My Favorite Shows!!

This topic has come up on my After Dark group and I figured I'd take it to the blog.

I love television and movies. It's definitely one of my favorite things to do. Like reading, I like getting lost in those other worlds and forgetting my cares for an hour or so.

In no particular order, here are some of my fall faves.

Criminal Minds

Favorite Character: Garcia. She's such a quirky lady!

Supernatural

Favorite Character: Dean. His tough guy attitude and witty comments, I love it! Plus, he's got that awesome car! hehe

Heroes

Favorite Character: Peter. He's such a good guy and I love that!

The Vampire Diaries

Favorite Character: Jeremy, the brother (not pictured here). He's so sweet and a little tortured.



Psych

Favorite Character: Sean. He makes me laugh. I love a guy who can make me laugh. :)

Castle

Favorite Character: Rick. He's gorgeous and witty and a writer...come on! LOL

Leverage

Favorite Character: Elliot...he kicks ass. *grin*

So, what are some of your favorite shows and characters? Maybe I can add to my list! Tell me! Give my DVR more work to do! LOL

Villains, Anti-Heroes, and Bad Boys...Why We Love Them

Admittedly, I have a thing for bad boys. A lot of us do. There is something so compelling about them and I find myself wanting to "fix him", ask him why he feels he must do the things he does. Is it something in his past that makes him terrify and seduce almost simultaneously? Over the years, my favorite characters to watch in movies and television or read about in books have been anti-heroes and yes, sometimes villains.

Lately, I've been absorbed with the HBO series True Blood, based on Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire Series and I can't take my eyes off of Eric Northman, the Viking vampire bad-boy, in the show. So yes, I'm firmly in Camp Eric. Why? Vampire Bill is super handsome, a southern gentleman and is totally yummy but the sad fact is, he just isn't a layered character. He lays everything about himself 'out there' and therefore, seems to have little depth. On the other hand, we KNOW Eric the Viking has a mysterious past. Outwardly he is aloof, distant, deadly and seductive, yet we see just tiny glimpses of humanity and wonder about them. We wonder about his story and what moves him.

Over the years, we've been treated to these delicious, intriguing characters and many times we are moved to tears when their stories are finally revealed to us. Several years ago, I got caught up in the HBO show Deadwood. Al Swearingon (played by Ian McShane) kept me rivetted. No he wasn't necessarily sexy but there was this outwardly evil/inwardly vulnerable aspect to the character. Perfectly played by McShane, we wondered at a man who could kill without blinking yet secretly, completely behind the scenes, do something GOOD. When his character was in a scene, he filled the screen. I felt the same way about Vic Mackey (played brilliantly by Michael Chikliss) in The Shield. Yes, we know he is bad and does bad things but every now and then we saw his good side and loved him for it.

These are just a few of my all time favorite villains. Who are your favorite bad boys or anti-heroes and why do YOU think we love them so much?

Shara Lanel talks Fall TV

Ah…it’s autumn. Well, not officially, but it’s been feeling like it, which for central Virginia is unusual. Some year’s we have picnicking weather in January. I’m from Western NY, so that was shocking when I first moved down here. Anyway, besides back to school (Yeah for moms everywhere!) September means the fall season on TV. Yes, I love the summer shows, like Psych, Monk, and Royal Pains, but their seasons tend to be way too short. True Blood just wrapped up (guess I need to cancel HBO), and the BBCA shows Being Human and Torchwood were way too short.

What have you been watching this summer?

Now I’m anticipating the shows I’ve missed since spring: Mentalist, Castle, Supernatural, and Dollhouse (I’m shocked this got picked up for another season). My crit partner says I watch too much TV. I don’t know what he’s talking about. **blinking innocently** Hmm, Smallville, Gossip Girl, Medium…

What shows have you been waiting to return? Any of your fave shows canceled? I really like The Unusuals, which came on mid-season and didn’t even have a chance to shine.

Then there’s the new shows. Ever since I was a kid (before DVDs and cable) this was a very exciting time. I always read the TV Guide’s Fall Preview issue. Now they break it up over two issue (new and returning)…I’m sure you’re thrilled=2 0to know that, aren’t you?

First of all, what’s with the plethora of hospital shows? Yeah, yeah, ER ended, but honestly which is which? Flashforward sounds interesting, but possible depressing—something about everyone bouncing to the future then back to the present. When the characters from the new NCIS: LA were introduced at the end of the last NCIS season, I wasn’t too impressed, but I’ll give them a try. I’m bored by the new Melrose Place. Then there’s the new version of V. I have a distinct memory of someone giving birth to a reptile…when was it…in the 80s?

So the shows I’ve been anticipating the most are Eastwick—gotta love witches and magic—and Vampire Diaries—gotta love vampires. Btw, someone was saying that Vampire Diaries is a total rip-off of Twilight, but if you look it up Vampire Diaries came out in 1999, so I’m pretty sure if anyone is the copy it’s Twilight copying VD.

So if you’re as TV obsessed as I am, let me know what you’re looking forward to this fall season. I’d love to hear from you!

Shara

http://www.sharalanel.com

My new guilty pleasure

Okay so I have a new guilty pleasure. I'm totally entranced by True Blood.


Last season I didn't have HBO but they did play a few episodes on the free HBO weekend. Loved it then but couldn't see spending the extra money for only one show. Neither my hubby nor I watch many movies so it just wasn't something we wanted to do at the time. Recently we had to switch cable companies and guess what? They had a rockin' deal on HBO. So now I've been going through all the older episodes On Demand and I just can't stop watching. The new episode this week? OMG! I almost died. I can't wait to find out what's going to happen. I haven't enjoyed a show this much in a long time.

What's your guilty pleasure?

In other news I got a great review for my Madison Scott book, Satisfy Me.

Title: The Malone Brothers: Satisfy Me
Author: Madison Scott
Publisher: Liquid Silver Books
Publisher URL: www.liquidsilverboo ks.com
Reviewer: LT Blue
Rating: 4 Stars
Heat level: H

I’m a sucker for women who finally get the gumption to go after the men they want. Maggie’s character is a treat and one that I could relate to. Maggie has settle for years and did what was expected of her, until she actually woke up and realized that wasn’t the life she wanted. Ty is the perfect male for Maggie. Ty is sexy and willing to help Maggie out and fulfill her sexual fantasies as long as she knows it is only temporary. Ty is the type of guy you just love to watch fall in love and see all of their beliefs just crumble with a great woman at their side. The sexual chemistry between Maggie and Ty was actually there before we see them in the same room and when they have sex it is magically hot. I’m sure if there was more time, the raunchy side would have come out, but with this short story it was just hot and simmering.. There were a few background characters that played an important part of the story and I really loved the ghost. Satisfy Me is definitely a summer read that will satisfy you.

LT Blue
Just Erotic Romance Reviews

My Guilty Pleasure

While Anne is off playing at the Lori Foster Event (and I'm jealous, too, btw), I'm going to talk about my guilty pleasure. Last weekend Kelley talked about her discovery of The Tudors. If you don't watch that, it's a Showtime Series and verrrrrry hot.

My guilty pleasure is True Blood. It's based on the Southern Vampire Series, Sookie Stackhouse stories by Charlaine Harris and has been converted to television by HBO and Alan Ball (Six Feet Under). It's a fabulous show. Dark, funny, sexy, and so totally NOT for the squeemish. During season one, Sookie (the waitress) who is also telepathic meets Bill, the vampire (and a southern gentlemen) and yes, the attraction was instantaneous. We also meet an entire cast of colorful, eccentric characters, all living in small town Louisianna. So while Bill and Sookie are falling in love and having adventures of their own, someone is killing women in this little town.

I'm not kidding. I'm so addicted to this show. Every Sunday night we raced to the tube to watch and actually went through withdrawals when they went on hiatus to film season two. I satisfied my craving by catching up on the 'fan boards'. Now if that's not nuts, I don't know what is.

At the end of May, I picked up the entire first season on dvd and I've been watching but if you don't have a copy of your own, it can be rented or watched again on HBO (if you have it). Now season two is getting ready to start and I'm psyched. Although I have to admit, I'm worried that one of my favorite characters might be DEAD. YIKES.

So what's your guilty pleasure and why? And if you are a True Blood fan, who is your favorite character? When it comes to a showdown between Bill, the southern gentleman vampire, or Eric, the hot viking vampire, which is your favorite. Wait, let me put on my Horny Viking Hat!

The Tudors

Lover. Warrior. Rebel. King. Jonathan Rhys Meyers is Henry VIII as never seen before. The Tudors is the epic new Showtime Original Series that reveals the scandalous life of the stunning young monarch, who ruled his kingdom with ruthless abandon.

With a lust for power and an appetite for love, Henry's affair with Anne Boleyn – and obsession with producing a male heir – changed the institution of marriage, and the world, forever. The Tudors is the untold story of Henry VIII, the beloved tyrant whose reign was marked by treachery, betrayal and intrigue.


Someone PLEASE tell me why I've never watched this show until now? I love it. I'd heard of it, of course, but never took the time to watch until the other night and now I'm HOOKED. Going to check my on demand for the older seasons and if they aren't there, I'll be renting them. I NEVER do that.

Any show that are must watches for you? Find a gem you didn't know about?

Perfection? Highly Overrated

Really late one night, I was flipping channels and just about to give up and crawl in bed when I saw this show called Little Miss Perfect. Has anyone seen it? Each episode follows two sets of mothers and daughters as they get ready to "compete" for the title of Little Miss Perfect.

I swear this show is like watching a train wreck and it becomes readily apparent that winning the crown is more important to the mothers than it is to the child. The little girls are just really normal looking little girls who lose their front teeth, want to play with friends and pretty much be NORMAL. But these moms are totally obsessed. They spend thousands of dollars on the frilly pageant dresses, cuter than cute bathing suits and drill their little charges on their dance routines until the children are stressed to the max.

I've now caught a few episodes very late at night and just shake my head over them. The moms argue this teaches their little girls poise and confidence and how to perform in public but I get the feeling the whole thing is more about "mom" who sits in the audience during each competition, hanging on the edge of her seat, biting nails, and basically looking utterly stressed. Now the interesting thing is there is almost zero audience. These things are held in hotel/motel conference rooms that are filled with folding chairs that remain largely empty except for a handful of moms and other friends and family. The moms grin hugely at their children on the stage and POINT at their smiles as reminders that smiles are always expected.

Also expected are the mounds and mounds of hair pieces, fake tans, and "flippers". Flippers are fake teeth that are placed in the child's mouth to cover the gaps, spaces, and flaws that are normal in a small child's mouth. I honestly don't think I'm the only one who believes a child doesn't need all this fake shit to be considered beautiful. Nothing makes me smile more than seeing the little school pictures that feature those happy, gap-toothed smiles.

Over the past few days, several of my friends and fellow Ellora's Cave authors have been discussing 'meeting' for the first time at Romanticon which will be held in October. We've been on line friends forever but many of us have never met in person. The idea of meeting evolved into a 'show of faces' as we proceeded to show that average women are goddesses too. Many of us have participated in this and we've posted pics of us without make up, fancy clothes, etc. Yes, average women doing our thing. Are we trying to make a point? Oh hell yes. I think so.

Want to catch a picture of me as I really am? Please check out my Regina Blog. Loud, proud and yes, very average. Average is okay with me.

Guilty Pleasures

So? What's your guilty pleasure? I know a lot of readers like to purchase their erotica on-line so that no one local knows what they are reading. Not a thing wrong with that. Privacy is a good, good thing. At least I've always thought so! But aren't we just really lucky that no one knows what we get into at home?

What about in your choice for television shows? Now, as the mom of a teen-aged daughter I've always been certain to emphasize to her that beauty, the very best kind, is found within. It's okay to be trendy, fashionable, etc. but it shouldn't take over your life to the point you judge others by what they may or may not have. What they wear. How they look. You don't make friends on the basis of someone's outward appearance or social standing. Fortunately, they have been lessons well learned by both my son and daughter. Their friends are 'good people', deep, loving, and intelligent. So yay for that!


Still every Sunday afternoon my daughter and I have an all day date that involves...MODELS. YIKES. Yes, we are completely hooked on America's Next Top Model. They fight, they fuss, they agonize about their hair and outdoing each other. It's crazy that someone as completely non-shallow as me can actually enjoy this stuff. Truth be told, I tend to think it's kind of funny and fortunately, my daughter does too.

My other guilty pleasure (which I also share with my daughter) is a love of the paranormal shows. Ghost Hunters (sci-fi channel), Ghost Adventures (The Travel Channel) and Paranormal State (A&E Network) are three of our faves. I looove quiet, serious Ryan from Paranormal States! He's such a sweet guy! And you've just gotta love the plumbers who hunt ghosts on their days off.

So what are your guilty pleasures?

Do you adore Dancing With The Stars? Or do you get off on nasty Simon and American Idol? Were you ever a total and complete slave to Survivor? What's your pleasure?