Nay, indeed, if you had your eyes, you might fail of
the knowing me: it is a wise father that knows his
own child. Well, old man, I will tell you news of
your son: give me your blessing: truth will come
to light; murder cannot be hid long; a man’s son
may, but at the length truth will out.

– The Merchant of Venice

We’re getting close to a serious confrontation between Will and Ingram.  Will continues to update Ingram on his latest discoveries in his investigation and Ingram seems less and less interested in hearing them.  Will’s taunting question, “Who do we work for?” hangs in the air and requires repetition before Ingram finally answers it, with perhaps the most unconvincing attempt at a platitude of all time: “The United States Government.”  Will follows that with another impertinent (yet pertinent) question: “How do you know?”  Again, Ingram avoids answering

Will is getting more bold in pursuing his investigation now, taking it right into Spangler’s own files, but he better be careful.  The FBI lockdown of API shows a few important things: (1) Someone outside the agency is watching API; (2) Spangler is not as powerful as he thinks he is;   (3) Whoever is bugging Will’s office is very good.  My vote for #3 is Ingram.

Meanwhile bugs are also being planted at Catherine’s place and she apparently leaves it for good in this episode.  Can’t tell where she’s headed.

I’m not sure what to make of the polygraph tests administered by the FBI.  We don’t get to find out much about the results, except that Grant is clearly stepping out on his wife or wants to very badly, while at the same time he wants to convince the whole world that he would never do such a thing.  He is deeply troubled, but it’s hard to tell if that’s because he has now been discovered, or if he has just now discovered this about himself.  Either way, he’s pretty messed up.  Miles is a wreck over the lost file, his separation and the translation chick.  Who would have thought that Tanya would end up being the most stable person on Will’s team?

Look to the ant, thou sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise,

 which, having no guide, overseer or ruler,

 provideth her meat in the summer and gathereth her food in the harvest.

-Proverbs 6

Well, if things weren’t weird between Will and Maggie before, they are now.  What a nightmare for her.

And what is the deal with Ingram?  There may be few things creepier than that guy’s offer of “help.”  I’m pretty sure Will shouldn’t trust him, but there’s a limit to what Will can do about it when Ingram is his boss.  I’m not inclined to believe Ingram’s tip that Will should focus on Roy rather than Bloom, but Ingram may be tossing Will a real piece of info in order to gain his trust.  I can’t decide if I think Ingram is offering to help Will at the direction of Spangler, or if he’s playing his own game, but something’s not right.

I’m guessing that the guy that was tailing Will was working for Spangler, but I don’t think Will’s idea of taking a photo of him is going to make a big difference.  They’ll just put a different guy on him.  Will may be able to find out who the guy is, but if he’s freelancing, so what?  All he did was tip off the bad guys that he’s now packing heat. 

The scene between Miles and the interpreter was fascinating.  Not only because their interaction was interesting, but because George’s speech she translated from the surveillance of his son’s wedding was incredibly touching, and seemed to be directed right at Miles.  What an amazingly well-written scene.  Just beautiful.

Meanwhile Katherine is making as much progress in her investigation as Will is making in his.  In fact, they arrive at the info on Atlas McDowell practically simultanneously.  That’s ironic when you consider the resources that Will has at his disposal, but perhaps Katherine has an advantage because she has no other time commitments and practically unlimited money.  They should really team up, and I bet they do in the next episode.  Look for them to find out what Atlas McDowell does.  My prediction?  It’s nothing good.

There died a myriad

And of the best, among them,

For an old bitch gone in the teeth,

For a botched civilisation.

                     -Ezra Pound

AMC appears to have scored another hit with its new series Rubicon.  If you haven’t been watching, it might be a good idea to start now and avoid having too far to catch up.  This show is similar to Mad Men in one way: it moves at a languid pace.  Some have complained that the pace is too slow and is making the show dull.  But for those who like puzzling out the intricate webs of this story as it spins its twisty way through intrigue and murder in the intelligence community, nothing could be more engrossing.  The pacing of this show is deceptive because it can lull you into thinking that not much is happening, but the beauty of the show is in the details and the small clues, which are actually revealed in quite rapid fire fashion. 

The characters are as complex and compelling as any on television and the acting is top notch, as AMC has staffed the show with recognizable talent from stage and screen.  James Badge Dale (previously seen on The Pacific) stars as Will Travers, a guy who just happened to lose his entire family on 9/11.  Coping with that tragedy is made no easier when his father-in-law and boss is killed in an apparent accident.  Will is tapped to replace him but begins to discover evidence that the accident was not so accidental.

Is anyone watching this show?  If so, what are your theories on where the conspiracy is headed?

Kent started things off with a great Bollywood routine with All-star Lauren Gottlieb. I’m not a huge fan of Bollywood, but this one was fun and Kent really danced it well.  I’ve always been a fan of Lauren G. and I’m glad she was an all-star this season, along with Neil.  Some of my favorite routines are from the two of them, and it was so cool that they recreated “Night of the Dancing Flame” last week.  Now if they will just do “The Way I Are.”  I don’t think Bollywood routines get you many votes that you weren’t going to get anyway, but it was a very fun routine.

Lauren and Twitch were up next with a Hip Hop routine from Tabitha and Napoleon. Maybe we should just end the discussion right there, because when you get Twitch and Nappy Tabs, the dance gods are really looking out for you and you know it’s your night. Lauren took the ball and scored. Butts were kicked. The judges gushed. Game over.

Kinda like this one from last season:

Next, Robert and all-star Mark danced a (purportedly) Jazz routine by Tyce. I couldn’t get past the song choice. Devo’s “Whip It” is such a cliche at this point that I really wondered why anyone would bother doing a dance to that tune, but I have to say that it won me over. The costumes were cool, the moves were awesome and Mark and Robert looked like they were built in the same laboratory. It turned out very cool. Still, if you’re going to do Devo, please choose another song.

Next round: Robert and Lauren were first with a contemporary piece by Dee Caspary which utilized a pillow as a prop. I’m not a fan of props, usually, and this one looked like it was going to be awkward, but it really worked. the whole dance just flowed like they were dancing while dreaming on the pillow. Loved it. So did the judges. Again, Lauren showed some fantastic stuff and Robert was right there with her. They both looked like winners in this piece.

Lauren then had to change fast because she was up next with Kent in a Jazz routine by Mandy Moore. It was fun but kinda silly, especially coming right after the cool contemporary routine. Mandy got dissed by the judges but the dancers stood up for her. Bottom line, it didn’t impress anybody. Again, awkward 80s song choice. Huey Lewis, really?

Kent then bounced back from goofyville in a dance with Allison which was a contemporary routine by Stacey Tookey. I have mixed feelings about this one because I thought it was well acted by the dancers and Kent especially, but I thought his movements seemed jerky and rushed compared to Allison’s. The judges lost their minds over it, with Adam going completely overboard and proclaiming that Kent somehow “became an artist” during the dance. I like Kent a lot but the dialogue between the two of them took a left turn into ludicrous at that point. Whatever. It was a good routine, but mostly because of Allison, in my opinion.

The last round started off with Robert and Kathryn dancing a Broadway routine by Spencer Liff.  If you haven’t seen this yet, make sure you watch it.  If you have seen it, go back and watch it again.  These two have been together a lot and they have crazy chemistry.  Couple that with off the charts choreography that just nailed the piece of music dead on and you have a perfect example of two red hot dancers hitting their stride.  Unfortunately, the routine was partly overshadowed by the nerdy catfight between Adam and Nigel over whether the song was included in the stage version of West Side Story, or if it was only in the movie.  Adam won the fight but by then we had forgotten about the dance.  I still think there’s something going on between Robert and Kathryn, but they were just both dead solid perfect here.

Lauren was up next with the designated hitter on all things ballroom: Pasha.  They performed a Cha Cha by Tony and Melanie that still has the place smokin’.  If there is any justice, Lauren took the brass ring with this dance.  It was that good.  And coming on top of her hip hop routine and the pillow dance it should make her victory a lead pipe cinch.  The judges did everything except crawl onto the stage and kiss her feet.  Adam almost began reciting poetry: “If music were turned into a person, it would be you.”

But anticlimactically, there was another dance left to go.  Kent and Robert were up for one of those dance fights that the show keeps doing, but which has never really been done as well as when Michael Jackson did it in the 80s.  Apparently, this one was called a Malevos Fight, and was choreographed by Miriam and Leonardo.  That hardly matters, though, because it didn’t do much for either Kent or Robert, though to me Robert seemed to dance it a little better.  It just didn’t seem very much like a fierce, aggressive dance, which was I think what it was supposed to be.

Game. Set. Match. Lauren.

Any of the three could justifiably win this thing because they’re all great, and Kent could easily sneak in for the win with the 16 yr old girl vote, but Lauren deserves it more and even Robert danced better than Kent last night.  I’m predicting a Lauren win.

I also thought it was interesting that Lauren said her favorite dance was the prom dance (“Collide”) with Kent.  I think that’s probably mine too.  The Judges appeared to have completely run out of superlatives for this group some time ago and have now resorted to just proclaiming their love, even to the point of saying this is the best group ever on the show.  I don’t know if that’s true and it seems a little thoughtless with the all-stars standing right there, but the judges haven’t really been very nice to the all-stars all season.  I hope they’re paying them well.

Your thoughts?  Any more guesses on who will be dancing with Twitch tonight?  My guess is it’s Russell, or perhaps the puffmeister himself, P. Diddy.

Royal Pains started last year and I gave up on it after a few episodes. Covert Affairs I have been watching. It’s a “bit” more realistic than the typical spy show (i.e. Burn Notice) but still hasn’t quite found it’s vibe. (The way that say FX’s Justified found it quickly) I’m still watching but I’m not committed. Most of these shows really depend upon good guest actors who manage good chemistry with the leads. When it works, it really works. When it doesn’t you start really noticing all the imperfections in the show.

Most of USA’s shows follow a similar formula. It’s not that surprising since most network shows until recently followed a pretty similar formula. All that’s changed on network shows now is that the shows are based upon the Law and Order procedural or the silly CIS pseudo-science procedural. USA has the Monk-like semi-comedic procedural or the Burn Notice version of Highway to Heaven + an ongoing plot that lasts through each half season. Somehow it typically works though. Both Burn Notice and say White Collar are fun but as I said this formula demands a lot from actors. And it doesn’t always work.

Beyond that there’s FX which has quite a variety of shows – much more edgy and indie whereas USA definitely has more of a traditional network feel to it. That said, outside of Justified, there’s nothing on FX I like.

Other than that the only show I like is Dexter on Showtime. That doesn’t start up until fall though.

So Aint It Cool News is reporting that the Lost sequel that is on the finale DVDs answers a lot of questions.

(Spoilers ahoy)

Quoting from AICN

“I’m from the home office.” “There’s a new man in charge.”
Ben’s here to tie up a few lose ends. (He’s talking to you!)
Is Ben wearing a Hawaiian shirt under his coat?
The warehouse workers are named Glenn and Hector according to the credits.
*The palettes were loaded from Guam and sent to various coordinates sent by the teletype.
*Teletypes comes automatically from the The Lampost in LA, which tracks the Island’s movements.
“Wait, you can’t just walk out of here! We deserve answers!” Sounds like he just finished watching the finale.
Station 1 is The Hydra, used for animal testing.
“I will have to resort to using an alias.” LOL
The blonde with clipboard looks a lot like Libby…?
DHARMA had a mouse maze similar to Daniel’s in Cambridge.
A diver walks by, probably for the shark tank (presumed, seen in video game) or The Looking Glass.
*The Hurley Bird was a subject of genetic engineering and a hybrid of some type.
*Polar bears were for electromagnetic study.
Pierre Chang wasn’t the only DHARMA member to loose an arm.
“I repeat: The bears are not your friends.” LOL
*The collar Charlotte found in Tunisia on the polar bear skeleton was a tracking device.
*Electromagnetic effects of The Orchid have “extremely harmful effect on early term gestation”.
*Room 23 is used for interrogation and memory wiping.
DHARMA believes the Hostiles are the Island’s indigenous population.
DHARMA thinks Jacob is the Hostile’s deity.
*Room 23 drugs + video creates amnesia in subject to erase memory of being interrogated.
Room 23 brainwashing is critical, otherwise they’ll learn that DHARMA was violating their truce.
“I think we are going to need to see that again.” Locke said this immediately after watching The Swan orientation video in The Orientation, ep 2×3.
*Walt is in Santa Rosa under the alias Keith Johnson, the son of Kevin Johnson (aka Micheal’s alias on the freighter).
Walt is playing Connect 4, like Hurley in eps 1×18 and 4×01.
Connect 4 has 42 spots (6×7). (The Numbers)
Chalkboard drawing of the Island behind Ben.
“Because you’re special.” “We need you.” “You have work to do.” Heard that before.
Walt has to help his dead father, presumably to escape being a Whisper trapped on the Island, so he can move onto the afterlife.
Ben shares a granola bar, similar to Ben and Hurley sharing a candy bar outside Jacob’s cabin.
Ben’s driving the DHARMA van! LOL
“I’d like to talk to you about a job.” This one doesn’t come with a 401k, but you get a lighthouse and a donkey wheel.
Ben drove away down the wrong side of the road?
NOTES AND COMMENTS:
* denotes answers to outstanding mysteries.
“I’m from the home office.” “There’s a new man in charge.”
Ben’s here to tie up a few lose ends. (He’s talking to you!)
Is Ben wearing a Hawaiian shirt under his coat?
The warehouse workers are named Glenn and Hector according to the credits.
*The palettes were loaded from Guam and sent to various coordinates sent by the teletype.
*Teletypes comes automatically from the The Lampost in LA, which tracks the Island’s movements.
“Wait, you can’t just walk out of here! We deserve answers!” Sounds like he just finished watching the finale.
Station 1 is The Hydra, used for animal testing.
“I will have to resort to using an alias.” LOL
The blonde with clipboard looks a lot like Libby…?
DHARMA had a mouse maze similar to Daniel’s in Cambridge.
A diver walks by, probably for the shark tank (presumed, seen in video game) or The Looking Glass.
*The Hurley Bird was a subject of genetic engineering and a hybrid of some type.
*Polar bears were for electromagnetic study.
Pierre Chang wasn’t the only DHARMA member to loose an arm.
“I repeat: The bears are not your friends.” LOL
*The collar Charlotte found in Tunisia on the polar bear skeleton was a tracking device.
*Electromagnetic effects of The Orchid have “extremely harmful effect on early term gestation”.
*Room 23 is used for interrogation and memory wiping.
DHARMA believes the Hostiles are the Island’s indigenous population.
DHARMA thinks Jacob is the Hostile’s deity.
*Room 23 drugs + video creates amnesia in subject to erase memory of being interrogated.
Room 23 brainwashing is critical, otherwise they’ll learn that DHARMA was violating their truce.
“I think we are going to need to see that again.” Locke said this immediately after watching The Swan orientation video in The Orientation, ep 2×3.
*Walt is in Santa Rosa under the alias Keith Johnson, the son of Kevin Johnson (aka Micheal’s alias on the freighter).
Walt is playing Connect 4, like Hurley in eps 1×18 and 4×01.
Connect 4 has 42 spots (6×7). (The Numbers)
Chalkboard drawing of the Island behind Ben.
“Because you’re special.” “We need you.” “You have work to do.” Heard that before.
Walt has to help his dead father, presumably to escape being a Whisper trapped on the Island, so he can move onto the afterlife.
Ben shares a granola bar, similar to Ben and Hurley sharing a candy bar outside Jacob’s cabin.
Ben’s driving the DHARMA van! LOL
“I’d like to talk to you about a job.” This one doesn’t come with a 401k, but you get a lighthouse and a donkey wheel.
Ben drove away down the wrong side of the road?

I finally got caught up on past episodes (last week’s performance above) and watched the Top 4 as it was broadcast. I really thought this was going to be the finale, but I guess we still have another week. I’m not sure why we have a finale with 3 people when last season the finale had 6 (I guess because we have the all-star format), but to me it seems like the finals should have at least 4 contestants.

I liked having Toni Redpath around as a judge. She really knows her stuff on ballroom and I like her comments on the other styles as well. I think we need a judge that knows ballroom, and Toni seems like a great personality on top of great knowledge. I’m not as crazy about Tyce as a judge.

Is it just me or does it seem like there’s something going on between Robert and Kathryn? Their dance from last week’s episode was the standout dance for me and their interaction seemed very intimate for just dance partners.

It seems really obvious that Adechike is the one that should go this week, although I don’t think he has really been treated fairly by the judges. His African jazz dance was very good, although I agree that it seemed a little more subdued than it should have been. He’s a great dancer, but he’s just not quite in the same league as the other three. I was really impressed with all the dancers last night, however. I was going to try to rank them, but the top 3 are so close that it seems silly. My favorite is Lauren, so I’ll be rooting for her but I’ll be very surprised if Kent doesn’t win on the voting, which is perfectly fine.

I guess the dance that really stood out for me from last night was the one with Kent and Neil, although I liked the Clown Hip Hop routine with Robert and Dominic and Lauren’s Black Widow dance. The Kent and Neil dance was a very different piece by Travis Wall, and I thought it was strange that Nigel got him to admit that it was somehow autobiographical. I can’t decide if that made me like it more or less. It seems a little creepy.

I went down to the LA event on Saturday to take pictures–I go downtown a lot just to take pictures anyway, so when I realized it was going on, I knew where I’d be heading! Napoleon and Tabitha were there to walk the crowd through the routine a couple times, then they put on the music and everybody DANCED!

I got there early and people were walking each other through the choreography:

First, tap dancer Melinda came out and did a short tap performance, then she led the crowd in a warm-up. She was fun and did a great job. Then Nappy Tabs came out, along with Mia Michaels, Adam Shankman, and Carrie Ann Inaba and Derek Hough (!!) from Dancing With The Stars. They said some stuff and then Nappy Tabs took everyone through the choreography section by section–including Mia, Adam, Carrie Ann and Derek:

Click on the photo to see notes on who is who on stage.

There were lots of cameramen around to capture everything on film, and at times they’d have the crowd cheer and yell stuff at a certain camera. “Happy National Dance Day” or whatever.

I didn’t plan on taking video, but when I was there I couldn’t resist breaking out my cell phone to capture some. Very low quality, and youtube does not like my cell phone audio, so I had to swap it out for random songs youtube provides–which is too bad, you don’t get to hear Nappy Tabs explaining moves to the crowd.

Here’s video of the crowd learning some of the routine:

More learning:

And the actual performance (again, this is not the song that was used at the event, just one youtube provides):

After it was done, the DJ continued to play music, and a few people started to really boogie down, including this young woman and this old man:

It was really fun. Anyone else do anything for National Dance Day?

I just watched the top 6 (see above, yes I’m still a week behind) and I’m wondering if my favorite two dances were my favorites because they both had Twitch in them or because they had Lauren and Kent in them. Those two are still at the top for me at this point, but special mention has to be given to Adechike for his lyrical hip-hop routine with Comfort. It was another Nappy-Tabs masterpiece which was very reminiscent of Bleeding Love with Chelsea and Mark a couple of years ago. The only reason that I don’t think it puts Adechike in the top tier is that all the best moves and most of the emotion in the piece came from Comfort(!) She was shockingly awesome. I have to say that I really thought Robert had a great night too, but I just like Kent and Lauren a little better.

There were some great dances in that show, including Robert and Allison’s dance to “Fix You” by Travis Wall, which was about Travis’s mother:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvGceaFTne8

But my favorite was the Mandy Moore dance to “Boogie Shoes” by Billy and Lauren. I can’t find any video of it, but the episode is on hulu and trust me, it’s cute overload.