New Sanyo HDTV
Mood:  happy
Topic: TV

I have been wanting an HDTV set for quite some time. Problem was that they were so damn expensive. With the FCC promising that all over-the-air broadcasts will have to be digital by 2009, I was curious to see what all the fuss was about. For quite some time I have been watching all local channels via antenna. I don't use some fancy rooftop antenna. I use a 10-20 buck antenna. It worked fine. Well, not really. I was nearly unable to get NBC or CBS unless I messed around with the antenna a lot. I knew that with HDTV you either get the channel or not when using an antenna.

Today I bought a 19 inch widescreen HDTV for just under 300 bucks. First off, its light. Well that's to be expected since its an LCD monitor. After removing it from the box, I had it up an running in about 2-3 minutes. I just hooked up my cheapo antenna (available anywhere for about 10-20 bucks) and after a quick setup I was watching digital channels. Gone where the static lines and ghost images. The sound was much better too. I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to easily receieve HDTV programming via antenna. Well I guess if you can get a regular analog picture with your old TV and an antenna, there's a good chance you can receieve that local channel's digital offerings. I live between two local markets. So in order to get all the channels, the antenna needs some adjusting.

After testing things out a bit here are my findings:

I truly believe this will be the new (and only) format for getting over-the-air channels in the future. People shouldn't be afraid of the new technology either. Its great! The days of bad reception are over! Finally you can see a picture comparable or even better than what digital cable or DBS can provide. Best of all, your local networks are free! With some of the locals you get the regular broadcast channel in digital quality as well as a few other sub-channels. For example the Syracuse NBC local channel offers not only its regular channel in HDTV but a music channel and a weather channel! I am quite pleased with my purchase. If you've been thinking about upgrading to HDTV now just might be the time. At Wal-Mart, they finally have digital LCD TVs that are small (15 inches) for around 200 bucks. These sets have the new digital tuners right in them. Just hook up an antenna and you're ready to watch crystal clear digital broadcasts!

Nudity & Adult Language on Basic Cable
Topic: TV
Its refreshing to see that some of the nation's non-premium cable networks are offering more adult-oriented programming.

The last few years the television industry has been very cautious not to offend any one. With the the FCC crackdowns on what is or isn't considered indecent - edgy programming has almost disappeared from broadcast TV (NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, WB). Here's one example: "NYPD Blue" was tamed. "NYPD Blue", the show that used to air on ABC at 10pm, and featured brief nudity and adult language.

Luckily, a few of the cable networks have some adult oriented programming at night. Being an adult, its good that I have a choice to see this programming available to me.

FX features edgy series like "Rescue Me", "Nip/Tuck", "The Shield" and the upcoming "Over There". These shows feature brief nudity, violence, adult language and themes. There is a big warning screen before they begin to air. So there's the disclaimer to warn folks for children.

BBC America is also beginning to air some of the British shows in near or exact unedited form. For example, this past Sunday, a British series called "Footballers' Wives" began to air on BBC America. This series contains nudity and adult language.

There's even a show from Canada on the Oxygen TV network called "Bliss". This show tells stories about sex and features some nudity as well.

And even Comedy Central airs comedy specials and movies completely uncensored on Saturday Nights.

Its refreshing to see this type of programming finally being offered to Americans without a hefty premium movie channel fee. So if you're interested in some adult series - be sure to catch the shows mentioned above. Whoever says regular non-premium TV is without nudity or vulgar language obviously hasn't seen any of these shows.

Survivor: Palau Premieres
Now Playing: Chevelle - "The Clincher"
Topic: TV
Well last Thursday (Feb 17), the 10th season of Survivor premiered on CBS - Survivor: Palau. Wow 10 seasons? It seems like this reality show just started just 5 or so years ago - oh wait, it pretty much did. I passed on the first season, but really got into it on the 2nd - when it premiered after the Superbowl. That season is still my favorite.

Anyways, this season to change things up and keep things interesting, they started with 20 survivors. But only 17 were remaining at the end of the 1st episode? How'd they do that you ask? Well 2 contestants were thrown off the island by not getting picked for one of the 2 tribes. And then the 3rd was voted off in the first tribal council. This season seems like its going to be quite better than last year. The last few seasons I could barely remember, as they weren't very interested. Of course, there's a few people you can't forget like Johnny Fairplay, Rupert and the sexy Jenna (I'm talking about the one that posed for Playboy - not the one with the sex tape). There are a few girls that serve as nice eye candy this season as well. And already in the first episode there was a lot of blurring going on (to block out the nudity).

So I'm sure this season has quite a few surprises to keep us all tuning in each week - I sure hope so - there was one season I totally gave up on as it was such a bore. Is Survivor still entertaining? Sure, when done right.

Well I'm about to log off to watch SNL. Yeah, some weeks its painful to watch as there are quite a few unfunny sketches. But once in a while there's a memorable sketch. And I always did like the way the parodied current events and such.

The Surreal Life 4
Now Playing: Korn - "Another Brick in the Wall" (parts 1, 2, 3)
Topic: TV
Well its 2005 and I haven't made an entry in this blog in over a month! Soooo here's one...

I was channel surfing a few nights ago and noticed The Surreal Life 4 was airing on VH1. I was planning on watching this one from the beginning but I guess I missed the premiere episode. So I caught about the last 15 minutes of the first episode. What I saw was poor Verne Troyer (mini-me from Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me) drunk and naked. I kinda felt sorry for the little dude. He was so drunk he was peeing on the floor. Also on the show is one of the dudes off the Brady Bunch I think, 90s rapper Da Brat, some lady from an 80s band (I think), former female wrestler Chyna, the winner of the first America's Next Top Model (Adrianne I think her name is) and some other guy. Well based on the previews for the upcoming episodes it looks like it might turn out to be funny and fun to watch. It might be better than the last Surreal Life with Flavor Flav and the others. My favorite season so far was season 2 with Vanilla Ice, Ron Jeremy and the others.

Yeah, I Watch "America's Next Top Model"
Topic: TV
One of the shows I make sure I catch every week is America's Next Top Model on UPN. I've been watching it pretty much since it first started. This year most of the girls are good looking, but there are a few that aren't so great. I guess there's more to a model than just a really pretty face.

Eva is a bitchy black girl. Then there's a blind girl. Her chances might not be so good, and a few of the judges don't understand how she would be able to make it as a model since she'll be completely blind in the future. The blind girl accused Eva of stealing stuff from her and a huge argument broke out. Its kind of nice to watch girls compete with each other and argue with each other too.

Of course, there's a girl that has a eating disorder too. One of the sad things about the modeling world is some girls think they have to starve themselves to make it as a model.

This year there's even a big black girl that so far hasn't been kicked off. She's proving that you don't have to be thin as a rail to be a model.

There have been a few girls that got kicked off because the judges found out that overall the girls didn't even want to be a real model - one girl even admitted it and that got her ass kicked off quick.

LOL, look at me talking about this show non-stop. I guess that's why I consider it a guilty pleasure. I wouldn't want to admit to everyone that I'm so into it. This show has been more fun to watch than this year's Survivor. Survivor has been kind of boring this year, plus most of the young cute girls already got kicked off quickly. So I guess part of the reason I watch it is because of the cute girls, But this group of Survivors seem boring to me.

[America's Next Top Model airs Wednesdays on UPN]