Sonic screwdriver: boring

The sonic screwdriver is a device in the Doctor Who series that can open any door, scan for alien life or radio signals, deafen any enemy, lock any door, and rarely to drive screws.

As you can clearly see from this description, in the hand of the Doctor - the protagonist - it is quite a useful device in any situation. Unfortunately it is used constantly and too conveniently in almost all the episodes which makes it a very easy way out for the writers of the show. It makes them lazy as they don't have to invent any MacGyverisms as they can just rely on the good old screwdriver to get the Doctor out of any trouble the writers have put him in. I think it would boost the creativity of the whole show and thus its quality if it was written out of the show for a little while, as it was in 1982 when the then producer, John Nathan-Turner had the same opinion about it as I do now.

Hungarian goulash and Numb3rs

I was so happy when I heard at the end of the last episode of Numb3rs, that Charlie would be cooking Hungarian goulash. I think there were references to Hungarian scientist before in the show (Neumann was mentioned I believe).
I am always happy if there are references to Hungary, even if they are just crazy mistakes, like when in a film a Hungarian flag with the coat of arms was put on a medieval castle in England...
Anyway just wanted to share my joy with you :-), if you find any more references to Hungary, just send it my way and let me know!

The Shakespeare Code

The new episode of Doctor Who, is just infinite fun. Medieval England, Globe theatre and London of the time with costumes and everything. Add to the mix witches, and of course tons of Shakespeare references to plays that W. S. is yet to write (after 1599) and him commenting on his own yet unwritten phrases that he might use them. Anyway just wanted to give you a heads up that this is still a great series with imaginative and well done and well researched episodes, a good cast (I also like the new companion). Don't forget to browse through the BBC website for a behind the scenes commentary and video podcast.

Please save Studio 60

We interrupt this program, to bring you a public service announcement:

This is a very good series, please don't let it go into the gutters, because of low ratings. NBC might not renew it because not enough people in the US has watched it, it's time to redeem yourselves, show your support:
Watch it on iTunes, write to your senator or congressman, call your local affiliate, organise demonstrations, or watch the last three episodes of the first season once they come back from the brake they're having, after being pulled from air due to low ratings.
I hope its not too late, NBC save this show, and in time I'll repay you, by watching it here in Hungary and later I might buy the DVDs.
And now we return to our regular service...

The Riches

The Riches is a fun new series about a gypsy family living the life of a Desperate Housewives family. Or at least they are trying, they have to find out whose identity they have stolen, and in every way they have to watch out for their pasts (as in their left behind gypsy family and the past of the deceased couple whose lives they have taken over).
As one would expect from such a series every episode introduces some new complications which they have to deal with. I think most of the cast are nice, the daughter looks beautiful (don't judge her by the picture above...), and the male actors are okay too. On the other hand I don't like the mother's accent, its too strange for me, and is like a constant reminder of the families true roots...
Also I am a bit worried about the darker tones of the show, as in the last minutes the wife's breasts were groped by one of the neighbours (also Doug, the husband's boss), after he found her in the bathroom getting high at a party. I fear that this may lead to further blackmailing, and whats more troublesome: rape...I will continue watching the show, but I sure hope that they will find the right balance, and this will be a one-off event that's to be solved by the family (or at least with the husband) and by the wife alone, she already has enough to deal with, with her addiction.
Anyway, for now, I strongly recommend this show!

Presidents go awry on 24

In every series of 24 there is some issue with the president. They're weak, dead, in a coma, removed from office, put back in office, forcing themselves into office or just plain crazy, egomaniac or traitors. This season we have seen the egomaniac variety who would launch a nuclear strike against an unspecified country in retaliation to a nuclear strike that hasn't happened. He is stopped in the last minute by the good president (the egomaniac being just temporarily in office while the real one recovers from being blown up), and after the usual power struggle, with the legal twists and the blackmailed aid blackmailing the vice-president cements the real president into power. He of course is not as well as he seems nor physically, nor mentally as it would seem, as he launches the previously averted nuclear strike in the last minute. I sure hope so, that before detonation it will be redirected into the sea, but with 24 you can never tell, as they have to come up with more and more brutal and horrific storylines if they wanna extend the series into 9 seasons.