TELEVISION: The Big Bang Theory (2007)

Several months ago...could have been a year ago, I posted a review about the best new situation comedy in years, "My Name is Earl". But all that has changed this year. "My Name is Earl" is still pretty good, but it's nothing compared to comedy that is "The Big Bang Theory"

If you haven't seen this show on Monday nights...it's about 4 super nerdy guys and the pretty girl who lives across the hall from them. Their interactions are hilarious. The dialogue is like nothing you've ever heard funny. Check out some clips on The Big Bang Theory's very own YouTube channel, buy the DVD when it comes out, and watch season two this fall. Sound like an advertisement? I don't care, don't watch it. You'll be missing out.

I Want to Believe

Who wants to see the new X-Files movie?



Oh oh...pick me!

Not Up to Code

Oh boy...oh boy. Just when you think you're about to get a bit of money from the IRS...you find out that you have to spend most of it on something not fun. So we knew that we had a bit of a leaky in the bathroom shower faucet, and it most likely required a new washer in the handle...except this is what it looks like right at this moment.

I thought it would be a few hundred bucks...I was stupid to think that it wouldn't be a bigger deal. It always is. Apparently my shower is old-ish and the faucets are not up to code. Codes which I think are created to keep the economy going...contstantly forcing you to update your plumbing, electronics, and construction whenever something you own breaks. Ah well...it could be worse...we might not be getting free money from the government that the state will tax us on (again) next year.

UPDATE (3 hours later): Anyone know a good tile guy that works cheap?

Pork Chopped Sandwiches OR My First Grilling of the Year

Spring is here and that means grillin' time. I uncovered my grill for the first time in 2008...I was going to make some BBQ pork sandwiches. I thought I cleaned this thing before I closed it up for the winter. I guess I was lazy. Oh wait...I had my gallbladder removed and didn't get to winterize ANYTHING before it snowed. Anyway...it took a few minutes to light the fire and for all the winter crap to burn off. The pork sirloin chops cooked up nice and evenly as usual.

And that's when I realized...right around the end of cooking time, that the fire had gone out. I've been wondering when I would run out of gas in that tank. It's the original tank I bought two summers ago when I bought the grill. So I transferred the pork that was cooked JUST ENOUGH to be completely cook, into a frying pan. Out of the fire and into the frying pan. Bad joke.

So there it was...in the frying pan with some BBQ sauce...simmering away until it was time to eat. I cut open a poofy roll...filled it with the yummy pork covered in BBQ...and enjoyed! You know you want some!

VIDEO GAMES: Grand Theft Auto IV: The Most Fun You Can Have with Your Friends Until 330AM

It was 3:30 in the morning...I was lacking sleep. I had just spent 4 hours running through Liberty City with some friends, accomplishing nothing more than exploring the city for all it's graphicy goodness...chasing each other through the streets in stolen cars, and destroying everything in sight with the many weapons available in the game. Did I forget to mention that I was playing a game? Sorry...as I said...I was lacking sleep.

If you've never played Grand Theft Auto...this is the version you should start playing (GTA 4). The gameplay is a blast, whether you're playing in "story mode" or "free roam". Free roaming mode gives you access to all the locations on the maps and all the weapons. This is obviously the best way to hunt your friends down and run them over with a fancy car while they aim a rocket launcher at you to destroy said fancy car. And then the police might arrive and the two of you might team up against them...or steal a motorcycle and go on a high speed chase ending in a collision with an assault helicopter. Oh wait...I know the guy flying the helicopter and he's hunting me too. Whooo...it's a great game to play with friends.

Soooo many people are thinking how wrong it is to play this game. Yeah, there are definitely morality questions with a game like this...I guess. People say that kids will emulate the behavior in the game...blah...blah...blah, but clearly any responsible parent would check out the game before buying it for their kids, wouldn't they? I love it when people say "well, who do you think is playing video games...adults?" Yeah...adults. The three other people I played with until 330am were all over 27 years old. Silly rabbit, GTA is for adults.

COMEDY: Eddie Izzard Live at the Orpheum in Boston (2008)

It was five years ago that I last saw Eddie Izzard in Boston...that time my seats were front row and the show was 4 hours long with a short intermission. That time, 5 years ago, Eddie Izzard came out in full makeup, heels, and with fake breasts. That show was HILARIOUS...all 4 hours of it.

This time was a little different as Eddie is currently starring in the FX series,"The Riches". The cross dressing was gone, the makeup was slight, but the funny was still all there in force. Being Tuesday night that we went, Eddie wanted to know, "Why are you all here...The Riches is on in a half hour?"

If you've never seen Eddie Izzard live, it's something special...unlike any other comedian I've ever seen. His acts seem almost made up as he goes along, which does wonders for originality each time you see him. He covered topics on...well...just about everything from the history of Boston, religion, animals, language, Macs vs. PCs, and even stopped for a moment to ask the woman in the front row why she thought it was OK to put her purse on the stage. "I know it seems like a little thing," he mused, "but it's right in my line of sight". "Do you want to put your feet up here as well?" He continued, "If you came to see Hamlet, would you put your purse on the stage?" And then someone brought a baby to the show. And three rows in front of us to the right, EVERYONE went to the bathroom twice, which was odd.

The show came in at just about two hours...the material was all over the place as usual...it was FANTASTIC. We loved every minute of it. If you've never seen him, pick up his best DVD, "Dress to Kill"...you'll be hooked as I was the first time I saw it.