I watched Cavemen on ABC last night and was pleasantly surprised. I really had no idea what to expect plot-wise going into this show. The premise is basically the everyday lives and relationship of three cavemen living in current day. It’s easy to notice the constant references to racism in modern America, particularly amongst interracial couples. Unlike “Chuck” they really managed to hit the pop culture references on the head. The line, “If you aren’t embarrassed of her, why isn’t she on your top eight on FaceSpace?” cracked me up. Also, the mocking of beatnik pseudo intellectuals is hilarious with their fancy French prick names for everything. Even though the concept is borrowed from the Geico commercials, they seem to make it something fresh. I did learn a valuable lesson that doesn’t just apply to cavemen, but all males:

I will definitely be watching this show to see if it can keep it up, we need a fresh sitcom.

I really don’t know where to begin, the show is full of cheese. The characters, the acting, and the plot itself. Chuck might just be the only character on this show that is half way believable. The NSA operative is a macho jerk and the CIA girlfriend is completely fake. Holy shit, Chuck’s sister’s boyfriend might be the biggest tool I have ever seen on film. The music is overdone, wow, a kung fu rock song during a fight scene. Don’t even get me started on the computer talk, dropping sayings like “Linux Install” and “We’re Mac guys!” Linux install? I didn’t realize Geek Squad… I mean “Nerd Herd” did Linux. And seriously, spoofing the repelling scene from Mission Impossible? That movie came out eleven years ago. Do yourself a favor and stay away from this show like it’s the plague, just watching this show might make your IQ drop 30 points.

P.S. If I’ve learned one thing from watching this show, it is that flying a helicopter in real life is just like playing “Apache Command”.

As many big shows begin their returning seasons this Fall, we do get the chance to support some new series that attempt to stay afloat amidst these established titans. Sometimes, but rarely, great concepts get lucky and see the light of day. This is exactly the case for Pushing Daisies.

Here’s a spoiler free synopsis of the show: Pushing Daisies is about Ned (Lee Pace), a man who unexplainably has the power to bring dead things back to life with just one touch. If he touches them again, they die for good. Ned discovers the bounds of his ability early in his life, but not without some psychological damage along the way. In his adult years, he creates a pie restaurant (humorously dubbed “The Pie Hole”) where he tries to keep to himself. Unfortunately, pies don’t pay the bills. So with the help of police investigator Emerson Cod (Chi McBride), he gets into the business of solving murders. Go to the morgue, touch the dead, ask them questions, retouch and collect the reward money. Sounds simple, right? Well only if Ned wasn’t so sympathetically neurotic sometimes…

This is a show about life, death and the stuff in between. The cast go together great and tons of colorful characters are introduced. The first episode starts with a back story, but one that is wholesome and entertaining throughout. It has a very surreal feel to it, which makes perfect sense with the pseudo morbid premise. Let’s not say Tim Burton-y, but that’s definitely the first thing that comes to mind. The storytelling is done in such a way that everything unfolds like a colorful fantasy storybook; in visuals and in writing. One of it’s primary creators was the guy behind Men in Black, and it shows with weird directorial style. Again though, all of this is done in an enchanting sort of way.

Cast of Pushing Daisies at “The Pie Hole”

Pushing Daisies premieres this Wednesday at 8/7c on ABC. Be sure to check out the website for some preview clips, as well as a comic book. Give it enough attention and maybe it’ll last longer than one season. Trust me, you won’t regret it.

Allow me to make something very clear, I love METAL! I also love senseless, comedic violence. So Metalocalypse is like a god send in cartoon form. If Dethklok were real I would stalk them, kill them, and make pillow cases out of their flayed flesh so that my thoughts could be closest to them while I sleep.

Now that that is out of the way, Metalocalypse is one of the funniest shows currently on [adult swim] and the season premier did not disappoint. The plot of the season premier begins where the season finale left off. General Crozier is suffering from partial amnesia after Mr. Selatcia kills Cardinal Ravenwood and puts Crozier to sleep. Dethklok however has shut themselves in and refuse to make any public appearances or start on their new album; instead, living a lavish lifestyle and abusing each other in brutal ways. This time by macing each other in the groin with crotch firing mace codpieces. The new episode is full of decapitations, disembowelments, and various other gratuitous deaths! Its worthwhile to note that the animation has improved significantly since season 1, most likely due to a much larger budget. Its all capped off by the new soundtrack of surprisingly well composed metal, especially since it is written for a 10 minute short cartoon. This, of course, brings me to my next subject.

The DETHALBUM. The entirely remastered soundtrack is wonderfully done. With guest drummer Gene Hoglan, of Strapping Young Lad and Testament, playing on every track. It includes previously unreleased tracks including “Bloodrocuted”, which was mentioned in season 1 by Nathan Explosion as excellent song title. If you get the version with the bonus disc it includes my favorite track “Murder Train a’Comin”, which seamlessly switches between the blues and hardcore deathmetal and has hilarious commentary sprinkled throughout.

Do yourself a favor and pick up the new Dethalbum in stores now, watch the new season on Cartoon Network’s [adult swim], and pick up the season 1 DVD when it hits stores Oct. 2nd.

P.S. I would like to thank the dudes at Dethklok.org for showing off my Dethklok fan art and being cool enough to link here and to my deviantArt page.

Halo 3 AND Heroes came out? It’s official. It’s Nerd X-Mas week.