"How about a magic trick?"

* Locally shot and beloved t.v. series Friday Night Lights was overlooked by the Emmys yet again, of course the first season was truly brilliant while the lesser but still great second season is better than most everything else on television. AMC's critically raved Mad Men racked up many deserving nominations and I'm predicting a sizable number of victories as well for the show set in an ad agency in 1960. Can't wait for it's second season to start this Sunday, some of the best writing and acting to come along on television in a long time. That looks weird. I just wrong "along" and then "a long" within a few words of each other in the same sentence. Oh well. Here comes yet another "A-Long".

* Speaking of good writing and acting, Joss Whedon's new online short series Dr. Horrible's Sing-A-Long Blog has now been completely posted online(available for download at itunes or at the official website http://www.drhorrible.com/) and it's a blast. Neil Patrick Harris stars as Dr. Horrible, an aspiring supervillian who has a crush on a pretty girl(Felicia Day) at the laundromat that he is scared to talk to and he constantly has to deal with his evil plans being thwarted by Captain Hammer(Nathan Fillion). Like most all of Whedon's creations it's hilarious, smart and fun. I hope we get more of Dr. Horrible's adventures in the future.

* I am rarely awestruck or at a loss for words so I'm not going to say much about The Dark Knight except - WOW! OK a few more words. Bravo Christopher Nolan! An absolute masterstroke blend of hard-boiled crime films, superhero extravaganza with intensely dark, humorous and heartbreaking character studies. Heath Ledger is THE JOKER. Period. I was already planning my Halloween costume when I saw the first pictures of him in the make-up several months ago, shortly after his untimely and tragic death. Now it's locked in stone, I will be THE JOKER. Period. As far as the rest of the cast, I would be remiss without mentioning them as well. Christian Bale, Aaron Eckhart(who deserves some Oscar buzz as well for his fantastic turn as Harvey "Two Face" Dent), Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Maggie Gyllenhaal, etc... The entire ensemble down to every last henchman is note perfect as guided by screenwriter/director Christopher Nolan, who is really in a league of his own at this point. I can't wait to see this movie again. Haven't seen it yet, call me up and we'll hit that shizz together.