Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 70
November 9, 2023
November 9, 2023: Books that inspired me!
The books that made me fall in love with fantasy…The books that made me fall in love with science fiction…
The books that made me fall in love with fantasy…
23 seconds. That’s the record for the quickest I’ve given up on a show. In this case, the pilot episode opens with a dog being flung off a building. And I’m out. Avoid the Indian series Sacred Games.
Out of the almost 70 shows I’ve checked out as part of my ongoing #CrimeBinge marathon, I’ve given up on 14 either partway through or after watching the first episode. Life’s too short.
The post November 9, 2023: Books that inspired me! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
November 8, 2023
November 8, 2023: Amazing Covers!
A few that caught my eye this week…
G.O.D.S.#2 – cover art by Mateus Manhanini
X-Force #46 – cover art by Jeff Dekal
Batman #139 – cover art by Gabriele Dell’Otto
Birds of Prey #3 – cover art by W. Scott Forbes
Blue Beetle #3 – cover art by Mikel Janin
Poison Ivy #16 -cover art by Otto Schmidt
The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #12 – cover art by Christian Ward
Vampirella/Dracula: Rage #3 – cover art by Mike Krome
So, which were YOUR favorites?
The post November 8, 2023: Amazing Covers! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
November 7, 2023
November 7, 2023: Hurry up and wait!
As we head into November, we also head into the t.v. industry’s slow season. With Thanksgiving on deck and the Christmas season soon to follow, it’s hard to get executives to focus, much less read your project. More than likely, it ends up in a pile that they won’t get around to until AFTER they get back from the holidays, some time in January. Presumably.
Had a zoom call yesterday about the kpop/sci-fi series as well as the android murder mystery series. Revising the pitch deck for the former and looking to make some changes to the latter with the intention of going out with both top of the year. Love both these projects but I honestly feel like I’ve been working on them for as long as I can remember. And it’s exhausting.
We’ve attached a lead actor and a director to my action-adventure project and that one will, presumably, go out in January as well. It has apparently garnered some fair interest, especially overseas. If this one goes, it would see me working with an actor I worked with a few years back.
Meanwhile, the murder mystery pilot and deck are locked. Zoom chat on Wednesday to discuss the game plan. Really do like the producer I”m working with on this one. He’s very straight-forward and always keeps me in the loop.
Finally, the financing for that horror movie is in limbo as we await the lawyers – who don’t seem to be in any rush. Which is a shame because, while they dither, we risk losing one of our key locations in Bulgaria.
Delivered all the scripts for my five-issue horror comic (due out early 2024). Was informed I’d be meeting with the new editor via zoom the week before last but, alas, nothing has materialized. Ideally, would be great to get – and implement – any notes prior to December because, once the 4th rolls around, I am in Japan-mode.
Speaking of Japan-mode…
Stop everything you're doing and post a gif of an anime you really like. https://t.co/ZLnZs3I1VZ pic.twitter.com/fzySUZ5UvR
— Joseph Mallozzi
(@BaronDestructo) November 7, 2023
P.S. Thanks for all of the great advice regarding the treatment of dogs with separation anxiety. (Drea, you were particularly detailed and thorough!). We started to implement and test several of your suggestions.
I honestly can’t believe it’s almost Christmas 2023 already. It feels like just yesterday we were wiping down our mail with clorox wipes and being advised to rinse our produce in diluted bleach. What a difference 2 YEARS makes!
The post November 7, 2023: Hurry up and wait! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
November 6, 2023
November 6, 2023: Recent Yes/No’s – Best and Worst!
Vinegar Pie? Yes/No
Old Fashioned Vinegar Pie https://t.co/11UPPz30Nc
— Joseph Mallozzi
Yes for me..although I’d have very low expectations going on.
Amouranth beer? Yes/No https://t.co/K2akGadVsr
— Joseph Mallozzi
Even if I knew who she was and was a fan, I’m afraid it’s still no.
Extreme Yakisoba Pan? Yes/No
Mega Yakisoba Pan takes Japanese convenience store food to crazy new places https://t.co/7Go4lnpY96 via @RocketNews24En
— Joseph Mallozzi
Not really a yakisoba fan, much less a convenience store version.
Drinkable Choco Flakes with pieces of actual corn? Yes/Nohttps://t.co/Jp2YFdBJZu via @RocketNews24En
— Joseph Mallozzi
Apparently all the corn collects at the bottom. Pass.
Energy Ice Cream? Yes/No
Thanks(?) to @congotim for the tip. https://t.co/zACSPWu17T
— Joseph Mallozzi
I mean, sure I’d try it.
Deep-fried KitKat Katsu? Yes/Nohttps://t.co/5lHmIPQ2MU via @RocketNews24En
— Joseph Mallozzi
My experiences with deep-fried chocolate has been pretty positive so far, so why not?
Butter Pudding? Yes/No
The butter pudding from Kaldi doesn’t taste like butter or pudding, so what does it taste like? https://t.co/SKohAYb68v via @RocketNews24En
— Joseph Mallozzi
If it doesn’t taste like butter, what’s the point?
The Burgertini? Yes/Nohttps://t.co/SUB5dq1nIe
— Joseph Mallozzi
As far as cocktails go, I’m sure I’ve had worse.
BEST: Those deep-fried KitKats
WORST: That beer!
The post November 6, 2023: Recent Yes/No’s – Best and Worst! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
November 5, 2023
November 5, 2023: Sharky Sunday!
Our little angel. Akemi got him the halo to keep him from continually bumping his head as he continues to map his new home.
Out and about with his friend Ella.
Apparently, he needs a dental – but we’re, of course, nervous about putting him under. He has nine, maybe ten teeth and could lose more including those adorable two in the front which are already kind of loose.
Mom has him winter-ready.
Getting around….
Savoring dehydrated cod skins…
Sharky’s visit to the vet…
Sharky snoozing with our guest pug, Bubbie –
The post November 5, 2023: Sharky Sunday! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
November 4, 2023
November 4, 2023: The Crime Binge continues!
Unforgotten (2015 – ) Season 1
London detectives investigate crimes from the past, unravelling secrets left buried for years.
My thoughts: The two leads are terrific in this delightfully character-driven mystery series.
4/5
Line of Duty (2012-2021) Season 3
Sergeant Danny Waldron and his team shoot dead a criminal, but cracks soon appear in their story, and suspicion soon arises. When AC-12 are called in to investigate the conduct, even they could find themselves in the firing line.
My thoughts: This show is firing on all cylinders here as elements from previous seasons dovetail in a thrilling climax.
4.5/5
Annika (2021 – ) Season 2
Witty, enigmatic DI Annika Strandhed heads up the Marine Homicide Unit, tasked with solving murders in and around the Scottish waters.
My thoughts: Nicola Walker is undeniably fantastic and the humor that runs through this show is a delight. I just wish the central mysteries were more compelling.
3.5/5
Unforgotten (2015 – ) Season 2
London detectives investigate crimes from the past, unravelling secrets left buried for years.
My thoughts: Strong story-telling and engaging characters makes this series a solid favorite.
4/5
Line of Duty (2012-2021) Season 4
When DCI Roz Huntley captures a serial killer, Forensic Coordinator Tim Ifield alerts AC-12 to a possible miscarriage of justice.
My thoughts: Although I didn’t find it as strong as the previous two seasons, the writing is still sharp and this series remains one of the strongest in the genre.
The post November 4, 2023: The Crime Binge continues! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
November 3, 2023
November 3, 2023: Pizza Crawl!
It was a mini Stargate reunion of sorts last night as Robert C. Cooper, Alex Levine, Ivon Bartok and I assembled for a rare culinary journey – specifically, a pizza crawl that took us to four of Toronto’s top pizzerias.
The journey begins!
First stop was Prince Street Pizza, the latest addition to the Toronto pizza scene that, in keeping with its Big Apple roots, uses New York tap water in the preparation of its dough. We went with the slice they’re known for, the square original, as well as the spicy vodka square and the more traditional veggie for Akemi who joined us for our first stop only. Loved the kick of the pepperoni but have to admit I’m not as big a fan of the thicker crusted square cut. The spicy vodka was very subtle in flavor in comparison to its pepperoni partner so it didn’t really leave much of an impression. Akemi loved her veggie slice.
Our second stop was an old favorite, Super Point, where we stuck with the pepperoni theme but also tried the capocollo with hot honey. The latter was, I felt, the tastiest slice of the night.
Our third was Pizzeria Baldiari, a place that tops many of the experts’ and, going in, I had my doubts. We ordered the pepperoni, of course, and Ivon suggested coupling it with the Hawaiian – which I ate first because, as I sad at the time, I wanted to get it over with. BUT, I was pleasantly surprised. It was actually very good. But not as good as the pepperoni. The crust here was airy and crispy, superior to any of the others we had on the night.
Our fourth and final stop was, appropriately enough, Fourth Man in the Fire Pizzeria where we actually broke with tradition by actually sitting down and ordering a whole pepperoni pizza that we split between us. Hot and delicious. We ended our journey with a selection of donuts – an underwhelming chocolate, tasty original and Homer donut, and a terrific apple fritter.
In the end, although the Super Point capocollo with hot honey was my favorite slice of the night, we all agreed that the overall best pizza was Baldiari. But, to be fair, they were all excellent.
The post November 3, 2023: Pizza Crawl! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
November 2, 2023
November 2, 2023: Top 5 Kpop Songs of October, 20203!
Top 5 Kpop Songs of October, 2023
4. Off the Record – #IVE #아이브 #アイヴ
IVE have proven themselves one of the most consistent of the 4th Gen girl groups. #KpopTop10 pic.twitter.com/lUEuYSiv6C
— Joseph Mallozzi
Top 5 Kpop Songs of October, 2023
2. Howl – #CHUU #츄플입고
While I'll miss Loona, I'm heartened to see (and hear) Chuu has landed well. #KpopTop10 pic.twitter.com/hWMgStVIzf
— Joseph Mallozzi
Top 5 Kpop Songs of October, 2023
Honorable mentions: Hands Up by #NCTNewTeam and #EPEX with Full Metal Jacket.
Another lean month for me. Let's see what @CarrieCnh12 @TVWatchtower @MostlyUsesWords @HippyNinjaSimmy@TheRachaelE @lcshorten have to offer.#KpopTop10
— Joseph Mallozzi
The post November 2, 2023: Top 5 Kpop Songs of October, 20203! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
November 1, 2023
November 1, 2023: Amazing Covers!
A few that caught my eye this week…
Doctor Strange #9 – cover art by Alex Ross
Scarlet Witch #10 – cover art by Marc Aspinall
Spider-Boy #1 – cover art by John Tyler Christopher
White Widow #1 – cover art by Stanley “Artgerm” Lau
X-Men #28 – cover art by Miguel Mercado
Bad Karma – cover art by Tony Stella
The Sacrificers #4 – cover art by Max Fiumara
Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War – Scorched Earth #1 – cover art by Kendrick Kunkka Lim
Supergirl Special #1 – cover art by Will Jack
The Space Between #1 – cover art by David Mack
So, which were YOUR favorites?
The post November 1, 2023: Amazing Covers! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
October 31, 2023
October 31, 2023: The Crime Binge continues!
Blazing through this Crime Binge at a rate of a season of day. About to hit 46 shows….
The Woman in the Wall (2023)
Lorna Brady wakes one morning to find a corpse in her house with no idea who the dead woman is. She doubts herself, because she has long suffered from extreme bouts of sleepwalking.
My thoughts: A slow-moving mystery with a terrific protagonist in our sleepwalking Lorna Dane. Gets off to a strong start before eventually winding down to its unsurprising conclusion.
3.5/5
Line of Duty (2012-2021) Season 2
Three police officers are killed in an ambush and a protected witness is seriously injured, the only surviving officer is DI Lindsay Denton (Keeley Hawes), but suspicion soon arises and the team of AC-12 have more investigating work to do.
My thoughts: I was on the fence about this show after its first season, but pressed ahead with season 2 – and my patience was rewarded with a true gem of season. A fantastic twisty/turny edge-of-your-seat ride.
4.5/5
Happy Valley (2014-2023) Season 2
Drama set in Yorkshire about a troubled police sergeant coming face to face with her past.
My thoughts: I enjoyed the first season but found the plotting a little diffuse. Here, in season 2, the plotting is tighter and the characters are just as compelling.
4/5
La Mante (2017)
A serial killer, nicknamed ‘La Mante’ decides to collaborate with the police when a string of murders that copycat her style suddenly appear.
My thoughts: While the performances are top-notch, the plot turns are at times preposterous if not downright silly.
3/5
Peaky Blenders (2013-2022) Season 2
A gangster family epic set in 1900s England, centering on a gang who sew razor blades in the peaks of their caps, and their fierce boss Tommy Shelby.
My thoughts: Last year, I watched the pilot, but it didn’t grab me so I gave up on the show. I decided to give it another go for this Crime Binge and pushed through the first season. Again it didn’t grab me, but I admired the look of the show and pressed ahead with season 2. But after the opening episode, I had to tap out for the last time. Much respect for the production, but this one just isn’t for me.
3/5
I have about 120 shows to get through but if you have any recommendations for fantastic post-2010 (non-period, non-genre) crime shows, I’d love to hear ’em!
The post October 31, 2023: The Crime Binge continues! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
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