I went ahead downloaded the version for the iPad though the app is universal and works on the iPhone too (I’ll try that later).  It’s got a pretty nice interface and aesthetically pleasing.  The banner ads flow across the bottom of the screen and look like they fit right in.  The home page has the necessary horizontal scroll feature wheel.  The rest of the page is filled with thumbnails for full videos of its available first run shows.  They show the original air date which I find helpful in figuring out what I need to watch.  There’s also a pretty slick looking schedule that you can access off the  home page that shows the primetime schedule for the next two weeks.  Tapping on a show will pop up a box with episode info where you can add to your watchlist, add to your calendar (nifty), go to the show page or share over email Facebook or Twitter.

My first attempt at a show was to catch up on one of my favorites, How I Met Your Mother.  Bringing up a show page gives you requisite show info. The right hand side gives you the option of viewing a list of latest full episodes or clips.  You can also see photos, meet the cast or get “social” with the show and see what the social media buzz is.

I caught up on one HIMYM episode and it was a good experience.  The player is similar to HBO Go where you can view it large or small.  The in show advertisements are just like the website and non-intrusive.  The video quality was good too (note that I’m using an iPad 2).  Overall a good experience.

First run content for primetime is available 7-8 days after it airs on TV (I have found conflicting info) and daytime / late night shows are available 24 hours after they air.  So all in all it’s a good app for the first release and it can only get better.  I’m happy I can now catch up on CBS at the gym or other places I’m not near my cable box.

Enjoy!

Schedule

Home page

Iron Throne Blonde Ale will be the inaugural beer of the series and according to beerpulse.com will start being available this week.  Though the author of this Businessweek article hasn’t personally sampled he quoted Paul Schrodt at Esquire describing it as “a good TV beer. The taste is extremely easy-drinking: malty, vaguely fruity, a little spicy, but nothing overpowering. It goes down especially smooth for being 6.5 percent ABV.”  The follow beer has yet to be branded or brewed but is expected for a fall release.

This is a really excited prospect and I’m going to start looking for it in stores near me.  I want to have one ready for the season premiere.  I think it will pair nicely with the drama of Westeros.

Let me know if you find it and how it tastes.

Prom is coming …

Yes, I really did say prom is coming.  Today I came across this youtube clip of a web series called School of Thrones.  I’m still trying to do some more research on it but from what I can tell it’s a high school parody of Game of Thrones.  A very well done at that.  It will be hilarious to any fan of the books or show.

They basically take each character and make a high school caricature out of them.  This first (and only one so far) episode is about the arrival of new girl Dany Targaryen and everyone is vowing for prom king and queen.  Just watch – I don’t want to ruin it.  Looks like they’re doing episodes weekly with the next on premiering on March 17th.

Enjoy!

Watch below or at the link here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DY6dvlMfntw

Follow them on twitter: @schoolofthrones

This episode has two main, separate story lines.  On one hand we follow “the trio” as I like to call them and on the other we follow Hardy.  Both stories are told in both present day and flash backs.

Out on the farm the trio have taken a town girl prisoner, well Paul did last week in an act of desperation.  An in this scenario we find out that Jacob has a little secret of his own.  Apparently he’s been faking the fact that he’s killed someone before.  This brings Paul and Emma together as they both tell him he has to kill the townie.  He has a crisis of conscious and we see through flashbacks how he lied about it.  He can’t kill her and let’s her go.  She’s caught again by Paul and Emma after a beat down.  They let us think that they killed her but she’s right back in the basement.  They’re gonna help Jacob get through it.  This little ordeal has brought the trio back together again.  Jacob and Emma are getting a little physical and I foresee some threesome action in the future.  Mad love there.  I guess I like the fact that they didn’t kill the townie and are going to play that out more but this part of the story was kind of underwhelming.

The second story is a bit more interesting.  Hardy keeps getting calls from someone named Jenny. Through the flashbacks they make us think that she’s a girlfriend.  He’s drunk (as per usual) and being taken care of by her.  What else would we think, right?  In parallel they’re hunting Maggie from last week’s episode.  We already knew she wasn’t the innocent wife she claimed to be but she turned out to be a lot more twisted.  (Here’s where I like what they did with her character.)   She’s already a serial killer who apparently already killed six people and got away with it.

Jenny is actually Hardy’s sister and is kidnapped by Maggie.  Hardy get’s a call and rushes to the rescue along with his “sidekick” Weston.  Hardy get’s himself caught and then it gets really twisted.  Maggie is going to kill Hardy in front of Jenny but the way she does it is quite explicit.  Remember how Hardy got stabbed in the heart by Joe Carroll.  Because of that he has a pacemaker.  Maggie decides to use magnets to disrupt his pacemaker and slowly watch him die from a heart that can’t beat properly.  She wants to watch him agonize in the pain.  I couldn’t even conceive a murder like that.  She doesn’t even want to kill Jenny.  Of course a deus ex machina comes in to save the day in the form of Weston and everyone is all saved.  Mad love for a sister.

The story closes by letting us see what happens between Claire and Hardy.  They’re getting closer to finding Joey and Claire wants some comforting.  Hardy won’t do it.  He’s really madly in love with her but doesn’t think himself worthy.  I see this as an interesting love triangle between them and Carroll. I just hope it’s not an on again, off again romance.  That could make us all sick.

Again, only an alright episode.  I’m not over it just yet. I still think it could have the flaws I’ve pointed out since the pilot but there’s potential.  Here’s to hoping for some stellar episodes in a row.

What did you think?

The show seems to be finding its footing with the right balance of present day, back story and horror.  We found out that his cult is larger than expected and they’ve planned things out in excruciating detail.  They’re all taken by Joe and want to exact revenge on everyone that was out to get him.  As sick as that is what I like is how they’re all determined to do it differently than Joe did.  They’re even encourage to put their own signature on it.  Hence the fire.  Poe mask guy wasn’t good with knives and told Joe that.  Joe encouraged him to be himself.  He’s not just looking for blind copycat followers, he thrives on their devotion but loves teaching.  He’s such a well cast character that I can see why people want to follow him so much.

The trio is having quite the drama.  They’ve been living such lies for the past couple years that their secrets have just kept piling up.  Emma scares me a little bit and plays the queen bee role well.  The gay guys (Paul and Jacob) are in fact gay – I knew something like that happened.  I wonder what’s going to happen when Emma finds out.  I’m sure it’ll be worse than what went down this episode. Paul is really losing it, he hates being the third wheel and feels betrayed by Jacob.  He tried to make a connection with a convenience store clerk and just ends up abducting her.  I don’t think that’s in Joe’s grand plan.  He’s the first one to show potential of ruining the plan.  I’m guessing he’s the weak link.  They’re my favorite storyline thus far.

In FBI land both Parker and Hardy as wallowing in their sadness that they were fooled.  They’re allowed to make mistakes because that makes them better agents but I understand why they’re down on themselves.  Thankfully Hardy knows Joey is stil alive.  Claire received an email at the end of the episode showing proof of life.  Great, right?  Not so much because of what they’re doing to him.

They’re teaching him about killing.  They’re ruining the innocence of that boy.  He’s been shielded from his father’s ways for most of his life and it isn’t good they’re converting him.  I not sure that’s really part of Joe’s plan.  Even as twisted as he is I can’t believe he’d want to subject his young son to that.  I could be wrong but I guess I’m an optimist.  I hope they can get him back before permanent damage is done.

We’ll have to keep watching to see what happens next.  Will the FBI make big moves and get Joey back or will the followers stay one step ahead and leave a trail of bodies.  If they keep racking up the bodies I’m going to need a 24 style count.

What did you think?

Follow The Following Mondays on Fox at 9PM ET.

30 Rock stayed very true to its characters.  Everybody ended just like they started.  Liz was a workaholic and hated being a stay at home mom.  Jack was continually driven.  Tracy and Jenna are still divas.  Pete hate his life and Lutz is still Lutz.  The end was all about working toward closure and for the most part everyone closed and there was a happy feel good ending.  Thankfully the show never had one storyline because otherwise we’d be disappointed.  Here are some of the best parts:

• Cameos: Julianne Moore, Salma Hayak, others and my personal favorite Conan O’Brien.
• Pete trying to face his own death, just great one liner after one liner
• All of the classic GE Six Sigma references
• The all Sarit LAX airport
• Lutz finally getting his revenge and gets to pick the last lunch.  I kind of want Blimpie now.
• Tan penis island
• Jack and Liz finally expressing their love for each other
• The closing epilogue and the way they portrayed Kenneth as some sort of “immortal”

The rest of the episode was filler and the plot was alright.  I wish it didn’t hinge on the fact that they HAD to produce one last episode of TGS to fulfill Tracy’s contract.  And then it was over, they produced the last episode and they had a montage (I’m a sucker for montages.).  The end.

I’ll leave you with what I think was the funniest scene of the series.  I have no idea which season or episode it was but I’ll do my best to describe it.  Liz is in Jack’s office and he goes on one of classic corporate rants when he starts describing the corporate structure of NBC and he pulls down a chart already within his blinds showing the subsidiaries of the Shinehart Wig Company (one of the best longrunning jokes until they started sticking it to Comcast ugh I mean Kabletown).  The way he just went on that rant in a matter of fact way was hilarious and I’ll always remember that scene.

You will be missed 30 Rock. I don’t know how I’ll fill this comedy hole you’ve left in my life.  Thanks for the past seven years.

The biggest change this week was the departure of the strong female FBI agent from the pilot.  Not sure why she left but she was replaced with another strong female lead, Agent Debra Parker (Annie Parisse).  Agent Parker joins the investigation with significant cult experience.  She also knew all about Hardy’s sordid past and is able to confront about him about it.  She adds a nice dynamic to the group and played (one of) the female leads very well.

The episode started off right where it left off from the pilot and we saw security guard Jordy enter the sorority house.  Unfortunately was able to complete his dirty work and murdered girls in Joe Carroll’s style.  (Me thinks a cult is forming).  So the entire plot centered around finding Jordy and the hunt for his kidnapped son, Matthew.

There were a lot of interesting scenes and the narrative used flashback in a positive way.  Claire (Joe’s ex-wife) had to go see him in prison and they had to confront her affair with Hardy.  We got to see a lot of the dynamic form around the trio of followers (gay next door neighbors and nanny).  I see the potential for a lot of drama there.

There was also a lot of good investigative work done by the FBI team.  They were able to make progress and find some more clues.  What they did find out was that Joe’s following is bigger than they expected.  They found out the nanny’s real identity and that led them to her house.  What they found was a very creepy empty house with all this Edgar Allen Poe writing on the wall.  To top it off there was a man inside the house, wearing a Poe mask that attacked Hardy.

At the end of the episode Claire was saved and Jordy was caught.  Joe’s master plan was foiled.  They still don’t know where Matthew is yet.  Then it ended with the Poe mask character lighting a man on fire in broad daylight.

So some of my fear’s about the show came to life this week.  With the plot to catch Jordy and the setup of the Poe mask character they are definitely working with a “baddie of the week” theme.  They did balance it out this week though.  There was a lot of backstory with Claire and Hardy as well as the exploration of the trio’s dynamic and the nanny’s backstory.  (She’s one tortured, messed up soul).  I think this is going to continue for the next twelve episodes so all I can hope for is that the long story arc and backdrop are better than the weekly search plot.

I am loving the mythology they’re starting to develop on the show.  Having everything related to Poe and the way they tie it in seems genius to me.  In full disclosure I’ve never been a Poe fan nor do I claim to be an expert but I am loving it.  And one last interesting piece of the episode was the final scene between Agent Parker and Carroll.  She brought him a book of the complete works of Poe.  They had a look exchange that made you start to think.  Is she an admirer herself?  Is she part of the following?  Why would she bring him that book and feed into his ego?  Those are some questions I want to see answered.

Catch The Following at 9PM ET Mondays on FOX.

Hi everybody! Max Stone is back after a long hiatus.  I  haven’t forgotten about the world of entertainment but I just haven’t had the time to write about it.  Earlier today I checked out Kevin Bacon’s new show, The Following, which premiered on FOX last at 9pm.  FOX had given it a big a pretty big marketing push and even without that I was just intrigued by Kevin Bacon on TV again.  Just think of how many more people are going to get their Bacon number (link) down to one now.  So should I follow The Following or not? (Warning: Spoilers after the break.)

We can look at the show’s premise pretty simply.  Professor (Joe Carroll played by James Purefoy) becomes deranged serial killer, killing 14 girls.  FBI agent (Ryan Hardy played by Kevin Bacon) catches serial killer and saves girl.  Fast forward and serial killer escapes from prison leaving a bloodbath behind.  FBI agent, now semi-washed up and drunk is called back in to help with the manhunt investigation.  He has a cast of supporting FBI helping.  Saved girl gets recaptured and killed and then FBI agent apprehends serial killer.

Ok, I may have oversimplified it too much.  Thankfully for all of us it was a lot more complex and did a great job of setting up the full season.  The writers/producers weaved an entire creepy Edgar Allen Poe theme into the serial killer’s backstory as well as setting up an entire cult theme.  Hence the title, The Following.

The pilot had some pretty good acting.  The two leads were quite stellar.  The cast had good chemistry.  All the right characters were even there.  They had the strong, smart female FBI agent, the junior FBI agent that looks up to Hardy and the warrior FBI agent.  It all seemed to work together.  The visuals were strong and the effects (read gore) weren’t too overbearing.  The storyline flowed too.  Using flashbacks as the storytelling technique worked well for this manhunt type of an episode.

Right at the end of the episode is where they threw in the piece of the show that would allow it to continue.  When I said FBI agent apprehends killer it was only because he turned himself in, because he wanted to be.  In his deranged mind he’s set up a whole new “book” (there’s this whole literary theme going on) and he gets his rocks off from the story itself.  While in prison he developed this cult following that is going to wreak havoc on society in this twisted plot involving Carroll’s son, Hardy and his ex-wife.  FOX is going to air 14 new episodes straight examining this storyline.

I think this show has potential.  If they can tell compelling stories that are steeped in character the show will be good.  I’d love to see them explore the reasons the cult follows Carroll and the innate darkness that drives humanity to such vile acts.  I don’t want this to be a procedural in “killer of the week” format.  So I say follow The Following.  I will.

What did you think?  Watch the following on FOX, Tuesdays at 9PM ET.

Disney really got a great deal.  Not only did they get the Star Wars franchise but they got the very lucrative merchandising and consumer products business.  So what things might we see (and the products that are made out of them)?

• Obi Wan Kenobi’s Jedi School for Disney Princesses – coming to a TV and toy store near you
• Captain Hook, Scar and Ursula become Darth Vader’s apprentices in the next Star Wars Cartoon
• Mickey Mouse opens up a club on Coruscant
• Jar Jar Binks, Flounder and Sebastian star in a new underwater version of 3′s company
• Yoda and Genie become a crime fighting duo in a new live action buddy cop movie

But wait, there’s more … As part of the deal they’ve also announced that a NEW Star Wars movie is to be released in 2015.  We’re light on the details right now though I’m sure the rumor mill has started to churn.

Who knows what this deal will really mean for the consumers.  George Lucas and stockholders certainly made made a killing off the deal.  Will these or other crossovers really come to fruition, maybe.  Nothing really changed with Disney’s purchase of Marvel.

What do you think might happen?

Image – Jonathan Nafarette

By far one of the best parts of the episode was the pre-credits opening scene.  Very daring in its make up this scene was entirely silent.  It portrayed every bit of feeling without a word.  It opened about 7-8 months after the end of season two.  The (not so) merry band of survivors was going house to house, running from the walker herd in their Ricktatorship.  They have to clear a house using hand weapons, guns silenced through flashlights and of course Daryl’s arrow gun.  Even after they kill the walker inhabitants they still say nothing as they sit around.  Carl, who seems so grown up now with long hair and has a good aim, goes searching for food and finds some old cans of dog food.  He opens one with the intent of eating it when Rick throws it away.  All the characters have changed.  Herschel has a beard and long hair, Carol’s hair has grown back and most (somewhat) unsurprising is a very pregnant Lori.  They’re certainly not on the farm anymore.  This whole scene told so much without even saying a word.

Skip ahead a bit and the Ricktatorship decides to gain entry into the prison, the one we saw in the closing of last season, for the safety of the group.  They had to cut some fences and pull some daring moves in order to clear the infested area outside of the walls but behind the fence.  That scene was pretty good too.  Once they were done everyone was happy with the apparent safety that they gained that everyone was smiling.

Just being safe inside a fence wasn’t good enough for Rick.  He tells the survivors that they had to get into the prison because there may be food and medical supplies inside.  They had to clear yet another area of the prison to get inside.  It was sort of like a level harder on a video game.  There were more walkers, and then there were harder to kill walkers that were in full on riot gear (dead prison guards).  They had to devise a new way to kill those walkers and it was pretty cool.  Nothing too special abou this scene but I enjoyed the video game feeling it gave.

They get inside and have to go even further.  It was one of the last scenes of the episode,which was great, and was a shocker.  Herschel gets bitten (very brutally I must say) when trying to find Maggie and Glenn.  Rick has to chop his leg off in order to save him from the infection.  I don’t fully buy that though – I suspect Herschel will die soon anyway.  Then the big reveal happened!  There were other survivors in the prison. Dah dah dah!

Then there’s this whole parallel story with Michonne who is out there being a badass slaying walkers.  She’s with Andrea but Andrea is sick.  They’ve been traveling together ever since the farm fire.  They set out again to avoid the walker heard.  I think they’ll meet up next episode.  Let’s see how those abandonment feelings come out after 8 months of separation.

These were the biggest and best points of this great episode.  A lot more happened and I suggest you watch, watch again, or read a more detailed recap so you can enjoy it as much as I did. I’m anxious for next week’s episode.  What did you think?

Watch The Walking Dead at 9:00 ET Sundays on AMC.