Ain't It Cool News: The best in movie, TV, DVD, and comic book news.

Mr. Zambano Gives ER 9.4 Four Stars!!

FIRST...but not really?!?!? by jsp2000	Oct 17th, 2002 04:59:28 PM
What the heck? The spector of the "SERVER MAINTANENCE" has attacked the TalkBalks! Run! RUUUUUUUUN!!!!!!!
I suspect a lot of you "hottest woman over 30" posters have no i by the G-man	Oct 17th, 2002 07:16:33 PM
Nothing against either Stringfield or Olin (who is actually well over 40) but there are literally dozens of wildly attractive actresses over thirty out there, many of whom are regularly drooled over on this very site. ** Jennifer Aniston is over thirty. Dina Meyer (Birds of Prey) is over thirty. Charisma Carpenter is over thirty. Jennifer Connelly is over thirty. Jennifer Lopez is over thirty. Mariah Carey is over thirty.*Need I go on? **In fact, I believe that Jennifer Garner is thirty and one half years old (thereby making her technically over 30) and Alyssa Milano turns thirty in two months.
Where the hell am I? by chickenmonkey	Oct 17th, 2002 09:48:15 PM
This some serious shiznit, y'all.
I was over in the Buffy TB and then this horrible cr by chickenmonkey	Oct 17th, 2002 09:54:13 PM
...and led me to this decrepit shack in the middle of the woods that used to belong to Mr. Zambano... Then the creature said it's name was SYSTEM MAINTENANCE and it just... just... KILLED all those people who had posted -- Just killed them all like they were nothing and bit their heads off like gummi bears. Ohhh... the blood... the blood... and it left me here all alone.... and these stains just aren't going to come out of my pink camasol. I'm suing.
ER ... still a good show by MarioF	Oct 18th, 2002 02:39:30 AM
Well, it seems that I've somehow managed to get here before the usual suspects... you know... those nasty bunch of ER bashers, butchers and whinny lil' bitches who think bitching and moaning, nitpicking and complaining are an actual science... 'ahem'... but I digress. I personally find "ER" to be an interesting and entertaining show. Is it the best show on television? Not in my opinion (that would be 1. "The Sopranos" 2. "The West Wing" 3. "The Shield" 4. "The Wire" 5. "24" 6. "Smallville"... etc... you get the idea), but considering the fact that this show has provided excellent storylines and some of the most original, shocking and inspired moments in recent television history, and the fact that pretty much all the 'heavy weights' are long since gone (except for Noah who, by the way, is doing an exceptional job in what is arguably the most vital role on the program.), this season has been pretty tightly paced, well acted and skillfully directed. I have shows that are my 'must-see-favorites', namely the six I've listed above, then I have a handful of others (CSI: Miami, Robbery Homocide Division, Everybody Loves Raymond, Friends & ER), that may not be among my favorites, but that I still watch because they do represent good, solid writing, acting and entertainment value. The characters on ER remain some of the best fleshed-out, indepth pieces of characterization that I've seen in quite a while. Carter and Benton had one of the most interesting relantionships I've ever seen on a long running network program. I've always loved Romano and his twisted humor is better than ever (the cactus and attached note delivered to Kerry was a classic, but then again I must confess that I've pretty much hated that cold-blooded, ice queen, nurse Rachet, two-faced, amazingly over-annoying megabitch since she was sticking it to Ross, Greene and anyone else unlucky enough to work anywhere within her vicinity). Heck, even Euro-Clooney is getting more interesting (shagging an actual MILF!) and Jerry's back, Carter is finally with the female character who he should be with, and Pratt got decked (hey I love this guy, but he really needed that smack!), and talk about an awesome guest star (Don C. is one of the best character actors out there), so it seems that all is truly right with the world. Now if only we could get Benton back. Yeah, yeah, Pratt is a lot like a junior Benton... (and before everyone gets all PC on me, I'm not saying that because they're both black, but because they're both egomanical doctors who just happen to actually be almost as good as they believe themselves to be. They are both brilliant, obnoxious, inspiring, rude and they both seem to believe that as African American doctors they will have to work twice as hard because they feel that they have something to prove to their peers and to themselves).
I've got issues by maxwell's hammer	Oct 18th, 2002 09:47:44 AM
I'm sorry that the first time I ever brought this up, I used the word racist, because i don't think it really has anything to do with racism, but I am still mega-perturbed by everyone's insistence that Pratt and Benton are in any way alike. Pratt is modeled after Malucci, not Benton. Saying Pratt is the same as Benton because they're both arrogant is like saying Dr. Lewis is the same as Yosh (the Asian male nurse) because they're both nice. Arrogance comes in all forms, and Pratt's and Benton's are from different branches in the tree. Think a little bit about the similarities between Pratt and Malucci and you'll see that they're way more alike than any other two characters that have ever been on the show. Stop connecting Pratt and Benton with such broad and nebulous connections. I'm going to see a shrink to help me deal with my issues
maxwell's hammer: "Icons, Issues and Insanity": A Response... by MarioF	Oct 18th, 2002 10:57:29 AM
I think we must agree to disagree somewhat upon this point. Dr. (and, oh Lord, do I use this term loosely) Maluchi (yeah, I'm probably messing up the spelling, but what the hey?) was an excellent character in a whacky, unpredictable sort of way, but as a doctor, he certainly left more than a bit to be desired. He came from a third rate medical school because his grades were terrible and although he aspired to be boyishly cute, anti-establishment and thereby a devilish thorn in Kerry's side (ie. the next Dr. Ross), he fell far short of the mark (hmm... pun intended? Good god! even I'm not sure about THAT one!, but I digress...). Dr. Ross, and more importantly, for the sake of our discussion, Dr. Benton represented the fiercely (sometimes bordering on obsessed) committed, highly skilled, caregivers (Benton had a bit more in the 'skills' department, while Ross outdid him a bit on the whole 'bedside manner' issue... and by BEDSIDE I'm talking about his patients, for all those of us with filthy minds!) that we wished we had as our own doctors... in much the same way "The West Wing" represents the White House that I, myself, wish we had, as oppossed to the current gang of court appointed hooligans, oops sorry meant to say guardians, (Whoa! Obi Wan "Star Wars: Episode IV " A New Hope" moment... "It felt as if thousands of conservative Republicans were suddenly crying out as if in pain... and then silenced in an instance..."), but once again... I digress. Maluchi was and is the kind of doctor that we will really get. He was adequate at times, skillful at times, lucky at times and basically just looking to get laid most of the time. For those who think that comparing Pratt to Benton is an insult to Pratt... I can only say that in my humble opinion, comparing Pratt to Maluchi is a true insult to Pratt's character. Oh and Pratt is also like Benton, because in more than one one instance he's proven to literally be his own worst enemy! Which brings me to the final point of this response! Please do not blame me for your issues as the weight of this guilt may well invariably drive me straight to the happy place (with the really long, wraparound sleeve jackets complete with metal buckles) where I supposedly sent my ex-wife to spend some time, directly after our divorce (she blamed me for her issues too!) I won't have this guilt laid upon my talk-backer doorstep! If you truly feel near a breakdown regarding this obviously weighty subject then I implore you... nay, I beseech you... if you feel that you need psychiatrict help, then by all means, please feel free to visit a professional wise beyond his years. The renowned psychiatrist who made me the man I am today. His name is H. Lecter and although I'm not sure of his current office location, I can tell you that to reach him you need only place an advert in the classified section of the 'Tattler' and I'm quite certain that he'll get around to you eventually...
if the "west wing" represents the White House we "all" want, why by the G-man	Oct 18th, 2002 08:50:29 PM
And why are approximately half the people in our great nation Republicans?
because Al Gore aint no Martin Sheen...and by the way MarioF... by maxwell's hammer	Oct 18th, 2002 11:14:01 PM
...you'd be fun to sit with at Denny's late at night after a movie. Those kinds of conversations are far more productive. Online discussions with delay times such as the ones we're experiencing usually include lots of restating of old ideas and leave both participants unconvinced of anything.
The "Gore" dodge doesn't cut it by the G-man	Oct 19th, 2002 12:15:29 PM
Even if Gore is no Martin Sheen, that doesn't explain why Bush, when compared to Sheen is still popular. And it doesn't explain why half the country is traditionally republican. The truth of the matter is this: Bartlett is NOT the President we ALL want. He MIGHT be the President HALF of us want but that's it.
maxwells hammer & G-man: 2 Responses for the price of 1! by MarioF	Oct 19th, 2002 02:46:38 PM
maxwells hammer, thanks for the kind words... it's always nice to be reminded that there are still many of us late night movie/book/television/philosop hy/political/etc... conversationalists roaming the fringes of society/sanity! Those of us who wish to voice our feelings of fear, appreciation and concern for the state of things in general. As far as these 'delayed discussions' you are right in so much as the 'delayed' aspect does in fact hamper certain types of discussions where the main ideal is convince one of the error of his or her ways, but I prefer to think of these talkbacks as a way of comparing and contrasting our communial opinions (which I personally enjoy, so long as people don't become verbally abusive, overtly rude and or obnoxious within an uncalled for manner) As we've just been expressing our opinions I think it's interesting and somewhat educational on a sociological level. And although I may not agree with one of you ascertations, I certainly respect your right to your own individual opinion (and I also respect the fact that you express your opinion in an open-minded and non-abusive stance). And you get 20 extra bonus points for actually getting my strange mix of cynical humor. G-man, what can I say except that it seems that whenever I speak out about the "West Wing" I always wind up hearing from irrate Republicans who feel that they've been insulted (I guess I'll never learn!), but then again it might have been that swipe I took about how "Bush was appointed and they're a bunch of hooligans", etc... if that's what brought on the response, then allow me to state for the record that I was just josh(my favorite west wing character!)ing! I usually laugh at both Democrates AND Republicans because they generally spend so much time mudslinging, bitching and moaning and fighting each other that they fall far short of each of their respected party platforms. I honestly don't know who I felt more ashamed of... Clinton for his lack of discretion or Kenny boy for his sad impersonation of a pittbull, desperate to make a name for himself at the country's exspense. My actual, honest political views are as follows... I vote for whomever I feel will be the best person for the job based upon their platform and their experience directly relating to the particular job at hand. I could care less whether they're Democrate or Republican. I also realize that not all gun-carrying, right-to-life, pro-death-penalty, anti-environmental, hypocritical family value spouting conservatives are Repulican just as I understand that not all insanely free-spending, soft-on-crime, tree-hugging hippie, anti-death penalty, right-to-life, anti-war, gayrights protesting liberal is a Democrate. The truth is kinda fairly obvious, both sides have some good ideas and both sides have some real 'full-of-shit' arguments (and representatives) I myself have both liberal AND conservative beliefs, depending on which particular subject we might be speaking of. In fact I'd like to think that most rational adults are likewise. I personally don't know any 100% across-the-line conservatives or liberals. I suppose my biggest problem with America's two biggest bastard step-children is that the Republicans and Democrates just basically spend so much time trying to blame each other for 911, domestic strife, inflation, etc... etc... etc... that it almost becomes a sad, pathetic joke. I personally would like to see Bartlett or a man like him (and his administration in the oval office) not because he's a Democrate or a liberal, but because he is written as a truly good, compassionate man, striving for social equality and world justice, trying to do his best in a terribly difficult job (if he were a Republican character it certainly would make no difference to me). And for the record, I'd probably have made the same joke if Gore was sitting in the office. I'd like to think that All Americans want a group of good people (whether they be Repulican or Democrate) striving to develope our country into all that it can be (plus Donna Moss is an unbelievable hottie!) okay, c'mon you hadda see that last joke comming, didn't ya?
Mario, thank you for an overall intelligent response by the G-man	Oct 19th, 2002 04:28:07 PM
As I have said on the TB's before, while the West Wing's politics are 180 degrees from my own, I at least respect Sorkin for being unabashed in his beliefs and not trying to claim he holds a "middle of the road" worldview. I simply note that, given Sorkin's own assessment of WW as liberal wish fulfillment that it is unrealistic to believe that non-liberals would really want a Prez like Bartlett.

Talkbacks

Mr. Zambano Gives ER 9.4 Four Stars!!

User login

Quick Talkback

Talkbacks