Remembering Sarah Jane

Hey everyone! There was some super sad news in the Dr. Who world earlier in the week, so I just thought I'd take today's post to write a little something about the beautiful Elisabeth Sladen.

  Ms. Sladen was bet known for her role as Sarah Jane on Dr. Who from 1973-1976. She has been a recurring character with each doctor in subsequent years. She is probably the best known Who companion, and in 2007 she received her own show on the BBC called The Sarah Jane Adventures. Robot dog K-9, and David Tennant were both special guests on the show.

In her life outside of Dr. Who, she had a wonderful marriage with fellow actor Brian Miller. The two have been married since 1968. Elisabeth and Brian have a daughter together named Sadie, who appears alongside he mother in the Dr. Who documentary "Thirty Years in the TARDIS".

After a short battle with cancer, the 63 year old actress succumbed to her illness on April 19th, leaving Dr. Who fans with a void where their beloved Sarah Jane used to be. The new series of Dr. Who will be premiering this Saturday, and a spokesperson for the show has said that they have something very suitable planned to pay tribute to this fantastic Dr. Who icon.

Odds and Ends With Evan T.!

Things I wanted to write about...
By Evan T.

S.D.C.C. Exclusive Cobra Commander w/ Starscream Jet

So when I was a kid...wait, I still am a kid. O.k., So when I was YOUNGER if you had said to me, "Hey you! Do you want a new G.I. Joe toy which is also a new Transformers toy?" I would have replied "Hell yeah!" at which point I would have gotten into any number of windowless vans just to get a peek. That wish is now coming true this year with this S.D.C.C. exclusive. Cobra Commander, in a proper flight suit and caring Megatron as a gun (!!!!), comes packaged with an airplane in the paint scheme of Starscream. I'm sure Chris Latta (the voice of both the Commander and Starscream) is loving it wherever he is. It is the culmination of two great love, this toy. Now I'm either going to have to make a trek out to San Diego (German for a Whale's Vagina), know someone who is going or allow the scalpers have there way with me. It is a perfect combination of worlds colliding. Almost like if The Rock and Vin Diesel got together and made a flick....oh wait....

Top Gear

O.k., so I know that Carly JUST wrote about it but I cannot bump the Top Gear enough. While America has recently started their own version I am going to speak about the U.K. edition. If you have never, ever seen an episode you are living in the freakin stone age as far as I am concerned. Even if you don't like cars you will be entertained more than Charlie Sheen at the A.V.N. Awards. Just looking at the most recent season the presenters at Top Gear have bought cheap convertibles and driven through the Middle East, come to America with some European super cars and gone through Virginia, raced a Porsche against a Volkswagon beetle dropped from a helicopter, landed a helicopter on a car, faced off against their Australian counterparts, offended the entire country of Mexico and figured out which car you should buy if you are a European gangster. That's five episodes, so far. Get on Netflix and catch up with seasons 9 - 12 or maybe you know people, People who know people who rob the internets of television shows. Ask them for some seasons. You will be glad you did.

Captain America and The Avengers

O.k. So if you read the blog, which I assume you do because you are reading it right now, you know that Captain America is coming to theaters this year. There is going to be a video game tie in. It might be good but more than likely it will not be any good for anything but a coaster. That's why I went back in time and picked up, on ebay, a copy of this game. It started life as a coin op four player arcade game which was translated to Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo, Game Boy and Game Gear. You got to choose to control Iron Man, Hawkeye, Vision and the good Captain himself as you battled through classic villains like Mandarin, Whirlwind, Red Skull, Ultron and Crossbones (among others) in side scrolling glory reminiscent to the X-Men arcade game.The game also has some great, and by great I mean horribly great, voice acting. A lot like Resident Evil. If this game sounds like something you would like to check out I suggest you pick up a copy now before the movie comes out and the prices spike.

Avengers Assemble!

So while I was checking out the things that are not booty shaking videos on Youtube I came across this hilarious little web show (Youtube Channel: avengersweb). It's episode run from three to four minutes and involve various members of the Avengers team. Each member is a spoof version of themselves. Iron Man is always drinking, Hawkeye is a horn dog, Captain America uses racial terms your grandfather would use and Ms. Marvel is constantly ignored or belittled. The episodes are quick and fun and the run the range from the B.P. oil spill to health care to carpooling. Like these good people on Facebook and check out their stuff. Hopefully we can get some more of these episodes.

Bow Ties are Cool

So I *finally* sat down and watched the Dr. Who Christmas special for this year, and it was nothing less than awesome. Evan T. and I are constantly having the discussion/argument about which doctor is better; David Tennant or Matt Smith. Evan T. is a Tennant fan through and through, but my love for Matt Smith goes DEEP.

This years Christmas special was very much fantasy. It revolved around "A Christmas Carol" storyline. the plot line was very sweet, and a little steam punk, and I just totally fell for it.



I think the reason I like Matt Smith's "doctor" so much more than David Tennants is because I feel like the Matt Smith doctor is just a generally more laid back dude. I have so many favorite episodes from season 5, whereas, I can hardly recall a single episode from the David Tennant years. The fact that they began filming in HD last season when Matt Smith took over is a big help too. I feel like the previous seasons were filmed in a very "British" way, which makes it harder for me to concentrate.

I just want to say for the record, that I like David Tennant very much, and my love for Dr. Who is all encompassing, so please don't take any of my words as anything malicious against seasons 1-4. Simply put, I enjoy the most current season of Dr. Who because the story telling is amazing, and it's very pretty to look at in HD.

Anyone who has not watched an episode should definitely do it. Later in the week I'll post some of my favorite episodes of the past season, so if you want to do a quick catch up before season 6 starts, it'll be super easy for you.

Hope you all had a safe and happy new year!

Robin Hood

 Hello everyone! So, back in 2006 the BBC created a 3 season series of "Robin Hood". I just finished the series and it was AWESOME. I'm a total history/historical fiction nerd, so this was just what I needed. It had everything you would want in a show. Action! Adventure! Romance!

Like every show, there are some throw away episodes, but even the throw away episodes in this show are full of adventure. The overall storyline is fantastic, and full of twists and turns. Not only does the series show Robin Hood and his Merry Men stealing from the rich and giving to the poor, but it also shows day to day life in the 1200's and the history of how Robin Hood became Robin Hood.

Of course the show also features some of everyone's favorite characters; The Sheriff of Nottingham, Little John, Maid Marion, etc. You come to know and love nearly all of the main characters, and there are moments where you'll find yourself completely tensed up during a fight scene, or you'll find yourself crying at some particularly sad stuff (I don't want to give anything away, so I'm keeping it vague).

The story takes place in Nottingham, England in the 1200's. While Kind Richard (the Lionheart) is in the Holy Lands during the crusades, his brother, Prince John, is looking after England. John is basically terrorizing the lands and taking everything the his subjects have. The whole story is about Robin and crew protecting England from the Sheriff and Prince John.

I know I'm totally gaga about the BBC, but this show is only 3 seasons long, so if you're finding that you need something to fill your TV void over the winter while all other shows are on hiatus, I highly recommend this one.


PROGRAMMING NOTE: Between Christmas shopping and attending a Christmas party tomorrow I'm going to be busy all day, so most likely I will not post. I'll miss you all dearly, but I look forward to seeing all your smiling faces on Sunday!

Best Travel Documentary EVER.

Let me begin by saying that I love British TV and cinema. "Extras", the "Harry Potter" movies, "Dr. Who", Robin Hood" (the TV show, not the movie), "Being Human", just to name a few. Ricky Gervais is one of my favorite things about British culture. I've watched "The Office" (the British version, and the American version, which he is EP for), I've seen his stand up, and listened to his podcast. After being such a fan for so long, I know that he, his friend, and business partner Steven Merchant and pal (and often punching bag) Karl Pilkington, are almost inseparable. Ricky and Steven often like to make fun of Karl and his senseless ramblings, and he is always the butt of the joke. When I found out that Ricky and Steven created a travel show just for Karl, I knew I had to watch.

"An Idiot Abroad" is a travel documentary where Karl Pilkington is sent to the seven wonders of the world. Karl, often the pessimist is reluctant to go, but is eventually talked into it. He is put into situations where he has no prior warning as to what is going to happen. This show is the most amazing, hilarious look to travel abroad you will ever watch. I guarantee you'll love it. Below is the trailer for the show. I hope you enjoy!