THE TKTV NEWSLETTER
Season 3, Episode 5 aired January 31, 2000

CONTENTS
1. Intro
2. Letters from the viewing audience
3. Kim's Commercial Comments
4. Don't miss
5. TV Trivia
6. Favorite Quotes of the Week
7. A totally unrelated link

1. Intro

So what does everyone think of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" this season? And what about its spin off, "Angel?" I briefly reviewed "Angel" back in an October episode of the newsletter, but back then only the pilot had aired, so I had had very limited exposure to the show. Of course, that didn't stop me from blathering on about how it wasn't as good or as original as "Buffy."

Since October, I have been watching both "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel" religiously. "Buffy" continues to impress me as amazing TV, and "Angel" is growing on me every week.

"Buffy" just continues to renew itself. Now in its fourth season, I was worried that with the loss of Angel and the loss of high school, "Buffy" was going to go the way of "Beverly Hills 90210" after the last Walsh left and everyone had graduated from college. But that is not the case at all. Xander is having a passionate relationship with a mean-spirited demon-turned-human who doesn't know the meaning of the word "polite." Giles has a sexy visitor from England and is going through an identity crisis now that he's no longer a Watcher or a librarian. Willow has lost her Oz and is spending more time playing with magic. And Buffy, initially lost at college, has a cute new boyfriend who is a member of a Vampire-hunting militia called The Initiative.

What more could you ask for? Oh wait, how about a groundbreaking episode in which no one speaks at all for around half an hour? How about the return of Spike, the vampire, modified by the Initiative so that he can no longer bite humans, but able to damage demons, yet still as bitter and caustic as always? How about Buffy going through the perfectly normal college ritual of getting used as fresh meat by a sophomore playboy?

"Buffy" is masterful TV - a combination of comedy, drama and action with some great special effects thrown in. The show has been allowed to grow from its campy roots, and the community of Sunnydale has grown with it. When Buffy first became the Slayer, everything was secret this and secret that. But obviously, if a whole town lives on a hell mouth, they're eventually going to figure it out. By the time Buffy graduated from high school last spring, she received an award from her peers for protecting them for so many years. They weren't as clueless as they pretended to be. And now, the community has gathered together to defend itself by forming this Initiative. "Buffy" doesn't dumb-down the townspeople on the show just to keep everything a pre-fab secret like so many other shows.

"Angel" has not yet had time to grow in this way, but already our hero is having trouble keeping his secret non-dead identity to himself. His friend on the police force, Kate, was a little less than psyched when she realized she'd been hanging out with a vampire. And wow, in the first half of the first season, they killed off one of their core cast members - from a core cast of three people!

While Buffy's trademark is always to keep things light and funny while kicking the dark side's ass, Angel's trademark is brooding and hiding in the shadows. Therefore, the show itself is darker and more grim. It takes place in the scary city of Los Angeles rather than the cute suburb of Sunnydale. Angel hunts demons in trendy clubs and gritty alleys while Buffy treks across campus and goes to frat parties. These differences were never better illustrated than in the November sweeps Buffy/Angel crossover. Angel comes to Sunnydale to help protect Buffy from some avenging spirits, but hides in the shadows, never even telling her that he's in town. Buffy comes storming into Angel's office in LA to yell at him about being in town and not saying hello, and we are treated to a bittersweet episode of ecstatic lovers given a second chance that is then cruelly ripped away. Angel is left more tortured than ever, while Buffy is blessed with a lack of memory of the entire day.

Luckily, Angel is not all doom and gloom. With Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia Chase, and now the addition of Alexis Denisof as Wesley Price, Angel is still infused with a strain of the "Buffy" trademark humor... only appropriate for a spin-off.

Don't miss these two great shows, starting at 8pm ET Tuesdays on the WB. For more information, check out the really cool TKTV sites.
http://buffy.tktv.net
http://angel.tktv.net

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2. Letters from the viewing audience

From Rachel:
While I understand your disappointment about the Golden Globes I think it mainly lies in not having HBO. Sex in the City is one of the best things I've seen on TV in a long time and the Sopranos is a close second. Not having to rely on the standard TV premise of building to small crescendos as each act comes to a commercial, these cable shows are smoother, more well-crafted than much of commercial television...oh yeah and then there is the nudity and language.

From Tony:
In reply to Kim and her commercial comments about the Waaazzzuuuppp Budweiser ad: I actually have a friend who uses this phrase in his vocabulary often. I can picture him with a phone to his ear saying "YOOO WAAAAAZZZUUPPPPP...." Frightening but hilarious to see on TV.

On "The Sopranos," I watched the second episode last night. Hmmm. I think I should have gone to bed early. The best scene was the Cadillac joke that Tony's uncle was telling in the waiting room at the doctor's office: Chinese guy says to his optometrist, "I can't see well, help me out doc." Doc says, "I think you have cataracts." Chinese guy says, "No, I have a Lincoln Towncar." The recipient of the joke sitting with Tony's uncle says, "Yeah, I get it, he drives a Lincoln."

And on the upcoming Super Bowl: I've been an avid football fan for almost three decades now, and I must pose the question - who the hell are the Titans? And if the Rams and Dick Vermeil win the big show next week, I'll be sure to turn off the TV during the post game award ceremony. I'm tired of seeing Dick cry out of sheer joy, which he did all year after every victory.

From Storm:
Have you seen the 10-10-220 ad where the guy's in the store raving about the great deal he gets on his phone calls when the clerk says to him, "Have you been hanging out in the catnip section?" I almost laughed.

From Daphne:
I think the remarkable thing about "The Sopranos" is it's like "Goodfellas." You know, the "Godfather" movies are gripping dramas, but the sets, costumes, etc. are too... mainstream. "Goodfellas," with its shiny suits and pinky rings and red velvet wallpaper, seemed more authentic to me. (I don't know why -- I've never met a mafioso... I don't think I've ever even seen one! But you get my point.) Anyhow, "The Sopranos" is believable because 1) they ARE real people who drink coffee and buy onions at the supermarket just like the rest of us and 2) Tony Soprano is the head of the family, but it's clear that's not much. He has to do the same dirty work his henchmen do -- as evidenced by the head-bashing in last week's episode. You'd never catch Marlon Brando with a baseball bat in his hands! (This actually was one of the jokes last week -- one of the thugs was a great big fat guy, and when Tony gave the order to beat the protesters up, he told the fat guy to "think of it as exercise, you fat f***.") The show is gritty, but also real... the people are like you and me, but not totally.

Letters from the viewing audience are always welcome. Please email any opinions, questions, comments, or random thoughts to TK at tk@tktv.net with the subject of "letters." Letters may be edited for length or content.

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3. Kim's Commercial Comments

Well, well, well. I hope you guys are gearing up for February sweeps because they are just around the corner! I LOVE IT! In no time at all I'll be scrambling around each morning, checking the TV listings, setting VCRs, and labeling tapes, trying to be sure that I don't miss a thing. And I have come to the conclusion that I absolutely must get HBO again. We haven't had it in a couple of years, so basically, we got out right about the time they started developing all these new shows like Sex and the City and The Sopranos. But after watching the Golden Globes last weekend, I must say that I felt completely left out. So in the very near future (definitely prior to the start of February sweeps) I will, once again, be an HBO subscriber.

And even though it will probably be done in a dozen other places, I absolutely WILL have a special column next week with my take on the SuperBowl commercials. By the time this newsletter hits your Inbox, I will have seen them all, made a ridiculous amount of notes, and started on my play-by-play analysis. So be sure and tune in next week for my very own Super Bowl special! :-)

But enough about next week. How about this week?

What spot has me laughing? M&M's: Stephen Baldwin

So you guys have probably figured out by now that I'm a big fan of these M&M's spots. Ever since the "characters" hit the scene, I'm a sucker for these commercials. Red (plain), Yellow (peanut), Green (the girl), and now blue (ba da bee ba da bee.. er.. sorry... lost my train of thought). Let's see. Where was I? Oh yeah. This series of spots has featured many celebrities like Patrick Warburton (better known as "Puddy") and Halle Berry. The latest star is Stephen Baldwin. Here's the scene...

Blue is sitting on the sofa, reading, when Stephen walks into the room. Stephen says, "You know, I could really go for some chocolate..." Blue looks up from his paper to see who is talking to him. When he sees Stephen he replies, "Hey! Aren't you a Baldwin?" "Yes." "Which one?" "Stephen." "Well, Stephen, I'd expect better from you." "What do you mean?" "I could really go for some chocolate right now," mocks Blue. "I didn't believe at all that you really wanted chocolate." "Really?" Stephen responds. "Okay, well, I can do it better. Let me go out and try it again." As Stephen closes the door behind him, Blue jumps up and locks the door. Stephen bangs on the door and shouts "BLUE!" Blue responds, with a strong spanish accent, "Ieee... No blue here."

It's so funny! I love how clever these little guys are. Okay, I guess I love how clever the writers of these spots are. They always have just the right blend of subtle grown-up humor mixed with the childish fun of the living candy. Every single one of the spots in this series have made me laugh out loud! Remember, "You can't eat a candy off the floor... It's a rule!?"

Keep your eyes open for yet another 30 seconds of clever candy humor!

What spot has me cringing? Stove Top: Oven Creations Mad Grannies

TK suggested this spot to me and I absolutely agree! I think one reason I've had a hard time finding commercials I don't like lately is becase I tend to tune them out after I see them once. That is definitely the case with this one. I've seen it at least a half a dozen times, but I didn't really remember it until it was pointed out to me.

Basically, the point of this commercial is to let the viewer know that Stove Top has a new product. It's supposed to be quick and easy and delicious! So delicious, in fact, that these grannies are ticked off because nobody appreciates their good cooking anymore. Imagine that! They use the line several times, "Sunday taste. Tuesday effort." So you get the point.

And, I guess I get their point. Instead of having yet another working mom or dad trying to make dinner at the last minute and discovering the Oven Creations in the cupboard, they went with a new idea... er, make that an old idea. Granny! It's just that these two grannies are incredibly annoying. One of the spots ends with the line, "We need a drink."

Yes, we do. Especially after watching this commercial.

Until next week...

TKTV is always looking for new guest writers. Do you have an idea for an article? Write to TK at tk@tktv.net with the subject of "guestwriter."

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4. Don't miss

And so February sweeps begins.... For details and lots more fun TV to look forward to, see
http://www.tktv.net/index.html?/upcoming.html

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5. TV Trivia

Last week's question was: what television actress is Gordon of Sesame Street's daughter?

First prize goes to David A., who correctly answered that Gordon's daughter is Holly Robinson Peete. Yeah, I know, she was the trivia answer a few weeks ago. But she's got such good random facts about her!

Second prizes go to KMax11, Dan B. and Alison C.

Okay, next week will be the first week with real prizes, so we're going to try something new for this week as a practice. Instead of the first person to respond being the first prize winner (which I know was never really fair), I'm just going to collect all of the correct answers I get before Friday, and then randomly draw the first place winner out of those people. Sound good?

This week's question is from David T.: what television and movie actress is Gordon of Dilbert's daughter? Pretty cool, eh?

Send answers to TK at tk@tktv.net with the subject of tvtrivia.

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6. Favorite Quotes of the Week

From "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"
"Buffy, when I saw you stop the world from, y'know, ending, I just assumed that was a big week for you. It turns out I suddenly find myself needing to know the plural of apocalypse." -Riley

From "Party of Five" (Victor trying to explain to young boy Owen what it means to be gay)
"Okay, um, the first thing you should know is, every single person in the world is different." -Victor
"Different, like how?" -Owen
"Okay, um, you know how some peoople like DC comics and some like Marvel?" -Victor
"Yeah. I like both." -Owen
"Right. And some like both. People like different things, which is not good or bad. It's just - what it is." -Victor

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7. A totally unrelated link

FLUENT CFD Genius - Do the bubbles in a glass of Guinness go up or down?

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I don't jog. It makes the ice jump right out of my glass.