Author: King Tom

Jack’s Sixth Day

Today begins the sixth longest (in no particular order) day of Jack Bauer’s life.

Two things were different for me with this season premiere of 24. For all the years I’ve been watching the show, this is the first time I’ve seen a season opener live. Also, it’s the first time I’ve seen the show in HD, which, I have to admit is nice.

I’m glad FOX is continuing with airing the first two hours one night with the second two the following night. It spoils viewers for the rest of the season, but it also starts things off nicely for those of us who have gone seven months without a new episode of 24. While it was seven months for us, I bet it felt longer for those stuck in a Chinese prison.

Continue reading “Jack’s Sixth Day” →

King Tom

Videos for nothing, Clips for free

After looking promising, the prospects for the concept of “music television” are bleak again, especially if you live in Columbus.

Actually, it’s been a few months coming, as my one-time favorite channel VH1 Classic has resorted to playing Flashdance 15 times a week.

But the straw that broke the camel’s back was the recent decision by the Columbus Fox affiliate to drop The Tube as it’s secondary digital channel. Apparently, the move was made because The Tube didn’t meet some new FCC requirement where all digital secondary channels had to carry the Emergency Broadcast System and carry three hours of educational hours per week.

Now, if I want random music videos on in the background, I have to either watch VH1 Classic the three hours a day they aren’t playing a documentary about Metallica or tune into MTV before the crack of dawn.

Thanks, FCC!

King Tom

A Day That Will Live In Infamy

Thirty-four years ago today, my close, personal friend*, George Steinbrenner purchased the New York Yankees from the CBS media empire.

Steinbrenner didn’t keep his word of sticking “with building ships.” Steinbrenner purchased a team that had been neglected by its owners and (with help in the front office and the field) turned the franchise around to make the Yankees a team to be resepected in the late 70s.

Park your car, sir?

While his actions and personnel moves in the 80s ranged between questionable and downright wrong, he paid the price on two fronts–the Yankees had their worst seasons ever (and I was at the stadium for many of those games) and he received a life suspension**.

The suspension of the early 90s allowed cooler heads to change the pace and priorities for the Yankees. This culminated in the dynasty of the late 90s, and led the path for the success of the Yankees to this day. Yes, they haven’t won a Worlds Series in six years, but they’ve never not been in contention. While some of Steinbrenner’s moves and actions may have been done for the “glorification of his massive ego,” unlike some other owners, he has always put everything into giving Yankee fans the team they deserve.

Over the past year, Steinbrenner has moved into more of a supporting role, letting General Manager Brian Cashman call the shots. Cashman has already erased some of the more questionable moves made recently and equipped the Yankees for the future.

Were Steinbrenner still running the Yankees like he did 20 years ago, I would not be writing this kindly about his ownership. And we don’t know how much longer his ownership will continue. But there’s nobody*** I’d rather see as owner of the Yankees.

*I have a signed letter from him, sending me his “Best Regards”
** Lifetime=Three years, give or take a few months
***Other than myself

King Tom

And so Happy Christmas

Before the Civee and I pack up to go to Cincinnati for the second time in two days (but this time we’re staying for more than a few hours), I’d just like to wish everyone out there a Merry Christmas.

Whether you’re a friend of the King, or here looking for pictures of Gob riding a segway, Graeme Lloyd, my foot in a cast, Tito Santana, or Jean Smart’s cleavage, I hope you all get what you want. (If you’re in the picture group, you’re in luck. Except for you Jean Smart people. I can’t help you.)

As for me, I’m rather content this Christmas. I can’t really think of anything I want, and for the most part, I’m just enjoying what I have. Maybe that means I’m growing up.

And if that’s the case, this blog might be a bit less fun in aught-seven.

Just kidding.

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The megapowers collide

So the new trailer is out for Transformers The Movie (volume 2).

This is something that I was very skeptical about when they first announced it. The news that the actor who voiced Optimus Prime for the cartoon would also be Prime in the movie made me warm to the movie a bit.

The trailer is pretty good. It’s definitely moody. But the best thing about the trailer is seeing that Glenn Morshower, the guy who plays Secret Service Agent Aaron Pierce on 24 will appear in the movie.

First he teamed up with Jack Bauer.

Now, he may team up with Optimus Prime.

That’s a better combination than peanut butter and jelly. Or pie and ice cream.

King Tom

Actual Items

So I was looking through some catalog for no reason what so ever, and this caught my eye:

Make your bird explode with flavor!

I give you the Turkey Cannon.

If I hadn’t seen this in a printed catalog, I would have thought it was one of those Actual Items from Conan’s show.

Yet it’s real. Some company expects people to pay nearly 30 dollars for some wiring and a part of a car’s tailpipe (with built-in handles, possibly a safety feature). In return, they get to make their birds explode with flavor.

I wonder if the result of a shot from the Turkey Cannon is anything like a Ham Explosion.

King Tom

How much longer till Jack is back?

So the Civee and I went to Target Saturday for no reason at all. The big surprise wasn’t that the store was practically empty. The big surprise was seeing the 24 season DVD sets on sale for $16 each. They only had a few copies of Season 1 left, so naturally I snagged one.

I’m amazed at how dark the sets are. And how Jack knows this emotion the rest of us know as “happiness.” That won’t last long.

Speaking of 24, the next day starts in January, and Fox is starting to run promos:

Looks like they’re not holding their breath with the Jack vs. Lobot confrontation. I hope Jack brought a towel.

King Tom

Daniel Craig IS James Bond

I was wrong.

A little more than a year ago, I was quite unhappy with the selection of Daniel Craig as James Bond. But after seeing Casino Royale , I happily admit I was wrong.

There were a lot of things I liked about Casino Royale–while the last few Bond films have been entertaining, but lacking substance, this movie is entertaining, substantial and gives the franchise the kick in the pants it needs to compete against today’s action films while staying true to the original source material.
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King Tom