Friday, March 26, 2004

SOPRANOS WRAP UP


“Where’s Johnny?”

Plot:


Well that little devil David Chase sure is having fun with episode titles. The first one of this season was called “Two Tonys” which would have one think that the show was going to be about Tony’s relationship with his cousin (a character introduced this season) Tony. However the title of the show was from a line that Tony used to describe his how his family life was different from his other family life. One would have thought from the chain of events so far this season that Johnny would have been Johnny Sacks who is the most likely to get clipped this season. However it was Tony’s long departed father who was dead long before the series even started.

So far this was my favorite one of this season (although many disagree) because of the emotion and drama in the show. Okay so not much really happened. Uncle Junior really sunk into his Alzheimer’s and went out wondering aimlessly. He experienced common symptoms like referencing people that have been long gone. He went out looking for his brother who was Tony’s father in his bathrobe and slippers.

Eventually is returned home and Tony feels bad for getting pissed at him when he realizes Uncle Junior didn’t realize he was being a prick lately.

Meanwhile Tony B and Robert Loggia’s character (forgive me I was going to start using his name but IMBD crashed and I don’t know it) go out for a Sunday drive only to have Loggia beat the leaving crap out of landscaper. He tells the guy that is isn’t his terrority to be doing work. This spawns a war between Loggia and Paulie Walnuts about who should cut whose lawn and where. Things get ugly and Tony Soprano has to step in.

Meanwhile Bobby starts to realize at least I think that Janice is just married to him to use him as a pawn. She forces him to ask Tony for more earning jobs. She is also a bitch to him regarding Junior.

Meanwhile Artie and Tony patch things up. Artie was supposedly still mad after Tony lent him money and things went wrong. This was nice cause I wanted the two to be friends again. However if this is supposed to be like a year later or more don’t you think Tony would have been trying all that time? Like made numerous efforts since they were likely at the same parties and dinners to make amends? Artie must have been REALLY mad if he didn’t talk to him for over a year, than all of the sudden in like two seconds Artie not only forgives him but wants to move in with him? Hell I didn’t even know Artie was still mad at him till “The Rat Pack”, but now they are friends again so what was point? There could have just eliminated the casual reference to it in the “The Rat Pack” and made the conversation different in “Where’s Jonny?”.

Anyway the only other notable thing was Chris running his mouth at a sit-down that pissed off Johnny Sacks and pissed off Tony even more who told him to keep his mouth shut during the sit-down.

Predictions:

Tony will bang a chick



Body Count: 3
“EL PLATO LOCO LA NOCHE?”

So big JR came back last night but it didn’t matter because the Flyers played awful. Anyway that wasn’t the biggest thing that happened last night. Liza and I got takeout from EL PLATO LOCO. EL PLATO LOCO is a Mexican restaurant that opened down the street from my house.

Now keep in mind I don’t really care for Mexican food, but I have grown a morbid curiosity if this business succeeds or not. Everyday after work I pass by and count heads. I haven’t ever seen more than about 3 groups of people there. Usually its only two small groups.

So we order take out so we could watch the Flyers game. When we meet up with one of the workers she was al excited and went to hand us a menu. She had no idea I guess that we were the same people that had placed an order about 15 mins ago. I almost felt like ordering up another meal. The place was empty. I saw just one guy sitting with a friend who might have been the owner.

I liked the food about as much as I can like Mexican food. Maybe the place just does lots of take out? I really don’t think anyone knows they are there. They should put and AD in the Courier-Post or at least put their menus in the doors of the neighborhood houses. They just got a new sign I hope they can afford it.

Drew, Jay I know you like Mexican food next time you are over Duke’s just call (856) 435-6555 I can you get you guys a menu if you want. You can order up some Mexican food made by actual Mexicans and help some Mexican guy achieve the American dream of owning your own business and having it succeed.

Just do it for the bored Mexican guys.


Thursday, March 25, 2004

“You Ought to Be in Commercials”


Well I am woefully behind on the hot topics in the White House race. Once in awhile at this Blog I dip into politics only to get emails from a certain South Jersey law student who debates what I say and instant messages from a certain “Reverend” who tells me how wrong I am on everything from any topic from A-Z. So I am going to tackle the hot story of a few weeks ago.

Since Kerry is now officially up to the challenge to take out Bush the whole election race is really heating up. Bush came under fire recently for his political commercials. Bush used the aftermath of 9/11 and how he kept the country united (although only briefly he didn’t mention) against terrorism. From the commercial I saw it showed images off flags being hung right after the attack on the US.

Now I was greatly affected by the events of 9/11 as was every American. To this day I still have recurring dreams about the horrific incidents, but I can’t imagine what is was like to lose someone that horrible day 2 and half years ago. That being said I certainly can’t get into their mindset. Obscene amounts of fireman were lost that day. However a lot has changed since Bush put his arm around the one fireman and shouted into a megaphone. The NYC fireman union has come out in support for democrat John Kerry.

Many of the democrats and fireman were horrified that Bush would use images (although I didn’t see any shots of the Towers in flames just sentimental patriotic stuff and sad music) or mention the events. Now in Bush’s defense he will forever be remembered for being the 9/11 president good or bad. One of the most important moments in American history happened on his watch and all he was trying to say is that he did a good job handling the situation and that’s why he should be able to sit in the White House for another 4 years.

Now I run the risk of looking like a “right wing whacko” by kicking dirt in the face of the media again, and I am sure my harping on them can make me come off as a cook sometimes. However how can the most media outlet even sleep at night? For months after 9/11 cable channels and newspapers used actual images of people running for their lives, the towers going down, balls of fire and told us we should tune to their station because they did such a great job covering the events of 9/11. Telling us how important is now to have your TV turned on their network and read their endless web-crawl. Flipping the channel might make you miss why and how you and your loved ones are going to poisoned by Anthrax or blown to bites by some crazy Arab.

The Courier-Post actually used a ball of fire coming out of the WTC as their logo for the War on Terror articles for about an entire year. They also were counting the number of the days of the War on Terror was on. I guess when they realized that the war could wage for ages they decided to stop counting (they replaced the image right around the anniversary with a flag). But honestly all they were doing is telling us how well they did under pressure the same thing Bush did.

Now I am not really a big fan of any union leader telling their workers who they should and shouldn’t vote for. Granted often times they have a reason to benefit their workers in the long run if someone is elected, but honestly that shouldn’t be any of the union leaders business who their workers vote for. Perhaps they have other reasons to vote for that candidate and many instances bully people or flat out threaten people to vote a certain way.

With all do respect to the people who lost their loved ones on 9/11 is it really any different when the democrats talk about 9/11 or give examples of how Bush fouled up? All 3 debates are going to include discussion about 9/11 and order to Bush to win an election he has to convince the American people that he is the man to have running the country in a post 9/11 world. So how he is supposed to acheive this?

I almost don’t think as many democrats were as “offended” as they say they were and almost would go as far as to say the fireman who are speaking out are being used as pawns to a certain extent.

It is going to be un ugly elections with a lot of ugly issues. Now if Bush was showing planes slamming into the sides of the WTC than I would have a problem with it, unless I saw a different commercial than what was so hot a topic. I am sure it is just as rough for the people who lost loved ones in the war in Iraq who will be told maybe not directly but clearly by democrats and critics of Bush how their loved ones died for no good reason.

Sunday, March 21, 2004

Soprano Wrap-up

Okay in an attempt to keep this “project” from failing after only one week I am swiftly posting a recap and thoughts of last week’s Sopranos less than 60 minutes before a new show airs.

“The Rat Pack”


The NARRATIVE

By the fact they call they mobsters out of prison the class of 2004 we can assume that they all lost an entire years of their lives. Somebody call Mulder and Scully of the department of continuity of television.


THE PLOT
Tony’s cousin Tony B. Is now out of jail so Tony throws a party from him. Tony is nice enough to give him some action in the stolen air bag business but he declines in favor of going straight and starting his own masseuse business. The two cousins butt heads when Tony S thinks this cousin is making fun of him. Not to mention he doesn’t appreciate him rubbing down wiseguys at the bada bing.

Meanwhile Carmella starts a film club that watches AFI’s best films in backwards order for some reason. The 2nd week goes awry when Tony takes back components for the home entertainment theater. Adriana almost breaks down when she drinks too much and enters the crazy circle. She practically spilled the beans about being “flipped”.

Speaking of being flipped the FEDS heated things up last week. Apparently, the famous recession speech from the start of last season was bugged by some old guy. My memory is foggy if we ever saw him on the sh ow before. The FEDS think they have enough to put Tony on trial but don’t want to just yet till they figure out how the jurors were corrupted in the Uncle Junior case.

To make matters worse one of Tony’s “associates” is trying to help him and is nice enough to give him a rat pack painting. However Patsy bring evidence to the table that Tony’s buddy is working for the FEDS. Tony ponders his move and by the shows end Tony’s friend’s corpse is in the back of a car.

Meanwhile Carmine kicks the bucket and Johnny Sacks is happy. Maybe he had him in his internet death pool but its more likely that he sees it as a chance to take over the New York family. Little Carmine doesn’t seems to think he should get the job and not Johnny Sacks. The two get into a fight at Carmine’s funeral and Tony knows he will have to take sides soon.


What Does Tucker Think Will Happen?

Well since everyone will read this after the show aired you can tell right away if I was wrong. Procrastination does have its perks.

Uncle Junior will got crazy and wonder like I do when I drink. He will come close to meeting the reaper but won’t. Adriana will break down to the wrong person. Tony will take Little Carmine’s side and plot against Johnny Sacks. Meanwhile Robert Loggia’s character will be developed more than learning he likes dandelions.

Season 5 Body Count: Three