Give Me That Old Time Television

One of the advantages to the recent digital tv switchover is that, much like cable, there is a greater variety of choices. (Unlike cable and other providers, it's free....with a converter box). What I've noticed in the time that I'm spending with television is that a variety of channels providing "classic" television has erupted.

With names like "Cozi-TV", "Me-TV", "Antenna TV" and "Retro TV", these channels might be seen to be a dumping ground - a great opportunity for purchasing low-cost content to show in between infomercials  (In fact, the target demographic seems to be aging Boomers and possibly aging Generation Xers). Some of the selections may be a bit obscure on other channels (Route 66? The Real McCoys?), but these channels deal heavily in nostalgia...and they do themselves a disservice, because they're a great education into how television used to be produced.

And no, that's not nostalgia from a guy who's being targeted by these shows. (I mean, let's face it, Cozi-TV has won my heart by mini-marathons of Lee Majors and Lindsay Wagner doing superheroic things in slow motion). In our current content-driven media culture, it would be easy for the younger set to get enmeshed in the high drama, overamped arcs, and continuity-driven storytelling, having done-in-one-episode stories seems exceptionally quaint...yet, there's a strength to the writing on several of these older shows. (There's also a greater flexibility in the performing - after all, two channels highlight the dramatic work of Bill Cosby - yes, I typed that out loud, and quite honestly, proved that he was more than the sweater-wearing pudding-pop salesman of the 1980s).

Ironically, these channels have me revisiting (in between writing bursts and job search efforts) two of my favorite shows: The Wild, Wild West and Ellery Queen...and has me appreciating the craft both shows bring. Neither one of them is "classic" television, and there's no whiff of nostalgia with Queen (I barely remember it as a child, and only began appreciating it via reruns on A & E in the 1990s), but both shows - much like the fare on current digital channels - demonstrate a kind of literacy that is largely absent from contemporary pop culture - concise plotting, well-drawn characters, and a willingness to engage the intelligence of the average viewer.

It's ironic - as I think about these channels, I'm reminded of summers with my paternal grandparents, where I would sneak downstairs while both napped, turn on the ancient black-and-white television (which needed to warm up first!) and watch reruns of shows on WGN and WFLD. It's great to know that some child, flipping channels, will now receive a pop culture education similar to my own.

Your Sunday Mashup Moment of Zen

Yes, folks, it's the House, MD/Cracker crossover we've all been waiting for!

(OK, I know it's from Blackadder III, and that I'm the only person I know that absolutely digs Cracker...but in other news, blogging pal Siskoid said some nice things about my webcomic. Go read it. Now).

Flying Just Like Rocky BalBoa

[Minor spoilers follow]

One of the advantages of being in the "job market" (and yes, you have helped me use the power of social media to get employed, haven't you?) has been the opportunity to catch up on many of the movies in my collection, as well as at the local library. (Well, that and Doctor Who.) Although I am following the admonition that "finding a job is a full time job" (I spend about 30 to 35 hours a week on that), sometimes, I need to take a break.

One of the movies that I've found particularly inspiring, believe it or not, is Rocky.

That's right, Rocky

Admittedly, there is a tinge of nostalgia - after all, I did have a Sylvester Stallone poster in my room when growing up. But the film itself....actually, it's a lot better than I expected and remembered.

Ironically, the original Rocky is not the traditional "underdog comes from behind to win" movie - in fact, much of the movie is a street-level examination of a man only learning his full potential. Rocky Balboa is....well, he's a mug; when he's not sparring at the local gym, or attempting to flirt with a worker at a local pet shop, he's an enforcer for a local crime boss. (Think "thumb breaking" not "cement overshoes"). When a more flamboyant boxer selects Balboa as an opponent for a bicentennial-themed fight (ah, yes, this was the 1970s, after all), Rocky finds himself with a unique opportunity to live up to his full potential.

And that's....well, for years I had poor memories of the film, believing that Rocky put his all into the fight....and lost, and that the message was that sometimes, even with a shot, you still lose. However, in a key scene, Rocky himself puts it into perspective: he doesn't expect to win, but to "go the distance". He isn't so much concerned with the outcome as the fact that, with this opportunity, he can focus on preparing himself physically and mentally for such a high-level fight.

And that's part of the outlook that I am trying to adopt with my job search: with two interviews in the past month (neither of which panned out), it means that I'm doing something correctly. It's meant pruning some job search resources which have done little (if anything) to move me forward. It's been taking honest feedback seriously, and being patient with those who provide...well, poor guidance. (So many people have sent me links to NPO.net when I've asked for contacts....but that only means that I need to use Linked In more effectively.) It also means taking on work which will potentially bring in some income while I continue to look, and which can serve as a side gig once I gain full time work

But like Rocky, my goal isn't the "big job" - it's going the distance and finding work which not only fits my talents, but also allows me to grow and develop. It's often not about winning so much as performing....and that, I can live with.

When Titans Meet: DOC SAVAGE - SKULL ISLAND

(Be sure to check out this week's episode of Zone 4, especially towards the end, where I give this book a brief shout-out.)

It was the best birthday present I purchased for myself, using some of the credit I earned from proofing reprints for Radio Archives. Part of Altus' Press' Wild Adventures of Doc Savage series of novels, their latest release - Doc Savage: Skull Island - is a pulp-filled, fun read, with the first-ever team-up of Doc Savage and King Kong.

Yes, you read that correctly - thankfully, this book written by Will Murray doesn't have even the slightest whiff of fan fiction. It's a great tale that focuses on the early years of Doc Savage, with a brief prologue and analogue happening in 1933, shortly after the events of The Man of Bronze and the end of the classic movie King Kong. (Yes, there's a rationale - both Doc and Kong made their debut in March 1933). Consisting of an extended flashback, the tale focuses on Doc and his father, Clark Sr., as they head out on the schooner Orion to Skull Island to find Stormalong Savage, the patriarch of the clan....and Doc's grandfather.

Combining a variety of genres (only in this book will you find tall tales mixed with references to Shakespeare and Sherlock Holmes), Doc Savage: Skull Island is a great exploration of the early years of Doc Savages that manages to explain much about the character....and yet still allow Doc to remain an air of mystery about him. (Unlike Phillip Jose Farmer's Escape from Loki, there isn't a false note about this). It's a great, rip-roaring adventure that manages to provide both Doc Savage - and Kong - a more strongly developed background, and the final third of the book is a relentless read - you won't be able to put the book down.

Soon, many of you reading this blog will be purchasing books for the beach, or for travel, or just for the sake of reading. In short, Doc Savage: Skull Island is a must-read, not just for fans of pulp literature....but for fans of just plain great reading.

Right Things & Wrong Reasons: A Review of THE INFORMANT

Sometimes - just sometimes - you look at a person's behavior and wonder "What's the deal? Why is that person acting in such a way?" Most films, when portraying malicious or erratic behavior, attempt to place some kind of rational explanation for it; others just let the cameras roll and allow the character to act in their natural environment, providing no answers but plenty of interesting fodder for thought.

The Informant, released back in 2003, is one such film. You've probably seen the DVD in bargain bins everywhere, but it's worth picking up - it's much better than you think.

Directed by Steven Soderberg, The Informant features Matt Damon at Mark Whitacre, a biochemist at ADM who finds himself becoming a "whistleblower" to the FBI around price fixing. However, it's much more complicated than that - I'm not being coy to avoid spoilers; the fact is that from beginning to end, The Informant provides a variety of twists, turns, and surprise revelations where the viewer never really knows where the plot will turn. Yet, at the same time, there's a fascination with Whitacre, as Damon provides a performance that will lead you to ask yourself, "What is Whitacre's deal?"

There's no straightforward answer to that question, which makes it all the more appealing. (And yes, it's based on the book by Kurt Eichenwald)

But it's the supporting cast that really brings the film to live - most notably Scott Bakula and Joel McHale as a pair of FBI agents. Providing a double act worthy of Robert Holmes, the two provide an interesting counterpoint to Whitacre, providing not just an appropriate audience reaction but also a great commentary on how this particular situation becomes increasingly complicated. (So much, in fact, that I would support a Bakula guest appearance on Community). You also have to appreciate a film that has some smart, almost snarky, casting (think Tom Smothers as the head of ADM). It's a comedy that gets most of its humor from its leads (especially Damon) underplaying their roles - there's no scenery chewing in this film at all, and the direction is solid from beginning to end.

Sometimes, people do the right thing for the wrong reason....The Informant is one of those films that suggests that at times, some individuals do right and wrong things for seemingly no reason at all. And that can make for fascinating viewing.

Review: DOCTOR WHO: PRISONERS OF TIME

[FULL DISCLOSURE: Complimentary electronic copies of issues one through three were provided for review. Thanks to Brant at Comic Related and Zone 4 for his assistance]

In this anniversary year of Doctor Who, IDW is publishing a 12-issue mini-series called Doctor Who: Prisoners of Time. It's a series that, obviously, celebrates the show - but more specifically, it's providing a really good read. In its first three issues alone, the series manages to not only serve as a great primer for classic Who...but contains some clever scripting by Scott and David Tipton

Focusing on one specific Doctor per month, Prisoners of Time begins with the premise that the Doctor is never alone - he always travels with companions. Focusing on an untold tale of each Doctor, Prisoners of Time serves to provide some great stand-alone tales, reflecting their eras and Doctors to near-perfection. (So much so, in fact, I half expected the first two issues to be published in black-and-white). All of them are great done-in-one issues that manage to subtly drive the overarcing plot without calling attention to it.

In fact (And this calls for some spoiler/speculation on my part), there are some incongruous plot elements in the first three issues that would make a hardcore Doctor Who fan complain loudly, possibly encouraging physical abuse by their more rational colleagues. However, I think these elements - on some level - are part of the overarcing story. I think it's deliberate, but only further issues will tell....

Artists have switched off for each issue, and that's actually a strength - they manage to bring off the feel not just of vintage Who, but of vintage Who comics (thankfully, the end of each issue brings a commentary on how the Doctor has been portrayed in comics within each era)....

Is this a perfect Doctor Who book? No, but it's got enough of the classic-era feel that it warrants reading for both new and old fans alike. 

Update: The HIRE ME, PAL! Initiative

I thought it was the craziest idea I ever had - create a social media campaign to not only sharpen my marketing skills, but also engage networks online. After all, if I could hear of how others received fame and fortune through social media, I could receive....a modicum of attention.

Simple, really - encourage people to share the link http://bit.ly/HireMePal (or my Linked In profile) on social media (using the #hiremepal hashtag on Twitter), and those who did would receive a free PDF e-book. (If you've done so and I've missed it, just leave a comment below). Although I haven't seen much traction (after all, it's been active for less than a month), I have had one interview, and a plethora of leads that I am pursuing....but I also have some observations and conclusions:

• For my non-profit minded friends; when I network and ask for contacts, please don't just send me NPO.net's job listings. I am well aware of them; what I'm looking for is to reach out to decision makers so that I can get the inside track. 
• Roger once asked why I wasn't hired yet - and sadly, many employers are choosing to delay new hires for a variety of reasons.
• Just a note - if you run a networking event, and you continually brag about the number of attendees over a certain amount (say, 100), you've just crossed the line to becoming a cocktail party. Nothing wrong with that, but as someone with limited resources, I'm looking to make connections, not meet a two drink minimum.
• Personal highlight: a recruiter reached out to me for a position in the northwest surburbs. I ask if it is accessible by Metra or Pace (i.e., public transportation). Via e-mail, I'm told "No, but would you be willing to purchase a car for a full-time job"? I'm not sure if this question is legal (the job involved no travel, and was strictly a 9 to 5 desk job) - any thoughts?
• For those who would state that "Finding a Job Is a Full-Time Job"....I broke down my efforts, and I'm spending 25 - 30 hours finding leads, following up, applying (including customizing my resume) networking and interviewing. Besides, I would rather place my efforts where they're needed than mindlessly spraying the Internet with resumes.
• For my local (and not quite local) pals who've sent me leads and opportunities - thanks. You have my eternal gratitude and I promise, once I'm employed, I will purchase for you the beverage of your choice. 
• By the way, I'm also available for freelance. For a career overview, you can visit http://www.gordondymowski.com
• Also, I do have some potential cool projects that I am waiting on, and I can't talk about them privately. Mostly because they're very tentative, but if they work out....who knows? But I'm keeping active in the meantime.

So I'm still in it to win it, and I'm seeking both freelance and full-time (would prefer the latter, but the former's nice). I'm looking for a social media position, preferably in non-profits and/or the comics and/or popular culture field. So please feel free to spread the word - simply write/podcast/blog/Tweet/engage online around http://bit.ly/HireMePal, and you'll get my eternal thanks, a free ebook....and the fact that you helped someone who is in their hour of need. 

Sunday Morning Blogaround

Increasingly, my days are becoming busier; spent all of this week prepping for a job interview where, within 24 hours, I was politely informed that they were moving forward with other candidates.

(Don't worry - I'll have a Hire Me, Pal! Initiative update tomorrow).

But that doesn't mean that several other cool things didn't happen - in fact, it's nice that although I'm posting this on a Sunday, rather than a Friday (and no, it's not because I only made a token appearance on this week's Zone 4), but it has been...well, my online profile has definitely improved.

• My monthly column for Comic Related focuses on one of my favorite shows, and this week, I'm hoping to write a special Doctor Who-themed post for later this month.
• This past week also saw the revival of Net2Chi (formerly, Chicago Net Tuesday) after, well, some benign neglect. You can read about what I did to prepare for Tuesday, as well as what we discussed on Tuesday
• After too long, a return to the Baker Street Blog, with a book that I strongly recommend you purchase

And with that, I'm off for a meeting working on a super-cool project, and remember: you'll get an update on the Hire Me, Pal! Initiative tomorrow!

Beware....THE IDES OF MARCH!

(Yes, I know I've used this joke before - I still think it's incredibly funny. Especially with Ryan Gosling)

Why I Love THE WILD WILD WEST

Only the late 1960's could an episode of a show - a Western with slight science fiction elements - contain

A chimp wearing a Civil War Uniform....

...a bar fight involving clowns....

....and a leading man who seems to be having fun while making this episode.

(Screencaps from the episode The Night of The Tyrant, the final episode of The Wild Wild West on the Complete Series boxed set. Only drawback to this episode: none of the whimsical charm of Ross Martin).

Signed, Epstein's Mom

No, I haven't forgotten about this blog - life has me doing various and sundry things, including prepping for an interview that is very promising, as well as pulp proofing and, well, keeping my focus on getting cool work.

On that note, I'll leave you with this - found via the Interwebs, and which I'll talk about in a later blog post. Enjoy!

Portrait of Power: HOUSE OF CARDS UK REMASTERED

(Full Disclosure: Thanks to BBC Home Entertainment for providing a complimentary copy for review. My opinions are my own, and some minor spoilers follow)

With recent focus on Netflix's release of the American House of Cards, it seems as if there is a renewed interest in the dynamics of power in government. Although I have not been able to check out the new version, I was fortunate enough to watch the new 4-DVD House of Cards: UK Remastered set....and it's a fascinating portrait of power run rampant.

Consisting of three four-episode miniseries (House of Cards, To Play the King, and The Final Cut), the set focuses on the rise and fall of Francis Urquhart (pronounced "irk-heart"), a Chief Whip who makes his way to Prime Minister. His rise is documented in House of Cards, which is structured like a contemporary political thriller, and thanks to Ian Richardson's performance....well, at the end we both cheer and mourn. In To Play the King, we see Urquhart take on the newly crowned monarch, and is a fascinating exploration of how a "constitutional monarchy" works. (We also see one of Urquhart's fatal flaws - he tends to place his trust indiscriminately, forcing him to drastic action). Finally, The Final Cut focuses on Urquhart struggling to maintain power, hoping to escape Margaret Thatcher's shadow while attempting to move on.

Although made in the 1990s, none of the House of Cards series seem dated - in fact, watched in contemporary times, they are a great exploration of alternative history. There's also an eerie prescience about them, especially with The Final Cut (although admittedly, some of the plot threads in that particular story are a little too convenient). Despite their British origins, there is something gleefully American in tone with all of the House of Cards series: all of them are hard-hitting, and quite honestly, show a bare-knuckled quality to the conflicts that....well, you're not going to find on Downton Abbey

It also helps that Ian Richardson's performance as Urquhart is top-notch: the way he addresses the camera (and audience) directly, shifting between reflectful monologue and co-conspirator. His onscreen relationship with his wife, Elizabeth (Diane Fletcher), whose dynamics reflect Lord and Lady Macbeth in a distinctly 20th century context. The variety of....well, they're not quite friends and allies. In fact, one of the themes of House of Cards is not just about the dynamics of power (and thankfully, Machiavelli is not cited until the last possible moments), but seems to suggest that British politics is less about discourse and more about asserting one's will. And in that, there are some key lessons for American politics.

Bonus features include commentary on the first episodes of all three miniseries, plus a discussion about a brief moment of controversy and a full-length documentary on Parliament. But it's the twelve hours of Urquhart - demonstrating how power can be used, abused, and eventually lost - that will keep you watching. Never mind that these episodes are almost twenty years old - they feel like they were made yesterday.

Watch these. Now.

March Birthdays Of Note

First, March is a very momentous month, as 80 years ago marked the first appearance of Doc Savage, perhaps the greatest of all pulp characters. Without him, it's safe to say, much contemporary popular culture would have a much different nature and character.

In other news, today is my birthday. Without me, it's safe to say, many of my friends....would probably less remarkably less interesting lives.

And now, back to following up on a promising job lead; if you would like to help, please visit http://bit.ly/HireMePal.

As always, thanks for your support!

Lost Tale of a Time Lord: DOCTOR WHO - SHADA

(Special thanks to BBC Home Entertainment for providing a complimentary copy for review. My opinions are my own)

With the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who, many fans (like me) assumed that BBC Home Entertainment would pull out the stops in reissuing classic episodes on DVD. So it was surprising that they led off 2013 with a rerelease of Shada, a story that was never completed - or released - in a three DVD set. But it really shouldn't be, because for Who fans, Shada provides a treasure trove of delights

Since the story was never completed, the first DVD is a remastering of the 1992 VHS release, where Tom Baker provided narration and links for unrecorded footage. The story itself - written by Douglas Adams - is really not that solid, but does contain some great footage of Cambridge as well as some extremely well-written moments. (Adams later disavowed the story, and integrated several story elements into his Dirk Gently series). Reconstructions (both fan-made and past BBC releases) can be a bit of a difficult watch, and Shada is one of the easier episodes to watch....but the best way to experience the story is, ironically, to read Gareth Roberts' recent novelization. (Thankfully, one of the benefits of Shada is that when the first disc is inserted into your computer, you get to see a later version of the same story - done in Flash animation - featuring Paul McGann and Lalla Ward.)

What lifts Shada beyond the usual release is that it provides a great deal of information - much like other Who releases, there is a strong sense of value for the money. Disc Two features several featurettes, including one about the "making and breaking" of the story; the other about how strikes and "industrial action" have frequently influenced how Who was made during the classic era. An exploration about how Verity Lambert - Doctor Who's first female producer - may have influenced perceptions of gender on the show rounds out Disc 2.

Disc Three contains several really good Who-related items, including 1993's More Than 30 Years In The TARDIS, the 30th anniversary "special" which does more than narrate the history of the show; it creates a child's eye view of how (and why) the series has had such an impact. The highlight (for me, at least) is Remembering Nicholas Courtney, a half hour biography of the Who actor containing his last interview from 2010, as well as a general career overview. (Much like Paul Newman in The Road to Perdition, there's an incredible amount of pathos in the work). Combined with some other featurettes (including a really good short about female villians in Who), this disc really lifts Shada from being simply "another reissue" to "a really critical DVD to own".

Lost stories often get short shrift, and Shada is no exception. One might think that three DVDs for an unreleased story from the 1970s might be a bit overkill.....but BBC Home Entertainment proves with its Shada release that three DVDs just isn't enough.

Essential viewing.

Soft End to a Hard Week

Things have been....well, this week started a bit dramatically.

First, there's no more "potential plus one". There had been a candidate (which I left off the blog because, well, you read this blog for snarky comments about comics and popular culture, not romance), but it's not happening.

In addition, Mom's cat Smokey passed on Monday. These things are rarely easy to talk about, but at the very least, he passed with a minimum of pain.

In happier news, had a promising phone screen that led to scheduling a potentially promising phone interview on Monday, so my weekend will be spent prepping for that. But don't let that stop you from participating in the Hire Me, Pal! Initiative - for more information, visit http://bit.ly/HireMePal

Finally, there's this week's Zone 4, where we talk about a variety of news items, and I chew out one of my co-hosts for disrespecting a comic character. Meaning - I'm starting to slowly, but surely, get back to a somewhat normal mode of operating.

But enough of my blogging - I have some DVDs to watch thanks to BBC Home Entertainment. (Which will lead to, obviously, more blogging)