Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 63

January 16, 2024: Not bad. Not bad at all.

Not bad.  After a wild wildcard weekend in the NFL, 3 of my 4 favorite teams advance, while 3 of 4 of my least favorite teams were eliminated.

SuperBowl winner/results by order of preference:

1. Lions

2. Bills

3. Browns

4. Packers

5. Ravens

6. Steelers

7. Texans

8. 49ers

9. Bucs

10. Rams

11. Retroactive rule change admits the Saints/Raiders over any of the below teams

12. Dolphins

13. Cowboys

14. Eagles

15. Game cancelled

16. Chiefs

At this point, I’ll be happy with anyone besides the Chiefs winning.

After two weeks of no added sugar, I can honestly say that I feel surprisingly – no different. My energy levels are exactly the same. I’m not sleeping any better. And I’ve actually put on a couple of pounds. Lesson learned. Bring on the chocolate!

This interesting Hermes print ad I came across while in Tokyo.  Uh, interesting…

Today’s Yes/No…

Final Fantasy XIV wine? Yes/No
Final Fantasy XIV wine is here to let you raise a glass to celebrate the RPG’s 10th anniversary https://t.co/l4srByeJdv via @RocketNews24En

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) January 16, 2024

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January 15, 2023: The Crime Binge continues!

The Serpent (2021) The twisting, real-life story of Charles Sobhraj, a murderer, thief and seductive master of disguise, who was a hidden darkness in the mid-70’s on Asia’s hippie trail.

My thoughts: The quick-cut hyperkinetic style just becomes too much.  It’s clear we have a Guy Ritchie fan here.

3/5

Barry (2018 – 2023) Season 1

A hit man from the Midwest moves to Los Angeles and gets caught up in the city’s theatre arts scene.

My thoughts: A clever, darkly humorous series that stands out amongst the 100+ shows I’ve watched so far for this Crime Binge.

4.5/5

Barry (2018 – 2023) Season 2

A hit man from the Midwest moves to Los Angeles and gets caught up in the city’s theatre arts scene.

My thoughts: The twists and turns keep coming, as does this show’s trademark dark humor.  Fantastic.

4.5/5

Barry (2018 – 2023) Season 3

Coming off the rails here! A hit man from the Midwest moves to Los Angeles and gets caught up in the city’s theatre arts scene.

My thoughts: Hmmmm.  While it doesn’t completely come off the rails, the sudden shift in the show’s tone makes this third season a marked let-down from the previous two.

3/5

Barry (2018 – 2023) Season 4

I felt like I was watching a completely different show with the same name. A hit man from the Midwest moves to Los Angeles and gets caught up in the city’s theatre arts scene.

My thoughts: Everything that made this show so wonderful in its first two seasons has been stripped away in favor of a humorless, utterly depressing storyline.  It’s hard to believe this is the same show.

1.5/5

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January 14, 2024: Sharky Sunday!

Our trip to Beatrice Society…

Our trip to Propellor Coffee inside Indigo Books…

Outside Quantum Coffee…

Sharky snacks on maitake mushrooms…

Sharky in his mansion…

Sharky tucked in for the night…

 

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January 13, 2024: What else? Stargate and food!

Well, this is cool.  Came across this online today.  A blast from the past.  Thanks to Marco Maldini

Baking time lapse…

Baking timelapse
pic.twitter.com/Do56icHMXe

— Science girl (@gunsnrosesgirl3) January 13, 2024

Can anyone confirm any of these?

Rob Cooper sent me this…

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Johnny L (@cheatdayto)

Toky Fried is my #1.

Today’s Yes/No…

Burger Latte? Yes/No
Thanks(?) to @Quoylette for the tip!
Would you try a burger-flavored latte? One shop is drawing curious customers https://t.co/EESKt0ol37

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) January 13, 2024

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January 12, 2024: Superbowl LVII – Who you got?

SuperBowl winner/results by order of preference:

1. Lions

2. Bills

3. Browns

Ravens

5. Packers

6. Steelers

7. Texans

8. Bucs

49ers

10. Rams

11. Retroactive rule change admits the Saints/Raiders over any of the below teams

12. Dolphins

13. Cowboys

14. Eagles

15. Game cancelled

16. Chiefs

And you?

One week without sugar and I notice my mood no longer fluctuates. Now, I'm consistently angry.

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) January 10, 2024

Morning coffee outing with Sharky (Beatrice Society).

Lunch today with writer extraordinaire Alex Levine.

Today’s Yes/No…

Black-bun Squid Devil Burger? Yes/No
Black-bun Squid Devil Burger set to shock Japan with tokusatsu-inspired delicious evil https://t.co/hMg5PjLueN via @RocketNews24En

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) January 12, 2024

Why not?

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January 11, 2024: The Crime Binge continues!

Marcella (2016 – 2021 ) Season 1 Marcella Backland left the Metropolitan Police for the sake of her family, only to have her husband leave her. She returns to her job on the murder squad, investigating a case that seems disturbingly familiar to her.

My thoughts: A twisty-turn thriller that will keep you guessing, but our protagonist’s contrived and plot-convenient memory loss really keeps this from being great.

3.5/5

Sniffer (2013 – ) Season 1

They call him the Sniffer. He’s the proud owner of an acute sense of smell, he knows things about you even you don’t and would rather keep to yourself.

My thoughts: Ridiculous, but not in a fun way.

2.5/5

Harjunpaa/Helsinki Crimes (2022 – ) Season 1

Follows Timo Harjunpää, a popular detective known for his honesty and empathy for the victims, as well as the criminals. He and his partner Onerva Nykanen are investigating a wave of murders taking place in Helsinki.

My thoughts: Superficial characters and plotting in this unremarkable Nordic thriller.

3/5

Caliphate (2020)

Agent Fatima gets a tip that a terrorist act is planned in Sweden. At the same time, teenager Sulle has opened her eyes to her student assistant who opens the doors to a fascinating new world.

My thoughts: A white-knuckle descent into the frightening mindset of terrorists and their religious adherents.

4/5

Darkness: Those Who Kill (2019 – ) Season 1

Investigator Jan and profiler Louise constantly move around in the thrilling periphery of a murderer’s view as they link a series of killings.

My thoughts: An edge-of-your-seat abduction thriller with a great twist, but marred by inept police work and a somewhat unsatisfying conclusion.

3.5/5

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January 10, 2024: Amazing Covers!

A few that caught my eye this week…

Ultimate Spider-Man #1 – cover art by Nic Klein

White Widow #1 – cover art by Stanley “Artgerm” Lau

Blood Commandment #3 – cover art by Szymon Kudranski

Batman and Robin #5 – cover art by Jorge Molina

Barnstormers: A Ballad of Love and Murder – cover art by Tula Lotay

Gumaa: The Beginning of Her #2 – cover art by Jee-Hyung Lee

So, which were YOUR favorites?

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January 9, 2024: All work and no sugar makes Joe a dull boy.

Today marks my first sugar-free week.  Do I feel better?  Healthier?  Calmer?  Have more energy?  Less emotionally volatile?  NONE of the above.  I feel NO different.  Got one more week of this to confirm going off sugar makes absolutely no difference.  To me anyway.

Damn, but I do miss chocolate.

Well, well, well.  If it isn’t director and stunt coordinator John Stead, sitting down to a single cheeseburger at Matty’s Patty’s Burger Bar.

One of my favorite smash burgers in the city.  Note the crispy end bits!

The other day, I was contacted by a friend about a possible showrunning opportunity, a small town horror/sci-fi series that would take me back to my home away from home of Vancouver.  Love the premise but opportunities have a habit of going away in this business, so I’m not going to get overly excited at the prospect.  Still, would be a nice change of pace.

Meanwhile, awaiting the closing a development deal for another sci-fi series, this one to be a Portugal production.  Never been, but I hear the food is great.

And impatiently awaiting word on two projects – an action-adventure series that we have attached a star and a director to, and a cozy mystery series that has engendered some enthusiasm.  But again, who knows what the future holds.

Looking to finish my rewrite of a new pilot I want to get out before month’s end.

Meanwhile, my enthusiasm is fading for some other projects.  Nothing like a massive delay to kill the buzz.

Today’s Yes/No…

Reese's Bundt Cake? Yes/Nohttps://t.co/emTtztgNye

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) January 9, 2024

 

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January 8, 2024: On with the Crime Binge!

Time (2021 – ) First season Eric is a prison officer who tries to protect those in his charge. When one of the most dangerous inmates identifies his weakness, Eric faces an impossible choice between his principles and his love for his family.

My thoughts: A solid story about two men on opposite sides of the law, anchored by great performances from Sean Bean and Stephen Graham.  Solid story-telling if not altogether unsurprising.

3.5/5

The Wilderness (2023)

Follows a twisted love story, where a “happily-ever-after” life quickly turns into a living nightmare.

My thoughts: What holds the promise of being a darkly humorous edge of your seat thriller proves to be not particularly funny or thrilling, the whole capped by a clunky feminist diatribe.

2/5

Kin (2021 – ) Season 1

Kin tells the story of a fictional Dublin family embroiled in gangland war and speaks to the enduring unbreakable bonds of blood and family.

My thoughts: Feels like a polished, network-friendly version of Love/hate.

Braquo (2009 – 2016 ) Season 2

Rejected by their peers and superiors, Eddy and his renegade team go from hunters to the hunted. Caught in the crossfire of a gang war, and they can no longer rely on themselves alone to avoid a total fall from grace.

My thoughts: I’ve already said this show is like a French version of The Shield.  And season 2 goes HARD.

4.5/5

Black Sands (2021 – ) Season 1

A troubled police officer is forced back to her hometown. Confronting her abusive mother is inescapable but the discovery of a body changes everything. She’s forced to search for a dangerous serial killer while stuck in a dark pit.

My thoughts: Not bad but too long, slow, and the character beats are interminable.

3/5

So, what are YOU watching?

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January 7, 2023: Sharky Sunday!

Reindeer-in-training

Occasionally, when we go out, we like to keep Sharky busy with his snuffle mat…

Braving the elements…

Still on the look-out for his perfect brother or sister.

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