Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 4

August 10, 2025: Sharky Sunday!

Getting his rough with Brussel sprouts –

Crunchy eel…

Out and About with Sharky: Alfie’s…

Peanut butter pretzel…

Reminder: sausage rolls!

Stubborn boy…

Sharky tackles watermelon…

 

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August 9, 2025: What do you think?

How many episodes will you give a show before giving up?

1?  2?  3? 4 or more?

When I was producing Dark Matter, the president of the production company emphasized the need for those first three episodes to be absolute bangers because, according to him (And this is an opinion held by many in the industry), if you can get a viewer to commit past the third episode, then you have them for the long haul.

I suppose it depends on the show and expectations going in.  Usually, if a show is highly recommend, I’ll give it a longer leash whereas shows that prove pedantic or sloppily written will turn me off (and I it) even fore that first episode is completed.

And you?

Meanwhile, I’ve been thinking of getting back into anime and asked for recommendations over on X.  I provided a visual summary of some of my favorites – but there are plenty missing….

I’m not a huge fan of fantasy or RPG=themed anime.  Nor am I a fan of anything magic-related.  I do lean towards more sci-fi or humorous offerings.

What do you think?  Anything to recommend?

Speaking of which…

Finally, I asked my X followers to give me an under-appreciated rarely mentioned sci-fi series (for possible rewatch purposes).  No Star Trek or Star Wars or Stargate.  Of course I ended up getting mentions for shows that are neither under-appreciated nor rarely mentioned (ie Farscape, Firefly, Babylon 5, Battlestar Galactica, The Expanse, Fringe, etc.) from individuals unable to follow the assignment.  Also got a lot of mentions for some pretty awful shows (Which is always kind of dispiriting when someone says they love your show and then mentions they also love some atrocious t.v. as well).

So, what do you think?  What is an under appreciated, rarely mentioned not awful sci-fi series?

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August 8, 2025: Our Columbo rewatch resumes with Columbo Goes to the Guillotine!

Columbo returned to television on February 6, 1989, eleven years after “The Conspirators” aired.

In the years following “The Conspirators”, Peter Falk made it clear that he would consider returning to the character at a manageable workload. Attempts to negotiate a new contract with Falk had fallen through back in 1978 and, again, five years later when CBS attempted to lure him back as part of a brand new mystery wheel alongside Kojak. But in 1988, series co-creator William Link convinced ABC to revive Columbo. Falk eventually accepted the 600k/episode offer along with an Executive Producer title. And so, Columbo, at the age of 61, returned as part of ABC’s new mystery wheel that included Burt Reynolds as B.L. Stryker and Louis Gossett Jr. as Gideon Oliver.

The first of these new era episodes, “Columbo Goes to the Guillotine”, was well-received by most critics and viewers alike who were happy to welcome back the beloved detective. But there were a few exceptions. L.A. Times critic Howard Rosenberg wrote: “Falk seems to be trying so hard to live up to the old Columbo that at times he is almost a caricature, laying it on too thick with the shuffling feet and phony politeness, even getting on your nerves. As he creeps along ever so slowly, you wish he’d just shut up, get on with it and make the arrest.”

Finally, eagle-eyed Stargate fans might recognize a young Tony Amendola playing the part of a clergyman.

My thoughts on this episode in chronological viewing order…

Small quibble, but if she is looking at a reflection of herself raising her right hand in the glass, shouldn’t she actually see “a woman raising her left hand”?

Telepathically intercepting the thoughts of your enemy? Hmmmm. CIA experiments on remote viewing were all the rage back in the day.

Ah, there’s a connection between these two as both spent time in an Ugandan prison. Not top on my list of vacation destinations but, again, another time.

So far so interesting, but it doesn’t feel like Columbo.

The whole testing of his psychic abilities feels ludicrously convoluted.

A pretty gruesome murder by Columbo standards.

While I like the visual introduction to Columbo, I really hate the music that accompanies this scene.

Ten years later and still smoking those damn cigars.

Columbo accepts a drink with the guy in the wizard dunce cap because he’s off-duty. Just like the old days.

“One more thing so…could you do me a favor?” Classic.

Would you trust that kid with a finger guillotine?

I get the whole white top hat and tail magician’s funeral is supposed to be funny, but it just comes off as awkward.

While the scene of Elliott Blake sussing out the crime scene goes on too long, it is a lot of fun when Columbo pulls the rug out from under him and lays out his case for murder.

Would buying a 3 lb corned beef really be enough to dissuade a suicidal person?

Aha! The wrong screwdriver was in the victim’s hand. Although, technically, I believe you can still use a flathead screwdriver on a Phillips screw. Handypeople, help me out here.

Oh, Mrs. Columbo loves magic tricks!

“Well you fooled me. You actually made me think you’d read my mind.” Great line.

Boy, this kid is annoying.

Another signature Columbo move – surprising the suspect at their destination, in this case the plane.

The whole Columbo psychic schtick goes on way too long and is a kinda cringey.

Columbo feigning exhaustion, mopping his brow, collapsing is just silly.

Really hate the music in this episode.

No one notices before, during, or after the fact that all of the books hold the exact same maps with the exact same marks?

Columbo connects the two of them to their Ugandan stay. Good detective work.

Why would Columbo literally put his neck on the line like this? It feels like the production is trying to recapture the magic of the final Gotcha! moments from “How to Dial a Murder” and “Murder Under Glass” but failing miserably.

What’s with the silly novelty gun gag at the end? Ugh.

Hmmmm. As much as I did think Anthony Anderson a brilliant villain and I did love seeing Falk back in the role, this episode was a bit of a stinker. I lean towards Howard Rosenberg’s take on “Columbo Goes to the Guillotine” feeling more caricature than authentic, but given that writer-producer Richard Alan Simmons also returned for these new era episodes, I’m willing to chalk this one up to “everyone getting their sea legs back” as I look forward to the next episode.

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August 7, 2025: Best Of…Farscape, Firely, Space: 1999, and Space: Above and Beyond!

Our Best Of series spotlights the very best episodes of the very best sci-fi shows as chosen by YOU the fans.  For those of you who would rather not venture into the wilderness that is X, I have converted our chats to mp4 for your listening pleasure..

My co-host Jeremy Adams and I discuss Farscape “The Way We Weren’t” and Firefly “Out of Gas”….

My co-host Todd Ireland and I discuss Space: 1999 “Dragon’s Domain” and Space: Above and Beyond “The Angriest Angel”…

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August 6, 2025: Amazing Covers!

A few that caught my eye this week…

Batgirl #10 – cover art by Tran Nguyen

JSA #10 – cover art by Leonardo Romero

Poison Ivy #35 – cover art by Ben Harvey

Poison Ivy #35 – cover art by Ejikure

Uncanny X-Men #19 – cover art by Stanley “Artgerm” Lau

Storm #11 – cover art by Junggeon Yoon

So, which were YOUR favorites?

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August 5, 2025: Best Of…Andor, Babylon 5, Battlestar Galactica, and Black Mirror!

In the event you missed them – or didn’t want to venture onto the X platform to check them out – here are the first two installments of the Best Of series, a month long marathon spotlighting the very best episodes of the very best sci-fi shows as chosen by YOU the fans.

In our first installment, my co-host Tom Luongo and I discuss Andor “One Way Out” and Babylon 5 “Severed Dreams”.

In our second installment, my co-host Dr. Ben Hunt and I discuss Battlestar Galactica “33” and Black Mirror “USS Callister”…

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August 4, 2025: Catch-up entry! Books! Desserts! And Pizza!

A late-it’s-early blog entry!

I have another 2025 crime read recommendation for you!

Kills Well with Others by Deanna Rayburn

Four life-long hitwomen for a clandestine international organization, now in their 60’s, embark on a world-wide hunt for a vengeful assassin.

I was at the farmer’s market on Saturday, picking up some habanero peppers (among other things) when I noticed these lethal-looking babies.  The women at the counter told me they were scotch bonnet peppers.  Uh…I think I know immature Carolina Reapers when I see ’em.  Anyone else have an opinion here?

Discovered a new bakery, Castle and Coal, just around the corner from one of Sharky’s favorite pet shops.  I am a huge Kouign Amma fan and picked up their seasonal special, stuffed with sweet corn cream.  Their canelé was outstanding, probably the best I’ve ever had (next to the home made ones my mother’s neighbor occasionally brings over).

Prior to dessert, I took Akemi and Sharky to my favorite – now Akemi’s favorite – Pizzeria Badiali for an assortment of slices.  If you’re in Toronto, this is the pizza place to check out.

Akemi and Sharky doing their morning workout.

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August 3, 2025: Sharky Sunday!

Traveling back to Toronto…

Dozing off while snacking…

Food inspector!

Out and About – Pizzeria Badiali…

Out and About: Roncesvalles…

Super food…

Sharky’s workout tips…

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August 2, 2025: The Columbo rewatch resumes!

After some deliberation, I’ve elected to discontinue my X Space series.  The Best Of marathon (spotlighting the very best episodes of the very best sci-fi shows as chosen by fans) was a lot of fun, mostly owing to the contributions of my wonderful hosts, but in the end they didn’t engender as much interest as I had hoped, either with live or delayed listeners.  And so, all things being equal, I do find it MUCH easier to do a write-up on an episode rather than prepare an hour-long discussion so I’m shelving the planed Time Loopalooza and Redemption Rewatch in favor of a resumption of our Columbo rewatch.  We’ll return from hiatus starting this Friday, August 8th with the season 8 opener “Columbo Goes to the Guillotine”.

The schedule:

Friday, August 8th: Columbo Goes to the Guillotine

Monday, August 11th: Murder, Smoke and Shadows

Friday, August 15th: Sex and the Married Detective

Monday, August 18th: Grand Deceptions

Whos’ in?!

Not loving the new rule changes for the 2025 NFL season!

Meanwhile, a recent NY Times op-ed proposed redefining death in order to increase donor organs. This upset a lot of people, but I feel the authors’ words have been misconstrued. As proposed, organs will only be harvested under these very specific circumstances:

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August 1, 2025: X Notes and 2025 Crime Read Recommendations!

Me heading into this latest round of pitches…

Community Notes in a nutshell…

Things I hate to attend…

A few more of my favorite 2025 Crime Reads…

Karma Doll by Jonathan Ames

Framed for murder, pursued by bounty hunters, detective Happy Doll seeks to tip the karmic scales in his favor. But how can he do this without getting blood on his hands?

Dead Money by Jakob Kerr

The CEO of tech’s hottest startup has just been murdered, leaving behind billions in “dead money” frozen in his will, and it’s up to Silicon Valley “problem solver” Mackenzie Clyde to solve things fast.

Red Water by Jurica Pavičić (2025

North American release) A woman disappears after a beach party, and the search for her reveals Croatia’s complex history well beyond the fall of Communism.

Also, happy birthday to sis!

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