stay true to the show's time period.

3. The style - including the clothing, set dressings, and the amazing music. The show's creators are completely devoted to recreating the early 60s down to the period correct underwear the cast is required to wear under their costumes. This attention to detail goes a long way to ensure a feeling of verisimilitude.

2. The attention to "hot-button" issues - the "Mad Men" writers don't shy away from showing that the "good old days" weren't always so good. Controversial issues, including race, sexual orientation, and gender, are dealt with on an almost constant basis within the construct of the show's storylines.

1. Jon Hamm - I know I already mentioned the cast, but Hamm is in a class by himself. He makes the show, both with his striking looks and his serious charisma. The fact that his likeability remains intact even with his constant marital dalliances is a testament to Hamm's talent and appeal.


If you haven't seen "Mad Men", you should. Of course, if you're like me, you probably don't like to start watching a show without seeing it from the beginning. GawkerTV is here to help:



Still not sure it's geeky enough for you? Check this out:


Image from Flavorwire

Get Your Summer Geek On

Summer is a great time to be a geek. If you're looking to get your geek on, here are some suggestions:

Festivals and Events (For Colorado geeks):

Colorado Renaissance Festival (Larkspur, CO)

This is the best ren faire I've ever been to. It has great food (turkey legs, steak on a stake, and mmm . . . funnel cakes!), awesome vendors, and plenty of beautiful costumes. The festival runs on weekends from June 12th to August 1st. Check out the themed weekends!

Nan Desu Kan Anime Convention (Denver, CO)

NDK is a fan-run anime convention that attracts a large number of the genre's celebrities. It's a must for the anime fan.

Film on the Rocks (Red Rocks Amphitheatre)

Being a film buff, this is my favorite summer event. Presented by the Starz Film Center, FOTR features classic films in the open air, surrounded by the beauty of Red Rocks. Each film has an opening band and if you get the VIP package, there is a pre-film party. Make sure to get tickets early, because they quickly sell out - especially the more popular films. Check out the schedule here.

Geeky Summer Blockbusters:

Splice (Released June 4th)

Two genetic engineers created a genetically enhanced human hybrid (who they name Dren - nerd backwards) that rapidly evolves into a dangerous monster.

The A-Team (Released June 10th)

The film version of the classic 80s television show. I love it when a plan comes together!

Jonah Hex (June 18th)

A film based on the DC Comics character.

The Last Airbender (July 1st)

Live action film version of the animated series, directed by M. Night Shyamalan.

Despicable Me (July 9th)

Animated feature about a battle between evil geniuses!

Inception (July 16th)

Produced and directed by Christopher Nolan (Batman Begins and The Dark Knight), Inception is a sci-fi thriller that has been compared to the excellent cult classic Dark City.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (August 13th)

Directed by Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz) and starring nerdy boy wonder Michael Cera, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is the story of a shy nerd who falls for a beatiful, eccentric girl who just happens to have seven evil exes. Pilgrim must do battle (Tekken-style!) with the baddies to win his crush's heart.

Skip the reruns and watch some awesomely geeky TV:

"Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman"

The Science Channel's facinating look at the universe.

"Mad Men" Season Four (beginning July 25th)

I love this show and I'm so excited for the season four premiere. If you haven't seen the previous three seasons, definitely check them out.

"Gravity"

This Starz original series features a support group of suicidal people as they struggle to overcome depression. I love the quirky black humor. Perfect for fans of "Dead Like Me" and "Pushing Daisies". Don't get Starz? Watch it on Netflix Instant (updated with new episodes weekly).

Have some other geeky summer suggestions, share 'em in the comment section!

IFC Hearts Horror Movie Fans

Due to the growing popularity of their Grindhouse Fridays, IFC is making June their "Grindhouse Month". Every day at midnight, IFC is showing "Grindhouse" movies - to the delight of horror fans. Some of the films are truly subversive, hard-to-find flicks, but the term "grindhouse" is used loosely with some features. Even so, there are several movies that are definitely worth staying up for. Here are a few can't miss flicks:

June 18th - Fido

I've written a bit about this film in a previous post, so I won't repeat myself too much, other than to say that it's one of my favorite zombie flicks.

June 20th - The Prophecy

This film was a really big deal when I was in junior high. It has an amazing cast - Christopher Walken, Eric Stolz, Viggo Mortenson, and, one of my favorite actors, Elias Koteas (Casey Jones in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). The plot boils down to a battle between good and evil, but the real appeal of the movie is that it's just damn cool. I highly recommend this one.

June 28th - Near Dark

Awesome vampire flick. If you like Lost Boys, you'll really enjoy this one. This clip does the film far more justice than I could ever do.

Check out the complete June schedule for the rest of the films.

All Things Alice

I cannot possibly express how excited I am about the new Alice in Wonderland flick! I've loved Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass since I can remember. My love originated from my fascination with Victorian England and my intense desire to be whisked away to an elaborate fantasy world (a la Narnia, Oz, et al.) The best thing about Alice in Wonderland was that, unlike similar stories, it wasn't overly didactic. The point wasn't to learn a lesson or defeat an enemy, it was to see if Alice would make it back to her own world relatively unscathed. Along the way, she had to deal with difficult and often obnoxious people who created obstacles to achieving her goal. For kids, many of the people Alice met seemed like the grown ups in their own lives, who often make their own rules and twist logic to suit their own needs.



Over the years, there have been many versions of these classic tales, including a stage version that Carroll himself wrote. I collect all that is Alice, so here are a few of my favorite takes on Wonderland:

1. The Annotated Alice
Martin Gardner takes a "behind the scenes" look at Alice in Wonderland. The text is preserved, but Gardner adds footnotes that explain the often obscure inside jokes and references found in the book. For the true Alice fan, it's a must have, but it's also extremely useful source for those writing papers about the books and/or the author.



2. Fantastic Alice
Edited by Margaret Weiss, Fantastic Alice is a collection of short stories that explore different facets and characters from Wonderland. Not all the stories are wonderful, but Gary A. Braunbeck's story "The Rabbit Within" never fails to make me cry.



3. American McGee's Alice
An awesome take on the third-person shooter, American McGee's Alice combines the use of weapons and puzzle solving to work through the game. The game is a dark, twisted version of Wonderland, which is perfect for me! Even though it's an older game, I have played it several times and it is always challenging and fun.



4. Disney's Alice in Wonderland
Of course, the iconic animated feature HAD to be included in this list. Almost as good as Carroll's version, this film is one of my favorites.



5. Nick Willing's TV Miniseries Alice in Wonderland
Boasting a full cast of celebrities and a faithful adaption of the story, this made-for-TV version is beautiful and a lot of fun. The casting choices of Christopher Lloyd (the White Knight) and Gene Wilder (the Mock Turtle) were stellar!



6. Nick Willing's Sci-Fi Miniseries Alice
Willing explores Alice yet again with his more modern science fiction series Alice. Matt Frewer is excellent as the White Knight, Kathy Bates rocked the Queen of Hearts, and I loved Andrew Lee Potts as Hatter!



From what I've seen of the Tim Burton version, it looks fabulous! I do wish they had not combined the characters of the Queen of Hearts (Alice in Wonderland) and the Red Queen (Through the Looking Glass), but I understand why they did. It would have been nice to see the dichotomy of the logical (sort of), governess-like Red Queen and the dreamy, scatterbrained White Queen, though.

I love how Burton used Sir John Tenniel's original illustrations (accept no substitute!) as inspiration for the film. It shows a dedication to preserving what is great about the original stories.



If you see the movie and love it . . . read the books!

And On the Other Side of the Coin . . .

{Editor's note: This post is an experiment wherein I discuss a TV show, the late "Pushing Daisies", that bridges the gap between what would seem to be my two mutually exclusive sets of interest: The retro, old-movie loving, secretly wishes to be a housewife side and the geeky sci-fi enthusiast, horror movie lover, macabre true crime fan side. Because the two blogs I pen would have theoretically separate audiences (although, with my friends, I suspect there would be more overlap than normal), I am trying to appeal to both sides without turning either side off. Thus, the crossover blog posts. If this idea fails miserably, I will try not to repeat it . . . but no promises. Now, back to your regularly scheduled post.}



Bryan Fuller is the king of quirky, witty . . . and ultimately cancelled shows. My favorite of his doomed creations is "Pushing Daisies". "Daisies" is/was the story of a pie maker named Ned who could bring the dead back to life . . . with a few restrictions. As the name suggests, death is interwoven in each episode's storyline. As a fan of true crime shows (and the occasional CSI/Law and Order SVU flair), the mystery of the murderer and the motive was an instant attraction for me. The show doesn't shirk on the gruesome deaths and black humor abounds. My personal favorite: Ned and Emerson's lively debate about the morality of calling the recently resurrected "zombies" versus "alive again". A good example of the gruesome played for laughs, Missy Pyle's character Betty Bee's return from fatal bee stings, pictured here:



The show is smartly written, interweaving obvious puns with subtle humor, ensuring that each script is intensely multi-layered. The show is also chock full of eccentric characters who initially seem flat or stereotypical, but each episode reveals something new about them, not unlike peeling back layers of an onion. The show is delightfully quirky (think Tim Burton's Big Fish) and balances out the macabre, and often tragic, circumstances with a whimsical, modern fairytale feel.

SUCK IT, NBC!

NBC proves once again that the people in charge are usually idiots. Let me break it down for you, NBC execs: Jay Leno has been, at best, marginally funny throughout his career. Conan O'Brien, on the other hand, has maintained a quirky, intelligent humor and has an extremely loyal fanbase that is largely made up of your target audience. Now, logically, who should you avoid pissing off? If you were smart, you'd be kissing Conan's ass right now. Instead, you're punishing Conan because Jay Leno sucks. Not exactly fair, is it?



That being said . . . TEAM CONAN ALL THE WAY!

Okay, "How I Met Your Mother" . . . We're Fighting Now

Seriously . . . I can't take much more of this, "And that's how I almost met your mother" crap. Either don't mention it until Ted actually meets her, or frickin' introduce the mother already!

And why is Robin still on the show? She brings nothing to the table, she's not nearly as funny/endearing as the rest of the cast, and I hate to break this to her (or Cobie Smulders?), but she's not that hot.

We need more Barney and less everybody else. In fact, they should just rename it "Barney is . . . wait for it . . . Awesome" and on the final episode, just say, "Oh, and this is how Ted met your mom."

How about it, Carter Bays?

"Where the Hell is My Flying Car?"

Whoo! It's been a long time since I posted last! I hope everyone had a very geeky Christmas and a nerdy New Year.

I saw the quote in my title on a tweet by Simon Pegg, and I have to agree. All the 1950s sci-fi movies promised awesome stuff in the 2000s . . . and nothing has come of it!

Even so, the new year has got off to a pretty awesome start. As always, the previous year ended with Sci-Fi's "Twilight Zone" marathon. A sign that I am a true geek - the marathon is the most exciting part of my New Year's Eve celebration. (In fact, I'm usually annoyed that Kris insists on turning the channel to Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, even for a few minutes.)

The best part so far? A much-needed three day weekend! I intend to make the most of it. Today, we saw Sherlock Holmes with my dad, got ice cream at Coldstone Creamery, visited the kitties at the pet store, got a new MST3K box set, and had my favorite stir-fry for dinner! Not bad for the first weekend of the year.

Tomorrow will be spent putting away Christmas decorations, doing laundry, and watching mass quantities of television and movies.

Not In the Christmas Spirit YET? I'm Here to Help.

First, an adorable picture of my cat, Darby, in a gigantic Christmas gift bag.

And now . . . "The Carol of the Bells, Muppet Style

That is all.

I Heart Christmas

Since I work in retail, it would be logical to assume that I am less than fond of Christmas. Nothing could be farther from the truth, however. While working retail during the Christmas season is less than wonderful, I still love the holiday season. I have so many wonderful memories of holiday traditions and fun times around Christmas and New Years!

Part of these memories involve classic Christmas specials, movies, and books. So here are my top five favorite lists for Christmas. Check 'em twice!

Top Five Christmas Movies:

5. Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
This film combines two of my favorite things: Muppets and Dicken's A Christmas Carol. Michael Caine makes a great Ebeneezer Scrooge and all of the classic Muppets make appearances. The film is surprising faithful to the story and is made all the better by the sharp wit of the Jim Henson team.

4. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
This classic story has a beautiful message: "No man is poor who has friends." Beautifully acted by Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, and Henry Travers, it is truly what Christmas is all about . . . friends, family, and giving to others.

3. A Christmas Carol (1984)
Although the Alastir Sim version is traditionally viewed to be the definitive adaptation, I prefer the 1984 version starring George C. Scott. Exceptionally true to the original story, this version has some of my favorite moments, including the introduction of Ignorance and Want (a chilling moment befitting a good ghost story) and Marley showing Scrooge the destitute woman and child outside his home. Scott is excellent as a gruff and unforgiving Scrooge and Frank Finlay makes for a truly terrifying Marley. If you adore the original text as I do, you will love this version.

2. Love Actually (2003)
Though most view this as a non-holiday movie, it is set mostly at Christmastime and it is one of my favorites. It never fails to put me in a good mood!

1. Scrooged (1988)
Yet another version of Dicken's immortal classic. While it is the least faithful of the adaptations I have listed, it's one of the best. It's hilarious, moving, and full of memorable (and quotable!) moments. Bill Murray, Bobcat Goldthwait, Carol Kane, and David Johansen make this 1988 film a classic.

Top Five Favorite Christmas Specials:

5. Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983)
Like the Muppet Christmas Carol, the fun of Mickey's Christmas Carol is seeing many classic Disney characters (Goofy as Marley, Jiminy Cricket as the Ghost of Christmas Past, and Willie the Giant as the Ghost of Christmas Present, just to name a few) as characters in the story. One of my childhood favorites!

4. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
Although the Rankin-Bass stop-motion features can be a little unnerving at times, they are still classics. What makes Rudolph so special are the memorable songs ("Holly Jolly Christmas", "Silver and Gold", etc.), especially "We're a Couple of Misfits" (which I identified with even as a child), and . . . the Bumble!

3. The Snowman (1982)
With no dialouge, The Snowman is amazing in its effectiveness. The music is beautiful, as is the the imagery of a boy and his magic snowman!

2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)
This special is dear to my heart. It was a part of every Christmas since I was born and relatives called me Cindy Lou Who because I resembled the small Who in the cartoon. Like It's a Wonderful Life, this one is all about the Christmas spirit.

1. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
I have always felt a kinship with Charlie Brown, from his disastrous Halloween costume ("I got a rock.") to the sad little tree he picks out in this Christmas special. When I think of Christmas I always think of the Peanuts singing, their faces raised to the sky and their mouths in perfect Os.

Top Five Holiday Books:

5. Twas the Night Before Christmas (2002)
Clement C. Moore's classic poem is brought vividly to life by the beautifully detailed illustrations by Mary Engelbreit. It is a lovely Christmas keepsake that subsequent generations can enjoy.

4. The Little Match Girl (1987)
One of my favorite Hans Christian Anderson tales, with beautiful illustratrions by Rachel Isadora. A poingant and lovely holiday tale.

3. Bialosky's Christmas (1984)
A childhood favorite showing Bialosky Bear getting ready for his Christmas party. I loved this one because Bialosky had many of the same traditions that my family did.

2. The Best Christmas Pagent Ever (1988)

Barbara Robinson's amusing tale of a group of wild, underprivilege children learning the story of Christmas. This one was so great because it was realistic. Definitely a break from the more sickeningly sweet Christmas fare.

1. A Christmas Carol (1843)
You've probably noticed a theme in my favorites. I have loved Dicken's A Christmas Carol for as long as I can remember. We read the book every year at Christmas and for several years in a row saw wonderful productions performed by the Omaha Community Playhouse. I have seen almost all the versions of this classic tale, but the original text still remains my favorite. Dickens is a wonderful writer with many classics to his name, but this is one of his best beloved. If you have not read it, I highly suggest you do so as soon as possible. Make it one of your new Christmas traditions!

Paradise in Plasticine

So, we just got finished watching an episode of "James May's Toy Stories". We learned a lot about plasticine, but mostly we learned that a lot of people who are super serious about gardening are kind of mean.

The "real" gardeners came to make fun of James May (and some were downright insulting) and his plasticine (modeling clay to us Americans) flowers. Apparently, he was being "low-class", "vulgar", and "tarnishing the repuation of the horticultural community". Never mind that the majority of the flowers were made by hardworking British people, including veterans of the British army. The garden was beautiful, cheerful, and probably the closest many Britons would get to showcase in the Chelsea flower show.

Initially, the judges looked down their noses at May's work of art, but then had to scramble to throw some praise his way when the plasticine garden was clearly the public's favorite.

Personally, I think the detractors were not worried about the horticulturalists reputation as much as they were jealous.

Hallelujah! (Spoiler Alerts for "How I Met Your Mother" & "Big Bang")

After a crap day of work, I was elated to find that Robin and Barney broke up (finally . . . thank God). The show gained a little bit of its funny back. It was like a huge weight was lifted!

"Big Bang" was awesome as usual. For the record, I totally side with Leonard. If his ex-girlfriend crashed on his couch and he didn't tell Penny until the last minute, she would have a cow. It's common courtesy to ask your significant other. Stuart (the comic book guy) was as sweet and funny as ever, and the line about Howard being the closest thing to the Koothrappalis' daughter-in-law was priceless!

Only two more days till "Glee"!

Thank God for Netflix!

Halloween is one of my favorite times of year. We had wonderful traditions when I was growing up . . . decorating the house, trips to Vala's Pumpkin Patch (singing Pumpkin Carols on the way), watching "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" and "A Garfield Halloween" on TV, hot cider steeped with cloves, carving pumpkins, creating elaborate construction paper witches, watching the costume-making process as my mom laboriously worked on beautiful outfits, costume parties with my parents' friends, and trick or treating with my Dad (wearing his arrow-through-the-head, as always).

As an adult, I've kept a few of the originals (decorating, hot cider, "Great Pumpkin" and "Garfield Halloween", and carving pumpkins) and developed some of my own traditions, mostly around watching mass quantities of scary movies. I read Ghost Story by Peter Straub every year around this time, and after reading John Ajvide Lindqvist's Let the Right One In, I may add that as well. As far as guilty pleasures go, Bravo shows it's countdown of "100 Scariest Movie Moments" and AMC usually runs all three Omen movies on Halloween night. To my shock and horror, neither one of these events is taking place this year! Bravo, in between inane repeats of "Housewives of Orange County" has "13 Scarier Movie Moments", which is a measly 1 hour long special, and there is no mention of the Omen films anywhere on the TV Guide schedule. Luckily, I've been able to watch the "Scariest Movie Moments" special online (not quite as good, but better than nothing) and thanks to Netflix, I will be spending my Halloween with Damien Thorne once again.

Another of my favorite Halloween traditions is the Midnite Movie at the Esquire Theater here in Denver. Although the Midnite Movie runs throughout the year on weekends, they always pick an especially scary film for the week of Halloween. This year does not disappoint, as the flick will be The Exorcist! See it this weekend . . . if you dare!

WHEATON!!! (WARNING: Serious Spoilers for this Week's "Big Bang Theory")

Seriously, how awesome was Wil Wheaton in this week's "Big Bang Theory"? He didn't have a huge role, but it was sooo funny to see him lay the smack down on Sheldon. (Especially since I have a hunch he's a super nice guy in real life.) Raj was also pretty hilarious and it's nice to see that his character is getting more good lines. (My personal favorite so far: "I swear to cow.") Another refreshing new development: Howard actually connected with a girl without totally creeping her out!

The nice thing about the series is that the secondary characters can pick up the slack where the main characters fall a bit flat. As happy as I was to see Leonard and Penny hook up, their relationship isn't a sparky as it was when Leonard loved her from afar. (Hopefully it's just a transitional period.) The finally getting together can suck the life out of most shows. Perfect example: Robin and Barney's relationship is killing "How I Met Your Mother". I mean, come on, a huge part of the show is Barney scoring with random chicks and being an ass. Luckily for "Big Bang" all of the recurring characters are strong performers, which makes the damage minimal. (There were some cute moments with them, though. I loved the Google bit.) I think as long as they play up the other characters strengths, Leonard and Penny can be as cutesy-wutesy as they wanna be (well . . . almost).

Incidentally, Wil Wheaton has a pretty awesome blog (with a post about tonight's episode). http://wilwheaton.typepad.com/ Check it out!