(1) Colbert is supposedly slated to replace Letterman on the Late Show. That's pretty cool and an easy transfer of Colbert's fans since the hours are the same. I assume Colbert will drop the faux-conservative schtick or at least I hope so since, while I enjoy it, I think he'd run a better general interest late-night show without it. Also be interesting to see how well he fares without the Daily Show lead-in.
(2) I just finished watching Black Sails on Starz (well, On Demand for me) which I enjoyed. But I also heard nothing about it when it originally aired so maybe everyone else hated it. I guess not everyone since it's getting a second season. Anyway, it's an "inspired by" sorta prequel to Treasure Island in that they use some characters, mix in some historical pirates from the era (Jack Rackham, Anne Bonny, etc) and try to make some effort towards authenticity by leaving out the shoulder parrots, peg legs and "Avast, ye scurvy seadogs!" lingo. I saw some lazy comparisons to Game of Thrones in the same way people call any open world game "like Skyrim" just because it has boobs, swords and politics* but I think it felt more like Rome with the sorta-historical aspect. Anyway, it's only eight episodes if you want to check it out.
*GoT, not Skyrim though I guess you can mod boobs into Skyrim for the same effect.
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TV Two-Fer: Colbert & Black SailsFollow
Belkira wrote:
Wow. Regular ol' Joph fan club in here.
As for point #1, it is official. http://gawker.com/cbs-just-announced-that-stephen-colbert-will-replace-da-1561783193
◕ ‿‿ ◕
Jophiel wrote:
That's pretty cool and an easy transfer of Colbert's fans since the hours are the same.=
George Carlin wrote:
I think it’s the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately.
Well, I said "fans" instead of "audience" for a reason although I guess I wasn't very clear on that point. I just meant that people who actively like Colbert won't have to choose between him and, say, the Daily Show if Colbert's new show was starting earlier.
Belkira wrote:
Wow. Regular ol' Joph fan club in here.
Got'cha. You're right, he'll have his built in fans, plus probably a nice chunk of the Letterman audience so it'll probably work out for the best. At least initially, it all really depends which direction he takes his character.
George Carlin wrote:
I think it’s the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately.
This should be helpful for when the social justice warriors get the Colbert Report canceled.
It worked! He's leaving The Colbert Report!
Belkira wrote:
Wow. Regular ol' Joph fan club in here.
Speaking of, his last name is actually properly pronounced Col-BERT. I wonder which way they'll go for the new show.
Belkira wrote:
Wow. Regular ol' Joph fan club in here.
He can just claim that one or the other was the Evil Twin (tm) and you can tell them apart by the silent T, or lack thereof.
I could see an obvious argument for staying with the silent "t" in terms of recognition. Besides, he wouldn't be the first or hundredth person in front of a camera to use a stage name for professional purposes anyway.
Belkira wrote:
Wow. Regular ol' Joph fan club in here.
Sure, but he's no Paul Reubens.
George Carlin wrote:
I think it’s the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately.
Jophiel wrote:
It worked!
I just started watching Black Sails last night. Going to probably binge the season this weekend.
Seems interesting enough, plus boobies. Just started watching the second season of Da Vinci's Demons too.
Seems interesting enough, plus boobies. Just started watching the second season of Da Vinci's Demons too.
Can't sleep, clown will eat me.
Black Sails was pretty interesting. Slow moving plot for a series with just 8 episodes though. Suffers a bit from "drama for dramas sake". Also, plot armor seems to abide. It's still a good story though.
King Nobby wrote:
More words please
The pacing was sort of interesting (in my opinion) -- some plot lines took a couple episodes to resolve, some were over within an episode despite looking like they could stretch. But the whole arc is really only a few weeks of "real time".
I will say that the first episode has a couple complete clunkers of scenes, both involving Elanor Guthrie. I'm sure those who've seen know exactly what I mean and, thankfully, I didn't think it ever missed its marks that poorly again.
I will say that the first episode has a couple complete clunkers of scenes, both involving Elanor Guthrie. I'm sure those who've seen know exactly what I mean and, thankfully, I didn't think it ever missed its marks that poorly again.
Belkira wrote:
Wow. Regular ol' Joph fan club in here.
Jophiel wrote:
The pacing was sort of interesting (in my opinion) -- some plot lines took a couple episodes to resolve, some were over within an episode despite looking like they could stretch. But the whole arc is really only a few weeks of "real time".
Yeah, "interesting" is about right. It's entirely possible the perception of the plot speed is different if you were watching weekly as they were released (as I did), versus watching a bunch at once on-demand or whatnot. It was also not obvious (unless one went out and read spoilers) that the initial plot hook would stretch across the entire series. So when I was watching it, I kept thinking "when are they going to get to plundering that one ship so they can move on to the next plot element?". Oops! That may have contributed to my perception that it moved really really really slowly. I wanted them to move forward with that part, and didn't really care about the other stuff that much.
Quote:
I will say that the first episode has a couple complete clunkers of scenes, both involving Elanor Guthrie. I'm sure those who've seen know exactly what I mean and, thankfully, I didn't think it ever missed its marks that poorly again.
Several people I know have commented on her character being the most problematic for them. It almost seemed like half the writers decided that she was to be a strong independent woman in a mans world, and the other half decided to use her as the stock "damsel in distress" character. I know that it's tough to thread that needle, but IMO they missed the mark quite a bit with their handling of that character. There were just several times during the series where I thought "how the hell was she ever running this place for like years before the events we're seeing?". Hopefully, they find a better balance for her next season.
King Nobby wrote:
More words please
I usually like the stuff Starz does, but I just don't know about pirates. I might give it a look-see.
Really digging this season's Da Vinci's Demons though. And The White Queen was great. Too bad it was just a mini-series.
Really digging this season's Da Vinci's Demons though. And The White Queen was great. Too bad it was just a mini-series.
It'll be interesting to see of Colbert can keep an hours worth of attention without his extreme satire. He'll have to chill quite a bit for mainstream media.
The Daily Show, however, could easily be an hour long.
Black Sails looks interesting.
A decade or so ago I watched through all of the Horatio Hornblower series on PBS. If you like the big old ships and cannons and sea battles and what-not it was a good series. Horatio was played by Mr. Fantastic (Ioan Gruffud).
Edited, Apr 11th 2014 2:40pm by Elinda
The Daily Show, however, could easily be an hour long.
Black Sails looks interesting.
A decade or so ago I watched through all of the Horatio Hornblower series on PBS. If you like the big old ships and cannons and sea battles and what-not it was a good series. Horatio was played by Mr. Fantastic (Ioan Gruffud).
Edited, Apr 11th 2014 2:40pm by Elinda
Alma wrote:
I lost my post
It was slow even when you watched it all at once. Only 8 episodes, right?
Guthrie's character was definitely a weak point. How long was she in control of the market before the series began? For the finale I found it hard to believe that the few schemers would turn on Flint seconds before the big fight. Seems like they could have taken down that huge Spanish Galeón capable of sinking both their ships 10x over, then turned on Flint.
Edited, Apr 11th 2014 5:03pm by TirithRR
Guthrie's character was definitely a weak point. How long was she in control of the market before the series began? For the finale I found it hard to believe that the few schemers would turn on Flint seconds before the big fight. Seems like they could have taken down that huge Spanish Galeón capable of sinking both their ships 10x over, then turned on Flint.
Edited, Apr 11th 2014 5:03pm by TirithRR
Can't sleep, clown will eat me.
The crew (well, the new throat-eating quartermaster) had no intent on there being a "big fight" with the warship. Flint was obviously off his rocks by then to think the two ships were going to take it and since it wasn't the Urca de Lima, there was no reason to engage it. He was not only arresting Flint for the various murders, he was doing it then to stop the engagement. Of course, Silver then fires the canon below decks forcing the ships to fight and you see how well that worked out.
Even if it was an escort for the Urca de Lima (I assume it was out searching for the treasure ship after the storm or attempting to rendezvous with it at its scheduled inlet), it was a foolish fight since there was no chance for the Walrus and Ranger to survive the fight and then still be shape to engage the Urca. The entire mission was predicated upon the Urca being without an escort. Point being, only Flint (and Silver) wanted a big fight at that point; to the others who mattered, it should have been over when the inlet was empty.
I had a feeling that Guthrie was running Nassau as her father's proxy for a decent while prior to events. Flint was her biggest earner for a good time before his three-month dry patch so I'd say over a year with Lady Guthrie at the helm wouldn't be unreasonable. He had to be bringing home the loot for a solid while to make his dry spell seem an acceptable loss so 3:1 sounds like a plausible minimum.
Edited, Apr 11th 2014 4:54pm by Jophiel
Even if it was an escort for the Urca de Lima (I assume it was out searching for the treasure ship after the storm or attempting to rendezvous with it at its scheduled inlet), it was a foolish fight since there was no chance for the Walrus and Ranger to survive the fight and then still be shape to engage the Urca. The entire mission was predicated upon the Urca being without an escort. Point being, only Flint (and Silver) wanted a big fight at that point; to the others who mattered, it should have been over when the inlet was empty.
I had a feeling that Guthrie was running Nassau as her father's proxy for a decent while prior to events. Flint was her biggest earner for a good time before his three-month dry patch so I'd say over a year with Lady Guthrie at the helm wouldn't be unreasonable. He had to be bringing home the loot for a solid while to make his dry spell seem an acceptable loss so 3:1 sounds like a plausible minimum.
Edited, Apr 11th 2014 4:54pm by Jophiel
Belkira wrote:
Wow. Regular ol' Joph fan club in here.
Maybe it's just the whole underdog winning thing, but the seemed like the Walrus and Ranger stood a pretty good chance against the ship if they had kept the element of surprise. That first full volley seemed to do a bit of damage, including apparently hitting a gunpowder storage, even once out of the original planned range, and had it not been for the single shot giving them advanced warning and the Quartermaster's accusation's delaying the volley and increasing the distance, it would have been easy for them to get a few more volleys off before it had been capable of fully retaliating like it did.
As for the whole crew, I didn't get the impression that most of them (the no named background characters) really cared who was in charge, just whether or not they felt they would get money. Just behind who ever seemed to have power and say the right things at the moment. Only a handful seemed to know the truth and actually want to change (Quartermaster, and the soon to be dead other people.)
Edited, Apr 11th 2014 7:08pm by TirithRR
As for the whole crew, I didn't get the impression that most of them (the no named background characters) really cared who was in charge, just whether or not they felt they would get money. Just behind who ever seemed to have power and say the right things at the moment. Only a handful seemed to know the truth and actually want to change (Quartermaster, and the soon to be dead other people.)
Edited, Apr 11th 2014 7:08pm by TirithRR
Can't sleep, clown will eat me.
Really, they didn't have a chance. The Urca de Lima wasn't a warship, it was a wide-bodied cargo ship that, while heavily armed, would still have less cannons and less maneuverability than the warship. And even then, the plan was to engage it while it was stuck in the shallows in the inlet and with two ships attacking it. Despite Flint's plan, I don't think it was plausible that the two could take on a fully armed warship that would be heavier built, holding more cannon and more capable than a fat merchant ship lugging around a crapton of gold. Even after the opening salvos and explosion, the warship was barely hampered in turning and broadsiding the other two boats to splinters.
But, even if they had taken it: why? You're going to lose a bunch of men and damage your ships for what? The warship wasn't carrying the gold they had come for. It likely wasn't carrying any cargo at all since it was a Spanish navy vessel. It was a risk without reason. Flint only wanted to do it because he couldn't let go of the idea that they'd find the Urca and taking the warship out now would let them take the Urca later. It was a stupid and pointless gamble.
As for the crew, the deaths of Gates and Billy Bones would have put them off Flint. If your captain is habitually murdering his own most trusted officers, what value is he going to place on you? That and the whole pirate loyalty thing. Speaking of, in real life history, Jack Rackham was a captain of his own ship (the Kingston) so I'm curious if Season Two will take him out of the brothel and put him back at sea despite the truth of him being involved in the murder of Vance's crew being out there. On the other hand, in real life, Rackham didn't meet Anne Bonny for several years yet so "inspired by" over "documentary", eh?
But, even if they had taken it: why? You're going to lose a bunch of men and damage your ships for what? The warship wasn't carrying the gold they had come for. It likely wasn't carrying any cargo at all since it was a Spanish navy vessel. It was a risk without reason. Flint only wanted to do it because he couldn't let go of the idea that they'd find the Urca and taking the warship out now would let them take the Urca later. It was a stupid and pointless gamble.
As for the crew, the deaths of Gates and Billy Bones would have put them off Flint. If your captain is habitually murdering his own most trusted officers, what value is he going to place on you? That and the whole pirate loyalty thing. Speaking of, in real life history, Jack Rackham was a captain of his own ship (the Kingston) so I'm curious if Season Two will take him out of the brothel and put him back at sea despite the truth of him being involved in the murder of Vance's crew being out there. On the other hand, in real life, Rackham didn't meet Anne Bonny for several years yet so "inspired by" over "documentary", eh?
Belkira wrote:
Wow. Regular ol' Joph fan club in here.
Gotta admit though. They pretty perfectly captured the "Oh ****!" moment when that Man O War finally turned and started opening its mass of gun ports. Best scene of the series IMO. And a great reversal of the whole "outnumbered/gunned heroes still win" trope. Course they immediately followed it up with the "slip on **** and fall into treasure" trope. Yeah. I'm making up my own names. Sue me!
King Nobby wrote:
More words please
Peer pressure.
George Carlin wrote:
I think it’s the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately.
I think you mean PIER PRESSURE, huh? Huh? Get it?
I'll show myself out...
I'll show myself out...
Belkira wrote:
Wow. Regular ol' Joph fan club in here.
Saw some commercial last night for an upcoming NBC show, Crossbones. So I guess pirates are a thing now.
I have a hard time picturing John Malkovich as the same guy who supposedly wove artillery fuses into his beard and would light them before fights to give him just the right glowing, smoking demonic look a pirate captain needs.
NBC wrote:
From Neil Cross, the award-winning creator of "Luther," comes "Crossbones," a compelling new one-hour drama filled with extraordinary action, adventure and intrigue - set in a world where one can never be sure just who is hero and who is villain.
It's 1729. On the secret island of Santa Compana, Edward Teach, better known as the barbarous pirate Blackbeard (Emmy winner John Malkovich, "Death of a Salesman," "Red"), reigns over a rogue nation of thieves, outlaws and miscreants. Part shantytown, part utopia, part marauder's paradise, this is a place like no other.
It's 1729. On the secret island of Santa Compana, Edward Teach, better known as the barbarous pirate Blackbeard (Emmy winner John Malkovich, "Death of a Salesman," "Red"), reigns over a rogue nation of thieves, outlaws and miscreants. Part shantytown, part utopia, part marauder's paradise, this is a place like no other.
I have a hard time picturing John Malkovich as the same guy who supposedly wove artillery fuses into his beard and would light them before fights to give him just the right glowing, smoking demonic look a pirate captain needs.
Belkira wrote:
Wow. Regular ol' Joph fan club in here.
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