Season Wrap-Up

Posted by Bob Greenberger on May 31, 2006

Given how difficult it can be coordinating schedules, we only just finished the finales for the series we have watched as a family. All except Alias that is. We have an entire season to enjoy over the summer so no comments there.

I’ll presume you’ve seen these by now so will discuss without concern over spoilers.

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Back from Balticon

Posted by Bob Greenberger on May 30, 2006

It was like stepping into Earth-2. That was my first thought when I arrived at Balticon on Saturday morning. We decided that with school and work on Friday, there was no way we could be there for the first day so, instead, got up at the crack of dawn and were on the road by 6:30.

At that hour, we zipped through and got the show in 4:20, which is pretty much how we prefer it. The Hunt Valley Inn remains garish with its new color scheme and décor but we will endure. Anyway, the show used the same facility space but things weren’t where we were used to it. Being a more literary SF show, they needed more space for the art show so placed it in the Hunt Room which normally held programming. Registration was off in a corner rather than using the coat check area. Functional, and in some cases an improvement, but odd.

Registration was interesting in that they forgot to have a badge for me. They had one for Kate who was performing, and one for Deb who had been asked to judge, but the other two…nada.

Over the time at the show, I visited with people from the area and fellow professionals, most of whom I haven’t seen in a while. As a result, I had a lovely drink with Connor Cochran and through him met the author Peter S. Beagle. Spent time chatting with Bob Jeschonek and his delightful wife Wendy. Reconnected over dinner with Ann Crispin who I haven’t talked with in ages.

Deb loved it as she actually spent more time than usual talking to several locals she never usually has time to speak with. Since Marty Gear, who has organized the Masquerade for the con since 1979, asked Deb to judge in one e-mail exchange but never confirmed it, I never said a word to Deb. So she was floored when it became a reality (which also meant a trip across the street to the Mall so she could find something to wear that night) and enjoyed the experience immensely. She even participated in the post-mortem discussion Sunday morning. Me, it was an odd feeling sitting there and actually watching rather than judging and beside me were the kids, neither of whom was competing. I’m telling you, it was visiting Earth-2.

Additionally, Deb got to meet author and fellow knitter Brenda Clough. Our families enjoyed a spirited lunch and it was fun to meet Brenda who is also a comics fan and an avowed follower of the collections I assembled.

Since the con didn’t schedule me for anything other than Trailer Park or add my name to the web site, I wasn’t surprised at the lack of autographing. Of course, I was bowled over when the only thing I was asked to sign all weekend was the current issue of Weekly World News. Trailer Park went over just fine, and I enjoyed the Q&A exchange that followed.

A highlight, though, had to be a catch-up lunch with Neil Gaiman. One of the reasons we chose to attend our first Balticon was Kate’s desire to see Neil once more, plus the Boogie Knights were invited to sing. Neil somehow actually had a hole in his schedule so suggested lunch. On Sunday, we whisked him away from the hotel and found a rib place nearby so we could chat. For a lovely hour, it was talking about his kids, my kids, some industry stuff and listening to his travels in Australia. Deb had never met Neil and was charmed while Kate was ecstatic over discovering his affection for poet Wendy Cope, someone she had only recently discovered. The conversation was rambling and a treat.

The Boogie Knight show Sunday night had them loose and fun, playing to their packed room audience. It was clear several members in the room had never seen them before and were enchanted. They received a standing ovation which thrilled the group no end.

Monday morning I showed the trailers, dropped Kate at Amtrak to head south to D.C. for the NSEP Convocation (that scholarship I bragged about some weeks back) and then we were hoping to beat the road crush by heading for home. It took about six hours, and would have taken less time had the line for gas been a little shorter or the rest stop lunch break had been some place a little better organized. Still, it wasn’t too bad.

And now we’re all back to work.

This Week

Posted by Bob Greenberger on May 26, 2006

The adjustment to being a fulltime freelancer (while still seeking long-term work) has been interesting. Some days I slog through existing assignments and other days I’m either seeking work or stuff arrives in my lap. Earlier this week, I had a few things turn up that were pleasant surprises such as an invitation to write a second piece for Fairfield Magazine. I’m also embarking on a freelance editing project which could be an interesting experience. Additionally, rarely does a week go by when I don’t get stories from Weekly World News dropped in my lap for quick turn around. Yesterday, for example, I wrote two Breaking News stories plus a slightly longer piece, none of which existed before lunch.

On Wednesday, I went into the city to attend a Freelancer’s Bootcamp aimed at how to organize and market yourself. The lead speaker was Allison Hemming from The Hired Guns, who I have had some dealings with. I like Ally and she spoke well, despite laryngitis. The tips and examples were useful and the room was packed with people from all walks of life, from defense contractors to photographers to web designers to marketing folk. If I remain doing the freelancing thing long-term, which it’s beginning to look like, then I need a game plan and this helped.

This morning, though, I was playing politician, invited to attend Special Person’s Day at Holland Hill Elementary School. It’s been ages since I attended any elementary event and forgot how energetic, fresh and innocent the proceedings can be. Each grade sang a few songs and in between we had dramatic readings of the Gettysburg Address, “The New Colossus” and the end of “I Have a Dream.” The songs were all the patriotic ones you would imagine along with the hymns from the various armed forces plus pure Americana like “Take me out to the Ballgame.” A particular favorite was Pete Seeger’s “Inch by Inch.” (Of course, I was incorrectly introduced as a member of the Board of Finance, but that’s an innocent error.)

Afterwards, the Safety Patrol were leading the honored dignitaries into the APR for refreshments when I was stopped by a familiar face. It was Erika Griffin, Kate’s third grade teacher. Kate and Mrs. Griffin enjoyed one of those magical relationships that year, the kind every parent wishes their kid experiences just once during school. She was thrilled but not surprised to hear how well Kate has turned out. I was pleased to see her again and sang her praises to the principal, but he already knew.

This weekend the family is down at Balticon. I’ll be showing movie trailers Monday at 10 and Kate will be singing with the Boogie Knights Sunday evening at 9:30. If you’re there, came say hi.

The Lightest Agenda

Posted by Bob Greenberger on May 23, 2006

We may have set a new record for RTM meetings last night.

It was a short call, just three items to act on. The first two were appointments to a committee and we skipped last week’s committee meetings so held a combined meeting of the responsible sub-committees to meet the candidates. The third item required a meeting of the Whole to hear about how we’ll spend a Block Grant. Pretty basic.

After the committee meetings we held a brief caucus to make sure there were no problems in need of discussion.

I will say this, it may be the first RTM meeting I ever attended without a single member of the public in attendance. Of the three reporters who normally cover this, only one showed up. Sure, it was a light, non-controversial call, but it remained democracy in action.

The meeting itself zipped from event to event and we were done, I think, by 8:30. And then it was two hours of socialable soda time which was more bi-partisan than usual. We swapped party convention experiences among other topics and it was a really nice way to pass some time.

By next month, it’ll be back to work as we start tackling new issues including our portion of new town ordinances to reflect the work of a Blue Ribbon Commission on zoning issues. In fact, we’re forming a committee to draft four ordinances and I have been asked to serve on it as one of the Democratic reps (3 of us, 2 Republicans) so this will be a new experience.

Mission: Accomplished

Posted by Bob Greenberger on May 22, 2006

It’s amazing how quickly our weekends have filled up through the spring and well into July. As a result, one of our favorite summertime family activities – going to the movies – gets complicated. All of this is preamble for why I’m only now talking about Mission: Impossible III.

I adored the original series, watching it just as Martin landau and Barbara Bain rotated off the show and Leonard Nimoy beamed aboard. I stuck with it until the final seasons as the show stopped being relevant or even as well-done as the past. A lot of that has to do with the changing world politics as well as the evolving nature of dramatic prime time series with a greater emphasis on character and writing whereas M:I was heavily plot-driven.

It was that lack of characterization and plot-heavy mechanics that proved to be the hallmark of the first two Tom Cruise vehicles. M:I certainly had the ability to evolve to a film franchise and Cruise was fine as Ethan Hunt. The problem is, the stories made no sense, eschewing story logic for explosions and a thumping, annoying soundtrack. Heck, even the great John Woo flubbed the second installment.

I was heartened to hear Cruise tossed out all the development on part three when he hired J.J. Abrams. Abrams knows how to do spies well, as witnessed by Alias (concluding tonight…sniff). His plotting was tight, the pacing breathless, and he threw you right into the action. After all, we first met Sydney Bristow as she was captured and about to have her tooth extracted by a malevolent dentist, as he sought information. Then we got to know and fall in love with her.

After two movies, we don’t know a thing about Ethan Hunt. He was barely distinguishable from Cruise and his fellow agents were ciphers – save for the wonderful Ving Rhames who has too much presence to be relegated to the background.

The new film grabbed your attention from the opening, as Hunt was captured and this time the villain, wonderfully played by the great Phillip Seymour Hoffman, wanted the whereabouts of the “rabbit’s foot” or he’d shoot Hunt’s wife. Pull back and there she is, strapped to a chair and scared out of her wits. Now we care, now we want to root for him and find out how the hell did this moment happen.

The story has many of Abram’s bits from the charismatic tech geek to the high-tech look of IMF HQ. The story briskly takes you from Virginia to Germany to the Vatican to Shanghai without losing the audience along the way. We get to see why Hunt risks his home life to rescue Felicity, er, Kerri Russell and what it means to him. Ving gets off some good comments and proves his loyalties time and again. We get some surprise twists along the way so you can’t predict each and every stunt. The M:I bits of espionage and disguise are all there as is a lovely music cue taken from the series that brought a broad smile to my face.

Is it perfect? No. For the second time in three movies, one of the villains turns out to be part of the IMF operation. While we like Ving’s Luther, we still don’t know much about him and the other agents, Maggie Q and John Rhys-Myers, don’t get much personality.

Still, it was an entertaining way to kick off the summer movie season. I’ll be happy should they reteam for a fourth installment.

Convention Reporting

Posted by Bob Greenberger on May 21, 2006

The Connecticut State Democratic Convention ended early Saturday night and from veteran attendees, it was one of the more eventful conventions in years. It was a mix of excitement, tension and incredible tedium plus mass disorganization which seems to the hallmark of the party.

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Conventional Wisdom

Posted by Bob Greenberger on May 19, 2006

“Democracy is messy” I was told when I complained about the said state of organization for the Connecticut State Democratic Convention, which opens tonight.

I’m used to an environment that would send out a memo listing all the convention attendees with vital details including, but not limited to: where to be, how to get there, where to park, when to arrive, when you can expect to leave, a schedule of events, suggestions on dress code, documentation you’re required to bring, a review of your obligations, and so on.

Apparently, the Democrats don’t think it’s necessary. Heck, State Central’s web site doesn’t even have the convention schedule posted. I learned more about the event from one of the candidate’s e-mails than from any other source.

I was selected as a convention alternate, to cast proxy votes should a convention delegate not be present when a vote is taken. Last night at the Democratic Town Committee’s District Leaders’ Meeting, I was asked to take a member’s full proxy for the entire weekend. After signing the official document, having it witnessed and exchanging blood rites, he then thought to ask me who I was leaning towards in the key races – US Senate and Governor. Happily, we were both leaning towards upstart Ned Lamont, who represents the state’s anger at Joe Lieberman’s positions and antics. On the other hand, I am leaning towards New Haven Mayor John DeStefano while he was committed to Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy. He said resignedly, “Well, I signed it over so vote how you feel.”

Later, he grabbed me and said he was being pressured to make sure I voted for Malloy and then the strong arm of a party leader showed up, intent on securing my vote. So, I’m somewhat in a bind, preferring to vote my mind but recognizing I am voting as his proxy and have to respect his wishes. Should be fun decided before tomorrow’s vote.

The Convention is spread over two days so today we focus on the Senate race while tomorrow is all about the state ticket. A late challenger for Secretary of State is rumored to be ready to ask for a roll call vote when her turn comes and I can imagine the boredom setting in as all 1607 names are called in order. I’m told there will be tons of campaign literature, hospitality rooms and much speechifying. Should be an interesting, eye-opening experience. Fortunately, I’ll be carpooling to and from Hartford both days with three others so I won’t be the only wide-eyed innocent in the melee.

At our DTC meeting last night, we took some more baby steps towards getting ourselves organized but the lack of a tight and focused agenda still let matters wander. We also had a special meeting anointing Tom Drew as our incumbent candidate for the 132nd State Representation’s seat. He had a great first term and is a terrific guy I will be happy to support and campaign for.

I was selected to be a full delegate to the 28th State Senatorial convention which the State set for Monday night, which of course conflicts with an RTM meeting. At the District Leaders’ Meeting, we were told there was no Democratic candidate and the convention was likely to be canceled. An hour later, the convention was back on so I presume a candidate emerged at the 11th hour. So, I played Pass it Along, and handed off my own proxy for Monday.

More after the convention ends.

Assessing the Upfronts

Posted by Bob Greenberger on May 18, 2006

The Upfronts are over and now we can sift through the tonnage and try and find the trends that will mark the 2006-07 television season.

A growing trend that got solidified was the block scheduling approach. Over the years, prime time dramas have suffered serious erosion in ratings when episodes were rerun. The series with continued stories such as ER suffered even worse than the stand-alone shows such as the myriad Law & Orders. As a result, as summer rolled around, most of those shows were the ones to vanish, as the networks trotted out various summer replacement series. The sitcoms, of course, stayed – for good or ill.

The networks, though, paid for the right to multiple airings of a single episode as part of their license fee. Let’s say they paid $1 million an episode for Surface — that gave them the right to at least two showings during the season. Now, with dramatic rerun ratings down, they’re reluctant to go that route. Instead, they have been unloading the reruns to cable affiliates (in the case of NBC, over to Bravo) so the rerun would occur within a week of the original broadcast.

However, as premium and basic cable channels grew stronger with their own series, they helped rewrite the rules and shift viewing habits. Shows from The Sopranos to Battlestar Galactica run no more than 13 episodes for what is considered a season. The real reason behind these shorter seasons remains financial but a side effect is that viewers of continued stories have gotten reacclimated to a steady dose of programming. For thirteen weeks you know you’re getting the full season without interruption.

Over in Europe, that’s been the norm for decades, as noted by the incredibly short seasons, as few as six episodes, for shows like Fawlty Towers or Footballers Wives.

Over the last season or two, the networks have figured out that stretching 22-24 episodes across a 35 week season (however that’s calculated) has strained the patience of viewers. No sooner do you reach an incredible cliffhanger on Lost than you have to wait three or six weeks before another episode aired. And then there’d be another break.

Fox made that work to their advantage when they delayed the launch of 24 last season, allowing them to run it uninterrupted from January through May. This year, they repeated the trick and tried a variation by showing half of Prison Break in the fall and the second half in the spring.

Now, series after series has been announced as going to the block approach next season. Old veterans like ER will run about half its shows through the fall, then take a 13 week hiatus (allowing NBC to trot out and sample their crime drama The Black Donnelleys). The show will have a cliffhanger of sorts so you’ll actually be looking for it to return, uninterrupted of course, in the spring. This approach has also been announced for shows on just about every network.

I applaud this approach since it does a few things. First, it makes television more immediate and compelling. By not offering reruns on air (but via downloads, streaming and carrier pigeon), the viewer actually gets more programming choices.

The other trend is that series are looking for ways to extend their brands. There’s now proprietary material available only on the season DVD sets, webisodes, web sites, snippets for cell phones and more to come. NBC apparently insisted that every series next year have something “extra” for viewers to find somewhere beyond the time slot.

As witnessed by the just-launched Lost Experience, if done right, it can be engaging and very entertaining. However, if you’re a TV junkie like me, you don’t necessarily have time to seek out each extra so suddenly you feel like you’ve missed out on part of the fun.

On the other hand, we all need to keep sight of cable remaining in only 80% of American homes and DVR penetration is at 7%, but rapidly growing. That leaves millions of Americans who won’t ever be able to enjoy the full sensory overload the networks and producers are anticipating.

What about the shows themselves? Dunno. Some look great (Studio 60’s clip was very promising), some have solid casts, some look like more of the same. It’s nice to see favorite actors like Greg Grunberg and Victor Garber land safely from the end of Alias.

And of course there remain series conflicts for my viewing pleasure. Tuesdays at 9 with House and <.i>Veronica Mars and Thursdays at 9 with Grey’s Anatomy vs. Studio 60. Deb will process the information throughout the summer and indicate what interests her and since it’ll be just the tow of us come fall, we can watch as our schedule allows.

Bracelets & Webs

Posted by Bob Greenberger on May 16, 2006

Just a brief note on a busy day.

My essay on the Wonder Woman television series and its place in pop culture has been formally accepted for inclusion in BenBella’s Smart Pop essay collection. The untitled book is also unscheduled.

However, it did earn me an invitation to write an essay for their Spring 2007 collection dedicated to the web-slinger himself. More on that after it’s written and approved.

And Now we are Complete

Posted by Bob Greenberger on May 15, 2006

The family is once more intact.

On Friday, I drove down to the Washington area in preparation for collecting Kate. But first, I stopped in Elk Ridge to see my old pal Howie. Howard Weinstein and I have known each other since 1976, celebrating our 30th anniversary back at Farpoint in February. He’s semi-retired from writing but is working on a Star Trek eBook as part of the 40th anniversary program from Pocket Books so that’s cool.

He’s a wonderful host. I had to do nothing and could just sit and chat. We also took his adorable welsh corgis Micki and Callie for a nice walk. He subscribes to a digital cable baseball package so we got to watch the Mets get whupped by the Brewers.

First thing Saturday, I was up and on my way. I did pause to help a family with a flat tire and correct their directions since they had made a wrong turn. Then I parked right in front of The Dakota at 9, right on schedule. Kate was ready, having spent much of the previous 12 hours packing. In just under an hour, we made repeated trips until her dorm was mostly empty and the car was mostly full. Good thing we have the mini-van – she has a lot of stuff.

Our drive home was pleasant, with a mix of music from Bruce Springsteen to the Who to Southside Johnny to Elvis Costello keeping us going. She happily knit and chatted as I drove. We got home in plenty of time to have Robbie help us unload before he got ready for his senior prom.

Robbie owns his tux and looks pretty cool in it. His date, Kira, was equally cool looking and together they made a wonderful couple. He reports it was a terrific time and he had a memorable experience, returning home at 4 a.m.

As a result of Kate’s completion of her sophomore year and Rob being out late, our Mothers’ Day was a quiet affair. The weather kept us from working in the garden, the best gift for Deb. It was also her birthday so we showered her with love, cards and some much appreciated gifts. The rec center was unexpectedly closed so our day was largely chilling as the women knit, I read and Rob was a vegetable. Our dinner was nice and we reverted to form and followed the meal with a few hands of cards.

It felt very nice to have everyone together again and all four of us all enjoyed it.