I know this starts out as more of a post meant for CliqueClack Food, but bear with me.

I grew up hating tequila. OK, by “grew up” I mean since first having it in college; since I’m now in my 30s, college is now, sadly, considered my youth. The reason I hated tequila, though, was twofold: it was always the cheapest crap found on the lowest shelves of the corner package store, and we always threw them back in one gulp with salt and lime. Once I figured out that there was such a thing as good tequila, and that — *gasp* — you can sip it and it’ll taste good, I became a tequila LOVER.

Last month, Cuervo was publicizing their higher-end white (clear, or “silver”) tequila, called 1800 Tequila Silver. In the ads I saw, they were using Michael Imperioli (Sopranos, Life on Mars — see, it’s TV-related) in yet another typecast wise-guy role, this time bullying up to a bottle of Patron. Now, I like 1800 Tequila just fine, but throwing the bird to my beloved Patron? Oh, it is ON, Moltisanti!

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With the majority of the season premieres in the rear view, business picks back up for DVD sets this week. Big network releases include How I Met Your Mother, CSI: NY, The Unit, Kings, Life On Mars, and a very delayed release for Day Break. From the archives you’ll find my pick of the week, the remastered 20th Anniversary Edition of Traffik, along with Patty Duke, Cagney & Lacey, and a sweet He-Man collection. There are also a host of Fan Favorites collections from classic comedies like Barney Miller, Sanford and Son, and I Dream of Jeannie. The full list is after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

Man, it’s a big week for DVD releases. I mean, really, who hasn’t been waiting for Charles In Charge Season 5 and that Knight Rider reboot? OK, maybe they’re not all blockbusters. But after that, the list is mighty impressive. You may find the shelves at your local DVD purveyor in danger of collapsing under all of the awesome. Joining The Middleman, we have Dollhouse, Doctor Who: Planet Of The Dead, Battlestar Galactica 4.5, and Torchwood: Children Of The Earth. Crikey. And that’s not all. There are even more releases, links, and me prattling on about all manner of nonsense, after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s been nearly two years since Life on Mars ended its 16 episode run on BBC One. I, for one, have missed it. I gave the US remake a chance, but it paled in comparison, which is probably why ABC dumped it last week. Attempting to repackage the series’ unique genre-blending structure for American audiences proved to be a mistake. Oh well; no harm done. Luckily, our friends across the pond decided to produce a Life on Mars sequel. Ashes to Ashes premiered last night on BBC America. Despite a few hiccups, it looks like it could be a winner.

The series stars Keeley Hawes (MI-5) as DI Alex Drake, a psychological profiler living in 2008 with her daughter Molly. An opening hostage situation leads to Alex being kidnapped by a pale-faced stranger who claims to know her long deceased parents. After babbling incoherently, the criminal shoots Alex, which in turn ships her back to 1981, where she awakens on a party boat dressed as a hooker. Ahh… the ’80s – when there was a hooker on every corner. Pardon my nostalgia.

Warning! Warning! If you’ve never seen the original Life on Mars you may want to stop reading and attend to some overdue yard work. SPOILERS DEAD AHEAD!! Read the rest of this entry »

This week was kind of light as far as good quotes were concerned, since a lot of our favorite shows were on hiatus. The plus side is that what we lack in quantity, we make up for in interesting shows — like the World Skeleton Championships, for instance (I don’t even know what that means!). So these are our favorite quotes of the week from all over. As always, feel free to post your own favorite quotes in the comments.

Life on Mars

“He’s one Brady short of a bunch.”– Ray Carling

“He’s as confused as a baby at a topless bar.”– Ray Carling

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I know that Life on Mars is set in 1973, and women have made a lot of progress in America in the last 26 years. Still, I was really surprised to see just how big of a dick our Detective Ray Carling was to his wife Denise during Wednesday’s show.

Should I be? I don’t know, maybe I figured that even with all of his tough talk at work, he wasn’t really that bad. I chalked it up to just that — tough talk.

We know some of the random officers at the station are skeevy — the ones that don’t play any major part in the show. But Skelton (whether he is or isn’t the mysterious voice on the other end of the phone) treats women with respect, and even Hunt is a big old softie underneath the gruff exterior. I guess there had to be a bad seed, and it’s Carling.

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I’ve reviewed a number of good shows already here at the Babble. BBC America doesn’t appear to be slowing down, as they have a host of new series, movies and fresh seasons of established faves on tap for 2009. Here’s a quick preview of what’s in store for the coming months.

• Mistresses – Debuts this Friday night at 8pm. Its normal time slot will be Fridays at 9pm. Four 30-something friends ponder their relationship woes. They all share one thing in common: infidelity. Looks like a Brit version of Sex and the City. Let’s hope it’s not as obnoxious. I’ll give it a watch and do a more extensive review down the road.

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