Hummingbird604.com » televisions

Wonder Woman 2011 Pilot (fan-made opening credits)

Raul — Tue, 22 May 2012 06:42:22 +0000

I wish I had PVR’d the pilot of Wonder Woman (with Adrienne Palicki). Frankly, even though I hated the uniform, I absolutely loved the idea of reinventing Wonder Woman. Unfortunately I have NEVER been able to find the actual pilot. A fan created these opening credits with fragments of the pilot (which was never launched formally), so I have relied on this video to imagine what having a new TV series focused on the Princess Amazon would look like. For your viewing pleasure.

Boardwalk Empire Premiere (review by Anabelle)

Anabelle — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 22:00:20 +0000

On Wednesday September 21st, Hummingbird604 and a bunch of other bloggers and influencers were invited to a premiere presentation of the first episode of the new season of Boardwalk Empire, an amazing HBO production set in prohibition-era Atlantic City. The premiere also involved some yummy cocktails by Canadian Club mixologists (you’d never know it wasn’t vodka in that Manhattan!), to honor the role of the Canadian-made whisky in the alcohol black market of the prohibition era. All the Hummingbird604.com team (e.g. Anabelle, Jessica and Raul) attended the event.

Starring Steve Buscemi and an amazing support cast, the first season of the show developed deep and complex characters, an intricate plot involving politics, crime, racial unrest, post-War American society and, of course, love.

Watch a recap of season 1 on HBO Canada.

So on to the actual episode: don’t be fooled by the hopeful ending of season 1. There’s a lot of misplaced optimism that crumbles down by the end of the episode.

The relationship between Nucky and Margaret has become strained–will she eventually betray him? I love how the show explores her moral life and how she struggles to accept Nucky’s money against strong beliefs, only for the good of her children.

Richard Harrow (the man in the mask) has become my favourite character. The sadness of his life is overwhelming and I cringe at the thought that his wish for a family (that he fulfills through Jimmy’s own) will be dashed against the obvious upcoming failure of Jimmy’s marriage. How will he cope?

Another fascinating moral dilemma happens with Nelson as well–how can he combine his zealous hatred of sin and the fact that he fathered a child with a prostitute?

Boardwalk Empire happens at a fascinating period of history of abundance and excess, zealous religious belief, racial strife and political upheaval. The writers have done an amazing job of displaying the varying positions and moral compromises of the characters in the first season; season 2 opens with a hint of the consequences these moral compromises will bring on the different characters.

Tune in on Sundays at 9PM on Movie Central (in Canada) or HBO (in the US) for the new season. We’ll certainly be watching and reviewing once in a while!

Disclaimer: HBO Canada graciously invited Hummingbird604.com to the premiere of Boardwalk Empire season 2. We were not otherwise paid or expected to write a review but we were asked to wait until the episode had been broadcasted before publishing the review (which is fair). As always, Raul maintains editorial control on all the content. Anabelle took the lead on the review of the episode.

Covert Affairs (TV show)

Raul — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 22:00:18 +0000

I’m just getting to know Covert Affairs, and I’m liking it. You know, despite the striking similarity with Alias (headed by Jennifer Garner, someone who has demonstrated that not only can she be a great actress but also a fantastic athlete), I’m enjoying Covert Affairs. Piper Perabo, whom I’ve seen as the conflicted bi-sexual-turned-lesbian girl in a couple of films before (and convincingly so) is here Annie, a CIA recruit (much like Sydney from Alias fame) who joins the agency to help capture her ex-boyfriend Ben. Close to help is her mentor Auggie (a blind geek personified by the always handsome and strikingly hard-bodied Christopher Gorham, of Popular fame).

What makes Perabo a lot more convincing in Covert Affairs is that she does not seem to be well-trained in gun usage. Annie is good at fighting hand-to-hand but she shies away from guns. A small and subtle element that makes a substantial departure from Alias, as Sydney is quite comfortable toting guns. While I’m just getting to a couple of shows in the second season, I have read that a third season is in the works.

I love the fact that Kari Matchett (a Canadian actress whom I’ve loved for a long while) is Joan, the boss of both Auggie and Annie, and she plays the tough boss with gentle care. And of course, Peter Gallagher is phenomenal as Joan’s husband. A great cast and good storylines have kept me captivated with Covert Affairs.

On the set of #AlwaysABridesmaid with @EmmeRogers

Raul — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:50:03 +0000

Credit Emme Rogers

While I have been a stage actors before, and I’ve done a bit of modeling, I have really never been the kind of actor that does TV shows. I am obsessed with them, though. I’m a Smallville and Criminal Minds addict. In the past month, I have had a chance to watch the live taping of two TV shows. Both of them are comedies. The first one (Always a Bridesmaid) is a really funny sitcom that follows the comings and goings of a wedding planner…

The lovely Emme Rogers (with whom I went to witness the Pilot episode) has a great post on the show itself. I enjoyed the live show, and it was a privilege to be part of it. In particular, because the show was agile, funny and really enjoyable. Also, I got to meet the producer and the cast, which includes Kirsten Van Ritzen (as Mariel), Donnelly Rhodes (as Bob), Veena Sood (as Blaga), Chelan Simmons (as Savanna), Vincent Tong (as Tommy), and John Emmet Tracy (as Nick). I saw Vincent on stage when I saw Altar Boyz, it was a lot of fun!

If you want more information on how you can attend a show, you can check Emme’s post. Just don’t leave me without any tickets because then I’ll be upset!

The #Glee pilot (Fox)

Raul — Wed, 20 May 2009 18:05:32 +0000

There’s been a lot of wondering around the Twittersphere on what exactly are the FOX Network producers thinking, since Dollhouse is being renewed and Sarah Connor Chronicles is being axed. Last night, while I didn’t watch the pilot of Fox’s new proposed show, Glee, I saw a flood of tweets (so many that they started trending). I decided to do a quick search for the pilot and associated videos on YouTube and after watching the pilot and the scene where the Glee Club sings “Don’t Stop Believing”, I was almost moved to tears. Yeah, I’m cheesy like that. And also, don’t forget, I have nieces exactly that age.

Below, the extended trailer.

And the rendition of “Don’t Stop Believing” by the Glee Club.

There’s a brief intro to the show on the Fox website:

About The Show

From Ryan Murphy, the creator of “Nip/Tuck” and “Popular,” comes GLEE, a one-hour musical comedy that follows an optimistic high school teacher as he tries to transform the Glee Club and inspire a group of ragtag performers to make it to the biggest competition of all: Nationals.

Will Schuester, a young optimistic teacher, has offered to take on the Herculean task of restoring McKinley’s Glee Club to its former glory. Everyone around him thinks he’s nuts. He’s out to prove them all wrong.

I’ve also noticed that TV networks are harnessing the viral power of social media. They are on Twitter!

Worst show on TV: America’s Most Smartest Model

Raul — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 04:18:50 +0000

I’m not a follower of either America’s Next Top Model nor Canada’s Next Top Model. I have modeled in the past, admittedly, and yes fashion is part of the things I enjoy. Only problem – those stereotypes about models and brains/brawns sometimes are quite true. This show, America’s Most Smartest Model proves them correct. Not only the title is wrong (it should be America’s Smartest Model) but if you watch the show, you’ll be writhing in pain. What a waste of TV air time!

Canadian content policy – Yes, I like it

Raul — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 07:37:00 +0000

I moved to Canada almost 12 years ago. In doing so, I decided to learn more about the country, its history and culture, demographics, etc. Thanks to the Canadian Content policy (Cancon, as it’s often referred), I have been exposed to made-in-Canada TV, Canadian actors, musicians, writers, etc. That’s how I discovered Shania Twain, Jann Arden, Sarah McLachlan, Ryan Gosling, Ryan Reynolds, etc.

Some people seem to find it annoying that Cancon is in place. Even the Wikipedia entry indicates that there is controversy surrounding the restriction of freedom that Cancon puts on choices of entertainment sources. Since this is my blog, I thought it would be appropriate for me to say that I am quite happy with the existence and enforcement of Cancon. I am happy that we are forced to be exposed to Canadian productions, shows and artists.

Admittedly, there is already Canadian content in US television shows. Smallville, for example, employs a large number of Canadians (some of which are incredibly talented such as the Ashmore twins – Shawn and Aaron – Kristin Kreuk, Emanuelle Vaughier, Eric Johnson, Laura Vandervoort to name just a few in the main cast). The show is filmed in Vancouver (although of course, it’s set in Kansas). But I think it’s also good that Cancon is in place and enforced.

You can call me nationalistic, or weird, but I also enjoy Vancouver-centric or Canada-centric shows. Robson Arms, for example, is a show that focuses on the tenants of a building in Vancouver’s West End. From their website:

Welcome back to Robson Arms, the once-grand low-rise apartment building in Vancouver’s West End. Season 2 of Robson Arms picks up 6 months after Season 1 left off. The previous owners of the building are dead, earthquake repairs are still underway, and a “For Sale” sign sits front and center outside. As with any apartment building, some tenants have moved on… and others have moved in.[Robson Arms' website]

Other great shows, such as Intelligence, DaVinci’s Inquest, Cold Squad, have done a great job in portraying Vancouver and its problems. I am proud to live in this city and also proud of the great job that Canadians are doing in the entertainment industry. Why not support them? Why not encourage their development?

I like the shows where Canadian life is examined, where Canadian cities are shown as their real selves (not like in the case of Queer as Folk, where Toronto passed for Pittsburgh). And yes, I do support the US writers in their strike and am waiting with baited breath for some shows to continue (such as Smallville, Brothers and Sisters, Supernatural).

But if the circumstances of the writers’ strike lead to an increased focus on Canadian shows, I say this is good. Note: I am not saying that it’s good that the US writers aren’t getting what they deserve, on the contrary, I really support their cause. But what I am saying is that I am happy that, with all the worry surrounding the lack of content in Canadian television because US shows will be doing re-runs, there is more attention being paid to Canadian-produced shows. Too bad it’s due to circumstances, rather than based on a strong development plan for the Canadian entertainment industry!

TV Show Review – CSI (Miami, NY and Las Vegas)

Raul — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 07:54:00 +0000

There is a gazillion of reasons why I enjoy CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) in all its three locations (Miami, Las Vegas and New York). In a former life (well, when I was a child), I wanted to be a criminologist. Being the child of lawyers, I had grown up seeing my parents bring bad people to justice. And I wanted to be helpful for them in their enterprise, so I figured “why not criminalistics and/or criminology”.

My parents, awesome and liberal as they were, suggested that I should take courses in the police academy, learn from books and/or talk to forensic specialists to see if I’d really enjoy doing this for a living. Now, bear in mind that I did a lot of things when I was a child, just because I thought they were fun. I didn’t actually think they would be my career. As I had previously posted, sometimes I just learned a new thing in order to teach it or share it with my friends.

I figured that learning criminalistics (also known as forensic science) would be a fun activity. I even wrote manuals and handbooks (promise not to laugh if I tell you that I wrote manuals on how to decorate a room, how to be a detective, how to set up a library… I was a nerd!).

When I see the reality of crime and crime labs, the realization that I chose the right career (and not one in forensic science) was all much more clear. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t love the CSI shows. One of the great elements that makes C.S.I. a phenomenal show is that it intertwines personal elements within the forensics team (e.g. they have fights, they have romantic relationships, etc.)