Greetings, meat popsicles! ROBOGEEK here, wallowing in the depression that is the banishment of Colleen from the "Survivor" island -- and kicking myself for missing this week's episode.

So much for the "Survival of the Cutest" theory. Damn.

This has been a weird week in Roboland. In fact, it's been a weird summer, as I've been spending it in the outer reaches of South Austin, house-sitting for Kolchak while he kicks evil's ass in Europe. It's almost the perfect summer villa, except that it's nestled in surreal suburbia, populated by a menagerie of odd creatures -- including the Bizarro Universe Toto (honest). But I digress...

ARE YOU LEXXPERIENCED?

Anyway, this week has been particularly freaky, as I've been enduring the mental contamination of the first four "Lexx" movies (aka "Tales From A Parallel Universe"), which the Sci-Fi Channel has been re-airing.

My old buddy Glen (former Coaxial editor, and current FilmForce sage) first told me about "Lexx" many moons ago, which I remember him describing to me as "surreal." It is indeed that and more, and I must admit I didn't really get it at first. Recently I decided to take a fresh look at it, and I have to admit I'm finding it kinda groovy.

"Lexx" is pretty damn weird, and spectacularly non-commercial; it would probably give fans of the anemic "Star Trek: Voyager" a stroke. And you know, that's not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, "Lexx" is sort of like the "Twin Peaks" version of "Star Trek"; it's just so gleefully bizarre, it's amazing anyone financed it (leave it to the Germans and Canadians, I guess).

For the uninitiated, "Lexx" is "the most powerful destructive force in the two universes." It's a giant, living, insect ship that seems to be vaguely sentient, and sounds like a more sardonic Hal-9000. The Lexx is commanded by a hapless, cowardly moron named Stanley Tweedle (Brian Downey), a former security guard who was sentenced to death by the Divine Order for heresy and treason. Anyway, quite by accident, Stanley finds himself with the key to the Lexx, so it only responds to his commands. However, Stanley really just wants to shag Xev.

Xev (Eva Habermann in the movies, Xenia Seeburg in the series) is a former prisoner who was sentenced to be transformed into a sex slave for being a bad wife. However, part of her programming ends up in 790, an acerbic disembodied robot head, who is now totally obsessed with her (and wants Stan dead). Xev (now part cluster lizard, btw), finds 790, er, inadequate and Stan simply repulsive; instead, she only has eyes for Kai, the last of the Brunnen-G.

Unfortunately for Xev, Kai (Michael McManus) is a reanimated corpse who has been dead for 2,000 years. After being used by the Divine Order as an assassin, he has now regained his memories, and may yet fulfill the prophecy that he will end the oppressive reign of the Divine Order -- who are hence intent on destroying him, as well as recapturing the Lexx (which all these folks collectively stole).

Anyway, if you have the chance, and are feeling adventurous, you should check out a new episode ("End of the Universe") airing Friday night on SciFi. (You can learn more by visiting http://www.scifi.com/lexx.)

Meanwhile...

C.J. GETS CENSORED!

Readers who have been paying attention know that I obsessively worship Aaron Sorkin's "The West Wing," which I think was the best series on TV last season. Anyway, the wonderful Allison Janney (who plays White House press secretary C. J. Cregg), while accepting an award for "The West Wing" at the Family Television Awards (which aired tonight on CBS), bravely took a stand by expressing support for the current Screen Actors Guild commercial strike. Except no one besides those in attendance saw it, because the producers of the awards show censored it from broadcast, in deference to advertisers.

If you ask me, that just sucks.

Anyway, I'd just like to applaud Janney for speaking out in support of a just cause -- which I encourage the rest of you to learn about by visiting http://www.sag.org/.

Also, I'd like to recommend Frazier Moore's fantastic feature story on Janney, which was published by the Associated Press earlier this week at http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20000807/en/ap_on_tv_allison_janney_west_wing_1.html (After reading it, you'll want to download "The Jackal" off Napster.)

THE COMMERCIAL ARNOLD DOESN'T WANT YOU TO SEE

In case you haven't heard, there's this great website called "Gaijin A Go-Go" ( http://www.zeroonedesign.com/gogo/main.html) which features Japanese commercials made by American movie stars. It's a hoot and a half, and I highly recommend you check it out.

Anyway, this week the good folks at GAGG found themselves introduced to the underside of Arnold's boot. Apparently he and the folks at DirecTV weren't too happy about seeing one commercial in particular on the website. In fact, they took legal action, forcing them to take it down today.

You can find more info about the whole ridiculous fracas here: http://www.zeroonedesign.com/gogo/arnold/arnold.html -- and, happily, you still find the censored commercial here: http://www.burningorphanage.com/movies/arnold/arnold.html

Information wants to be free! Down with censorship! Fight the power! I want my DeCSS!

(Just had to get that out of my system...)

ROBERT DOWNEY, JR., MEET ALLY MCBEAL

Finally, today while watching the ever-entertaining Jules and Steve on "E! News Daily," I first heard that Robert Downey, Jr. has landed his first post-prison acting gig -- and a plum one, at that.

Downey will be playing Ally's new love interest, a recurring character that will appear in eight episodes, starting with the October 23 season premiere.

Of course, you should also be on the look-out for Downey in Curtis Hanson's brilliant "Wonder Boys" -- my favorite film of the year so far, which Paramount is thankfully re-releasing this fall. (See http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=6038 for more info.)

Have a groovy weekend,

- robogeek@robogeek.com

P.S.: Colleen was on Letterman Thursday night (looking ever-so-fetching), and will be visiting our pal Craig Kilborn Friday night.