The Final Season of Dexter

I finally got around to watching the first episode of the final season of Dexter. It's been more difficult than usual, as I no longer have Showtime and must resort to searching through unreliable online streaming sites for my protagonist serial killer fix. If you don't have Showtime and can make it through a large quantity of bleeped out swears and pixelated nudity, then you can actually watch the season premier on Showtime for free. Check that out here.

With Dexter, you can usually tell by the end of episode one whether or not the season is going to be great or terrible. Assuming this pattern holds true, we're in for quite the season, as the first episode showed a lot of potential for a great series wrap up. There were a few twists and turns in the premier, and I don't want to undermine the thrill of finding them for yourself, so I won't go into detail. I will say, however, that I really like where this story line is going. The plot appears to indicate a full-circle type ending, full of flashbacks and backstory revelations. In a show that relies heavily on narration and deep character development, I believe that this is a brilliant way to close things out.

Perhaps what I'm looking forward to most this year is the prospect of Dexter dying. The risk you run, when naming a show after the main character, is introducing a certain level of predictability. You can't exactly kill a character named Dexter and continue to pump out new seasons of a show named Dexter. This being the final season, however, there are no more rules. The internet is buzzing with predictions for the final episode already. Will Dexter be killed? Will Deb turn him in? Will he learn how to stop killing? Maybe he'll get away with it all? There are a lot of options and plenty of possibility for greatness. Let's hope we walk away from it all with a level of satisfaction rather than disappointment. I'm looking forward to episode 2, which will air Sunday at 9pm on Showtime. Stay tuned for more Dexter discussion, and feel free to voice your own opinions in the comment section.

The Office Series Finale

The series finale of The Office airs tonight. Love it or hate it, there is no denying that The Office is one of the most iconic television shows of all time. I admit, I have both loved and hated The Office, myself, depending on what day you ask me. Part of me thinks it's overly simplistic and repetitive. The other part of me needs a little simplicity every now and then and thoroughly enjoys the show. There is no denying the potential for some pretty funny and creative story lines from time to time. No matter how you feel about the show, you should absolutely tune in tonight to watch it all come to an end. Whether they wrap it up brilliantly, like fellow NBC sitcom, 30 Rock or leave something to be desired like former NBC smash hit, Seinfeld, it is going to be something people talk about for years to come, and you're not going to want to be the one person who is left in the dark.

The night kicks off at 8 PM ET with a one hour look back at the nine-year series run entitled "The Office Retrospective." There will be guest appearances by Steve Carell, Ricky Gervais, and more, and it's sure to be an emotional send off. Following the recap, the series finale will air at 9 PM ET and will last a full hour. I'm curious to see how the writers will attempt to wrap everything up. I'm also interested in trying to see emotion on the actors' faces as they say goodbye to their other family and their home away from home in Scranton, PA. Should be a good time.

Fight Master: Bellator MMA

Bellator MMA has come a long way recently, moving into the Spike TV slot once UFC made it's move to Fox. The quality of fighting is right up there with UFC (well not quite, but probably the next best thing) and the fights, themselves, are extremely entertaining. Following in the footsteps of the extremely popular The Ultimate Fighter series, Bellator is launching an MMA reality show of their own, entitled "Fight Master: Bellator MMA." The show seems to be a combination of its counterpart, TUF, and NBC's The Voice, where fighters will have the opportunity to pick their coaches and their opponents. The cast, which will consist of 32 Welterweights, has been announced in a promo released by Spike TV. Check out the video below. Anybody got an early favorite?

Fight Master: Bellator MMA

Is Vice The Best News Show Of All Time?

Is Vice the greatest world news media outlet of all time? If not, who is? I'll wait...

...That's what I thought. Not only does Vice find some of the most fascinating and under-reported stories in the entire world, but they also have a knack for taking chances and providing their audience with an insider approach that can't be found anywhere else. What began as a Canadian-based, government-funded magazine, has blossomed into one of the most popular multimedia, multi-platform news outlet in the world.

Their most recent project/development was the Vice television show on HBO. This half hour show airs Fridays at 11pm, and tomorrow marks the half way point of their inaugural season. Each episode features two to three stories, or segments, which range from child soldiers in the Taliban to an epidemic that Vice refers to as the 'Chinese Cockblock'.

The reporters, including Vice co-founder Shane Smith, are equal parts brave, intelligent, and downright heroic, as they boldly go where no reporters have gone before. Okay well maybe not no reporters, but it made for a pretty cool sentence so I just went for it. If you are a representative for Vice, feel free to quote me on the aforementioned line.

Okay, I'm getting off topic. The bottom line is this! Vice is outstanding, and you should watch it! The truth is, Vice scares the shit out of me. The reporters seem to be in constant danger. Whether they're dealing with the most dangerous people on earth or simply dealing with self proclaimed 'sane' people who very clearly are not, I am in constant fear for the reporters' lives. Truthfully, that is the best praise I could give to Vice and, in my opinion, gives you plenty of reason to check it out. The website is www.vice.com, and you can find all you need to know about the HBO show here.

If you're looking for a sample, check out the preview of episode 5, airing tomorrow at 11pm on HBO, below.

Sopranos Saturday: Best Cameos

Ah, cameos. The short, but sweet, appearances by our favorite characters in random television shows/movies. There were a number of surprising/awesome celebrity cameos in the Sopranos, but these were, in my opinion, the top three. Check it out!

3. Will Arnett as the FBI agent's wife

This is the apitomy of a great cameo. A completely unexpected actor in a totally random role on a popular TV show. If you don't remember Will Arnett scoring a gig on the Sopranos, you're not alone. He played the husband of the FBI agent who went undercover to befriend Adriana. Don't believe me? Look for yourself! 

2. C.S. Lee as Tony Soprano's doctor

This is such an obscure cameo, that I couldn't even find a picture of the actor in the show. C.S. Lee, an actor best known for playing Masuka on Dexter, apparently started his career off as Tony Soprano's doctor after he got shot by Uncle June. If you've ever wondered why Masuka makes so many dirty, distasteful jokes, it probably has something to do with the enormous pressures that come with keeping a mob boss alive after a devastating gun wound. Talk about stress, huh?

1. Michael Kenneth Williams in the project building 'safe' house

"Come at the king, you best not miss." Good point Omar. Even if the "king" in this scenario is a low life who lives in the projects with an especially talented chess player for a daughter. It's worth mentioning, however, that I do not endorse her dismantling of Jackie Junior's intellectual pride right before he took a bullet to the head. That's really messed up, Chalky White's daughter... really messed up...

Sopranos Saturday: Worst Characters

Okay, okay. Enough with the positivity. It's time to talk about the worst characters from the Sopranos. This list was extremely easy to make and I couldn't imagine how anybody could disagree. Strangely enough, however, I looked up a number of other 'top five' lists and found that many of my worst characters were actually listed among other list's best characters. Make no mistake, the people in this list absolutely suck. 

5. Big Pussy

You will come to discover a common trait shared by all of these characters. They have the most punchable faces in television history. Big Pussy is named Big Pussy. That should be enough right there. He is also the first major character to become a snitch for the FBI. The fact that he was so proud of himself for snitching and felt like a 'real cop' made him so much more hateable.

4. Artie Bucco

Artie Bucco is the definition of a loser. The other characters in the show talk about him like he was so cool when they were growing up, but I just can't picture that. He strikes me as the type of guy that tries so hard to fit in with the group, but never truly earns their respect. He's by far the creepiest with Soprano girls and he let's his emotions get the best of him far too often. 

3. Ralphie Cifaretto

Ralphie is the worst! Well, not literally as he is only number three on the list. But Ralphie is pretty damn close to being the worst! Between bad jokes and a big mouth that ultimately got him killed, Ralphie was one of the few whacked characters who I didn't feel bad about at all. He had to go.

2. Paulie Gualtieri

Paulie was the biggest shocker on those other countdowns I mentioned above. He was almost universally selected as one of the best character in the show. That blew me away. I thought for sure he would be one of the most hated. Paulie is so annoying. Every once in a while, he'll make me laugh. That is the only reason he isn't number 1 on this list. Nevertheless, he comes in at number two, and is well deserving of the ranking. Truly awful.

1. A.J. Soprano

When he's not yelling at his parents or acting like a spoiled brat, he's crying. A.J. is my pick for the absolute worst character in the show. First of all, the kid is a bad actor. In his defense, it's difficult to stick with the same child actor for practically 7 seasons. The struck gold with Meadow Soprano, but A.J. didn't work out as well. Equally hateable is A.J.'s various hairstyles throughout the show. The worst one is pictured above. The chin strip look in the final season is arguably just as bad, however. A.J. sucks; plain and simple.

Sopranos Saturday: Best Characters

The next list will countdown the top five best characters from the Sopranos. This list was extremely difficult, as there have been a number of major and minor characters who have made a profound impact on one of the best shows on television. Here's the list.

5. Christopher Moltisanti

It took me a while to get used to Chris, but he definitely emeraged as one of the best characters in the show. He dances the line between authority and immaturity beautifully. He's also responsible for some of the funniest lines in the show. Of the top of my head, his line about getting the 50 cent movie for free at the car wash was definitely one of the funniest on the show. Chris's newest money venture involves being the spokesman for 1800 Tequila. So remember, if you're pouring your own shot with an 1800 bottle, you're probably supporting the mob in some way.

4. Furio Giunta

Going against my general rule of never trusting a man with a ponytail, Furio is a shoe-in on any top five list. Introducing a character from the old country adds some perspective on the ridiculousness of many of the Italian-American traditions. Furio was eager to get his hands dirty and never backed down from a Tony Soprano order. Plus, he flirted with the idea of hooking up with the Boss's wife. Biggest badass on the show, without question.

3. Silvio Dante

Take a good look at the face directly above this sentence. That is the face of loyalty. A little uglier than you expected? No matter! Silvio is the only one of Tony's top guys who didn't stray from his side at one point or another. Chris made that oddly specific movie plot, Bobby remained loyal to Junior, and Paulie often gossiped with Johnny Sack and Carmine. Not Sivlio though! Loyal to the very end. In an underworld where all the rules have gone to shit, this is a highly respectable attribute.

2. Tony Soprano

Tony Soprano is your quintessential protagonist. Was he perfect? No. Could you justify and relate to every decision he made? Yes. That's the true testimate of a main character. A great combination of intimidating, sentimental, hilarious, and depressing, Tony brought a certain lovable innocence to the Mob Boss role. The Sopranos wouldn't be the same without Tony at the helm.

1. Corrado 'Junior' Soprano

Junior is my favorite character, by far. Pound for pound, the funniest guy on the show, Juniors clever, fast-talking whit combined with his out-dated, old school mentality made him a fan favorite. He always seemed to working out some master plan in the earlier seasons. When his health began to deteriorate in the later seasons, he became an adorable old man. His unexpected relationship with characters like Bobby and the Asian mental patient, Junior was an oddball in every sense of the word. Great character on a great show.