Logo

Cool News

RESCUE ME!! HEROES!! TREK!! SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE!! THE SHIELD!! ROBOT CHICKEN!! HercVault!!

Published at:  Sep 02, 2009 4:38:50 PM CDT



I am – Hercules!!






I’d given up after a few episodes of “Heroes’” third season. Then ABC cancelled “Pushing Daisies” and Bryan Fuller announced he would return to “Heroes,” and I felt compelled to catch up. And catching up was a real chore.

Fuller’s one episode near the end of the season, “Cold Snap,” which featured Hiro and Ando babysitting Baby Matt Parkman, was wonderful. What I wrote at the time:

It’s the best Matt Parkman episode to date. We get to see a very different side of Angela Petrelli (thanks in large part to Fuller’s fellow “Daisies” refugee Swoozie Kurtz). And geek bachelors Hiro and Ando are dryly hilarious as they find themselves unexpectedly charged with the care of a toddler.

Then “Cold Snap” ended and “Heroes” went back to being crap.

And “Cold Snap” was, apparently, the last “Heroes” episode Fuller wrote, so now I suspect I really am done with the series.


NBC Universal is issuing the season in both DVD and Blu-ray


“Rescue Me” gets a half-season set because the series’ fifth season, which began April 7 and concludes tonight, comprised 22 episodes instead of the usual 13. This set includes the Michael J. Fox-enhanced firs 11 episodes.


It amuses me that ABC’s Impact: The Complete Miniseries and NBC’s Meteor: The Complete Miniseries are arriving on DVD the same day.

A shallow, soap-soaked, SciFi-Original-Movie-worthy miniseries from writer Michael Vickerman (“Warriors of Virtue”) about a “brown dwarf fragment” that puts the moon on a 39-day collision course with Earth, “Impact” stars James Cromwell (who was also in the big screen’s similar “Deep Impact”) as well as “JAG” vet David James Elliott (who’s also in NBC’s summer disaster miniseries “The Storm”) and Natasha Henstridge (“Eli Stone”).

As with 1998’s twin disaster epics “Deep Impact” and “Armageddon,” astronauts are ultimately dispatched to fix the difficulty.

(NASA was also involved in dispatching the 8-kilometer chunk of rock headed for Earth in 1979’s big-screen “Meteor” starring Sean Connery and Natalie Wood.)

One of the wackier things about “Impact” is it’s a German production, shot partially in Berlin with German co-stars like Florentine Lahme and Benjamin Sadler playing German characters. A language barrier between filmmakers and German TV executives could explain a lot about the miniseries’ terrible dialogue, and it makes one wonder if there’s a whole different, better German-language version, using the same special effects, in which David James Elliott barely speaks.

The New York Times says:

… I didn’t mind “Impact’s” well-paced goofiness, despite really wanting to mind it. …


The Washington Post says:

… what are we to make of a not-scary apocalyptic miniseries -- one in which the "villain" isn't an evil-looking craggy asteroid or meteorite but our own wheel o' cheese moon? … We like the sexy people in "Impact." We just miss the sexy plot.


The Orange County Register says:

… Pretty much all of the dialogue is that bad. If Mystery Science Theater 3000 was still on the air, this piece of Cheez Whiz would rise to the top of the show's list. It begs to be mocked – when it's not lulling you to sleep. …


The Salt Lake Tribune says:

… This plodding, lifeless science-fiction thriller about the moon careening toward Earth has about as much, um, impact as a wet noodle. A lunar disaster of this magnitude has never been so boring. …


The Boston Globe says:

… An apocalypse would be a welcome relief from this wretched disaster knock-off … tells its feeble, scientifically absurd story with a truly shameless dependency on cliches. …


Variety says:

… mostly silliness … the movie proves weakest in creating relationships for the key characters, including Maddie's ethically challenged struggling journalist (as if there's another kind) ex-husband. "Start thinking beyond what we believe is possible," Alex counsels early on regarding the threat. Actually, try not thinking at all, and you'll be better prepared to sit back and be rocked by this shallow "Impact."


The Hollywood Reporter says:

… Unfortunately, despite the title, there's not a lot of dynamism in "Impact." Instead, there's a lot of heel-dragging, such as during a train journey in which a boorish Yank flirts uselessly with the affianced woman, or when characters moon (sorry) over photos of dead loved ones. Viewers sticking with "Impact" aren't looking for insights into the human condition; they're coming for smoking craters, staying for lunar landings and to giggle helplessly at the faux science. So get on with it already. …



A disaster miniseries from writer Alex Greenfield (“WWE Smackdown”), “Meteor” stars Christopher Lloyd, Jason Alexander, Billy Campbell, Marla Sokoloff and Stacy Keach as earthlings who learn a mountain-size chunk of rock is about to destroy Earth.

I found very few reviews of NBC’s “Meteor,” suggesting the network may have neglected to send screeners to many outlets (Ain’t It Cool was among those not receiving a copy before the mini aired).

Here’s what a few who saw “Meteor” said:

USA Today gives it one star (out of four) and says:

… What we expect in exchange are a few thrills, a few jolts and some convincing destruction, none of which this cheap, embarrassing film delivers. …


The New York Daily News says:

Let's hope that when the world does end, we can come up with more compelling drama than you'll see on "Meteor" … The viewers' problem is that even the most casual TV watcher has seen almost everything that's about to happen, from the false euphoria when the military thinks it has solved the Kassandra problem to the elementary necessity of making sure bad guys are as dead as they look. The formulaic story also limits what the actors can do, though Sokoloff slides nicely into the plucky reluctant heroine role. …


Variety says:

… so bad, so unbelievably campy, it almost demands to be seen. … There's much to be said for the major networks spicing their lineups with something more than just reality shows during the summer, but if "Meteor" represents the best they have to offer, Armageddon, come on down!





Herc’s Popular Pricing Pantry






“House” season sets: $44.99 in May; $38.99 last month; at the moment $19.99!!


“McCloud’s” two-season set was $28.99 last month; at the moment it’s at its cheapest price ever: $15.99!!


Last month the extra-crammed “Looney Tunes” Golden Collections were $48.49. At the moment they’re mostly $27.49!!


Aaron Sorkin’s “Studio 60” was $48.99 in January and $37.99 three weeks ago. At the moment it’s at its cheapest price ever: $14.99!!


John Cleese’s complete “Fawlty Towers,” arguably the funniest sitcom ever forged, just fell to 60% off. Three Four weeks ago it was $59.98; two weeks ago it was $41.99; at the moment it’s at its cheapest price ever: $23.99!!


We’re just past the 40th anniversary of the first man on the moon and “From The Earth To The Moon,” the entire extra-packed signature edition, is now $12.99!! People were paying $51.99 for this set in November.


The Shield’s final season was $38.99 in April; now it’s 55% off and at its cheapest price ever: $26.99!!







TV-on-Disc Calendar




Last Week
Batman: Brave and the Bold Vol. 1
Battles B.C. 1.x
Battle 360: Bloody Battle of Guadalcanal
Booker: The Complete Series
Californication 2.x
Dog The Bounty Hunter: Best Of 5.x
Dungeons & Dragons: Beginnings
Dungeons & Dragons: The Complete Series
1st Amendment Standup 3.x
A Haunting: Twilight of Evil (Blu-ray)
Here's Lucy 1.x
House 5.x
House 1.x-5.x
How The Earth Was Made: The Complete Series
Lie To Me 1.x
Lie To Me 1.x (Blu-ray)
Life 2.x
MonsterQuest 3.x Vol. 1
NCIS 6.x
New Tricks 1.x
One Tree Hill 6.x
Samantha Who? 2.x
Scrubs 8.x
Smallville 8.x
Smallville 8.x (Blu-ray)
Smallville 1.x-8.x
Sonny With A Chance Vol. 1
Suite Life on Deck: Anchors Away
thirtysomething 1.x
TV Sets: Beyond the Ordinary
TV Sets: Crime & Punishment
The Universe 3.x (Blu-ray)
The Untouchables 3.x Vol. 1
Wanted Dead or Alive 1.x
Wanted Dead or Alive: The Complete Series
Wiseguy 1.x
Wreckreation Nation 1.x



This Week


Ben 10 Alien Force Vol. 4


Brothers and Sisters 3.x


Clatterford 2.x


CSI 9.x


CSI 9.x (Blu-ray)


Desperate Housewives 5.x


Doctor Who: The Deadly Assassin


Doctor Who: Image of the Fendahl
Fraggle Rock 1.x
Fraggle Rock 2.x
Fraggle Rock 3.x


The Game 1.x


GI Joe: The M.A.S.S. Device


Heroes 3.x


Heroes 3.x (Blu-ray)


Impact: The Complete Miniseries


Meteor: The Complete Miniseries


People Like Us: The Complete Series


Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares 2.x


Rescue Me 5.x Vol. 1


The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes Vol. 1


Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory 1.x
Scooby Doo Where Are You Vol. 3


Shaun The Sheep Vol. 4


Supernatural 4.x


Supernatural 4.x (Blu-ray)


Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 8.x


Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye


Two and a Half Men 6.x



September 8
Alvin Movies: Star Wreck
Alvin Show: Very First
Beany and Cecil Vol. 2
Criminal Minds 4.x


Fringe 1.x
Fringe 1.x (Blu-ray)
Goosebumps: Attack of the Jack-O-Lanterns
Goosebumps: The Headless Ghost
Harper's Island: The Complete Series
Important Things with Demetri Martin 1.x
Inspector Gadget: The Go Go Gadget Collection
Mr. Belvedere 3.x
Nitro Circus 1.x
The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency 1.x
The Office 5.x
The Office 5.x (Blu-ray)
The Office 1.x-5.x
One Foot in the Grave: 1996 & 1997 Christmas Specials
One Foot in the Grave: The Complete Series
Parks And Recreation 1.x
Power Rangers RPM Vol. 2
True Jackson VP Vol. 1
Worst Week: The Complete Series
Zorro Generation Z Vol. 3



September 15
Affairs Of The Heart 2.x
Astro Boy Vol. 1
Astro Boy Vol. 2
Astro Boy Vol. 3
Astro Boy Vol. 4
Astro Boy Vol. 5
The Beiderbecke Tapes: The Complete Miniseries
The Big Bang Theory 2.x
Bonanza 1.x
Bonanza 1.x Vol. 1
Bonanza 1.x Vol. 2
Crash 1.x
AddThis Social Bookmark Button
    + Expand All

    Readers Talkback

  • Sep 02, 2009 9:58:59 AM CDT

    Does Andy Barker have any un-aired episodes?

    by big jim

    or did we see them all?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Sep 02, 2009 10:27:24 AM CDT

    Oh, so now we can post in here....

    by soylentmean

    Reply to Talkback

  • Sep 02, 2009 10:27:42 AM CDT

    so, I guess I can do this...

    by soylentmean

    Reply to Talkback

  • Sep 02, 2009 10:45:04 AM CDT

    You're a piece of SHIT, SoylentMean

    by nasty in the pasty

    Reply to Talkback

  • Sep 02, 2009 10:54:36 AM CDT

    That Lost Season 5 box set...

    by nickn328

    HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT WANT!!!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Sep 02, 2009 11:09:06 AM CDT

    Nuh uh, Nasty, Nuh uh

    by soylentmean

    Reply to Talkback

  • Sep 02, 2009 6:28:19 PM CDT

    'The Plan'

    by smokingrobot

    I saw the end of BSG. And to paraphrase that great humanitarian, George Carlin, 'Fuck Ron Moore in the ass with a big, black rubber dong until he dies'.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Sep 02, 2009 10:38:51 PM CDT

    Question about the new Fraggle Rock sets

    by nasty in the pasty

    I notice they're listing the "complete series" set again in November. Is it the same as last year's set, or did they come to their senses and do away with that HORRIBLE packaging? I swear TEN of the discs were floating free in the case and scratched to shit when I opened it up. TEN DISCS!At least they're finally releasing season four seperately for those who bought the individual sets.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Sep 03, 2009 12:03:00 AM CDT

    SINGLE FEMALE LAWYER: The Complete Series!!!

    by yackbacker

    Lrrr from Omicron Persei 8 will love this one under the Christmas tree!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Sep 03, 2009 6:35:25 AM CDT

    Amazon's having a good Dark Shadows sale too.

    by tonagan

    Over 50% off. Bryan Fuller wrote for it.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Sep 03, 2009 7:55:48 AM CDT

    Single Female Lawyer! Fightin' for her client!

    by nasty in the pasty

    Wearin' sexy miniskirts an' bein' self-reliant!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Sep 03, 2009 12:20:50 PM CDT

    caught a little of wild grreen yonder last night

    by rben

    not bad!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Sep 03, 2009 3:20:28 PM CDT

    "If McNeal wishes to be taken seriously...

    by yackbacker

    why does she not simply tear the judge's head off?"

    Reply to Talkback

  • Sep 05, 2009 4:35:07 AM CDT

    Booo hoooo, Heroes is not good!!!! blabla bla bla bla bla bla

    by asimovlives

    I can't fucking believe this bullshit!!! Heroes is not a good show? You got to be fucking kidding me!! I can't beleive this self-indulgent geekoid bullshit! Sicne when Heroes became a bad show? Oh yeah, since the time when Geeks start to accept retarded shit like Transformers and Jar Jar Abram's Shit Trek as worthy movies to have fun with. Unfucking believalbe! I can't fucking believe this fucking bullshit! Fucking sheep!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Sep 05, 2009 3:15:22 PM CDT

    What's whit the Trek links Herc? Fail.

    by jaka

    The Star Trek: TNG Motion Picture Collection DVD link doesn't go to that item. Last time I checked it didn't even exist. I tried the other BluRay Trek links and they just go to a Trek section. I thought the links always went directly to the item. ?? I've purchased items through this column several times, and might have done so again. Might not have though - it's just the Evolutions extra that I'm really interests me.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Sep 05, 2009 3:16:28 PM CDT

    Also, please stop pushing Heroes

    by jaka

    It's crap. Period. End of story.

    Reply to Talkback

User Login

Forgot password? Retrieve it here

or register as new user

Quick Talkback Form

Please login to post talkback