(S07E08)NCIS did something so great on tonight's episode that I'm surprised I haven't seen it done on another procedural until now. If you haven't seen the show yet, I won't spoil it, but I will say that it was a complication that really made the show.
There were moments for DiNozzo to reference all kinds of TV shows from the past, a chance for Gibbs to prove that there's nothing he can't handle with aplomb, and even the opportunity for Abby to show that sans Cafe Pow, she's still the sharpest lab tech in NCIS. More on the case after the jump.
Remember the early 90s commercials from AT&T that asked various technology questions and then ended with Tom Selleck saying "You Will?" Someone on YouTube has put a montage of the ads and it's interesting that so many of these tech predictions/plans have actually come true.
I don't know how many people open their doors with their voice, but most of the other tech stuff has come true in one way or another.
The first 20 seconds of this video below could easily be mistaken for one of the real "I'm A PC" ads that Microsoft is currently running. Same filming style, same type of actress, the locations even look the same. But then it all goes horribly wrong (a few naughty words so a little NSFW).
I've been online every single day for about 14 years, I have several e-mail addresses, I have a couple of computers, I have a cell phone, and I Twitter. Still, I don't think it would be a problem for me to give up my cell phone and iPod for ten days.
Not the younger folks though, if this video from Today is any indication. The kids just can't handle not being able to get online or text to their friends (17,500 messages in one month??). One kid doesn't even know how to use a newspaper, and another can't read a regular clock (seriously). I think their heads would cave in if they tried to use a typewriter.
These new ads are trying to say you shouldn't pay a lot for a computer, especially those damn Macs that, well, everyone who uses them really loves. (Disclaimer: yes, I'm typing this on a Mac.)
You have to hand it to a show that really explains its premise in the title. This show could have been called Computer Wars or CyberWorld or Gemberling (the original title of the series when it was on the web), but they decided to just call it Fat Guy Stuck In Internet, which has a blunt, tabloid newspaper-ish quality. And really, wouldn't you watch a show with that title?
You'll get a chance when it premieres on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block this Sunday night (Monday morning) at 12:15am. Or you could watch some clips online starting today. The plot involves the hero, Gemberling, being sucked into the internet after spilling a beer on his computer. Inside, he befriends two others (Bit and Byte) who are trying to escape the evil head of a computer company (Ynapmoclive - read it backwards) who sends a bounty hunter after them. A wizard who sounds like Bill Cosby tells him he has to save Bit and Byte and the internet and deal with the evil Kazaa. It sounds bizarre but looks even more bizarre, like some crazy comic book mixed with special effects of 70s sci-fi shows. That's not an insult, by the way. The look works really well in a show like this.
Every April we can usually look forward to the annual "TV Turnoff Week." It's the week when we're supposed to turn off our televisions and, I don't know, go outside and built a tree fort or something. But this year, something strange has happened: "TV" is no longer in the title.
(S04E03) You know, I really don't know what to say about tonight's Office that isn't going to sound like the same old song that I've been singing since the start of this season. As I was watching the second half of the show tonight, I was actually worried about what I was going to say in my review. On the one hand, I feel the need to be honest. But, on the other hand, I'm much happier when I don't have an inbox filled with comments telling me how much I suck.
It's quite the moral dilemma. Of course, you'll have to follow me over the jump to see which decision I made...
Via Boing Boing comes this lengthy essay from Michael Schmitz that looks at Human Computer Interaction in both movies and television. Some of the technology explored in this essay comes from shows like Star Trek: The Next Generation, Futurama, Star Trek: Enterprise, and an old German series called Raumschiff Orion.
Schmitz's essay looks at the technology used in these series and compares them to similar technology in the real world. The essay is a bit heavy, but I think sci fi nerds will appreciate it. All true science fiction is grounded somewhat in real science, and this essay delves into that world quite extensively and shows how often modern technology began as a fictional concept before we were finally able to catch up and make it a reality. For example, the "Wil Wheaton" in the picture on the right is now a real person. I know, it's spooky.
Ubisoft, the French video game maker behind such titles as Splinter Cell and Rainbow Six has plans to spend $400 million to extend its production facilities and begin making CGI movies. The company also hopes this will lead to the development of CGI television series in the future.
Bill Gates is the guest on The Daily Show tonight. John Hodgman, aka "the PC guy" in those Apple commercials, is a correspondent for the show. Will the two meet?
It's hard to say. Maybe as a visual, but I wonder if Apple would allow Hodgman to actually be on the show when Gates is there and interact with him in a way that would spoof the commercials? Not that it wouldn't be great advertising for Apple, but they probably want to control these things a bit more. This appearance is just a commercial for the new Windows Vista, so maybe they don't want any competition from Apple, even if it is "implied."
Besides, would Gates even find it funny? Even though Hodgman is "the PC guy," the ads are still ads that say Macs are better. I'll be watching though, just in case something does happen.
Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis, the brains behind Skype and Kazaa, are preparing to launch the first global television network later this year. The new service, called Joost, has already garnered interest from Endemol TV (Fear Factor, Deal or No Deal and 1 Vs. 100), September Films (Beauty and the Geek, Bridezillas) and the Indy Racing League, all of which will be providing content, though what that content will be is unknown at the time.
The creators hope to provide entertainment for viewers using a format that will also allow content providers to keep their shows safe from piracy. The new venture already has several advertisers lined up, which is no doubt due to the popularity of both Skype and Kazaa.
Speaking as a viewer who isn't exactly tech-savvy, I have to say that the success of Joost will come down to how easy it is to use. I've said before that a large part of YouTube's success is that it's incredibly simple to find and watch videos. As long as Joost doesn't over-complicate things and actually provide worthwhile content, it might be worth checking out.
If you have ever watched the Mac ads featuring John Hodgman and Justin Long and wondered what their Japanese counterparts must look like (and I'm sure everyone has), look no further! Yes yes, the Japanese have their own versions of the ads, starring members of sketch comedy group The Rahmens (I don't really know who they are, but I've read that they're like Japanese comedy's answer to Wes Anderson... whatever that means). The ads are pretty much the same as the American ones, but, y'know, in Japanese and with different actors. I like the original ads better, but, I must admit, the Japanese PC works some pretty sweet hip movements when he's rocking out to his iPod. Look out, Hodgman.
(S01E07) Along with Mary Tyler Moore and Amy Sedaris, I've always had a crush on Janeane Garofalo. I remember being happy when this episode came on, since I had loved her standup and her work on The Ben Stiller Show (with Andy Dick). She plays Nancy, Dave's ex-girlfriend who seems nice on the outside but is really kind of a nut. She comes to New York City to be with Dave, who never quite told her that they were officially broken up.
Meanwhile, Jimmy meets a business and technology "visionary" named Tom at a conference and arranges for him to be interviewed by Bill, but that doesn't turn out quite as Jimmy or Dave had hoped...
Amazon.com has shown a few snippets here and there, but now the official launch of Bill Maher's talk show, Fishbowl, will be tomorrow morning. Each show will be 30 minutes long, and Maher will interview various celebrities and other people of note, including The Dixie Chicks, Ludacris, Dean Koontz, and Stephen King.
It's funny because Bill Maher was on The Late Show With David Letterman recently and said he's really not that computer literate and doesn't know exactly what people will get or what they need to see it. But he has started using e-mail a lot.
Maher's Real Time will return with new eps on August 25. You can catch podcasts and other stuff at the HBO web site.
How about you?
You have to hand it to a show that really explains its premise in the title. This show could have been called Computer Wars or CyberWorld or Gemberling (the original title of the series when it was on the web), but they decided to just call it 
Every April we can usually look forward to the annual "TV Turnoff Week." It's the week when we're supposed to turn off our televisions and, I don't know, go outside and built a tree fort or something. But this year, something strange has happened: "TV" is no longer in the title.
(S04E03) You know, I really don't know what to say about tonight's 
Via 
Ubisoft, the French video game maker behind such titles as Splinter Cell and Rainbow Six has plans to spend $400 million to extend its production facilities and begin making CGI movies. The company also hopes this will lead to the development of CGI television series in the future.
Bill Gates is the guest on The Daily Show tonight. John Hodgman, aka "the PC guy" in those Apple commercials, is a correspondent for the show. 
Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis, the brains behind Skype and Kazaa, are preparing to launch the first global television network later this year. The new service, called 
If you have ever watched the Mac ads featuring John Hodgman and Justin Long and wondered what their Japanese counterparts must look like (and I'm sure everyone has), look no further! Yes yes, the Japanese have their own versions of the ads, starring members of sketch comedy group The Rahmens (I don't really know who they are, but 
(S01E07) Along with Mary Tyler Moore and Amy Sedaris, I've always had a crush on Janeane Garofalo. I remember being happy when this episode came on, since I had loved her standup and her work on The Ben Stiller Show (with Andy Dick). She plays Nancy, Dave's ex-girlfriend who seems nice on the outside but is really kind of a nut. She comes to New York City to be with Dave, who never quite told her that they were officially broken up.
Amazon.com has shown a few snippets here and there, but now the official launch of Bill Maher's talk show, 
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