10 Most Anticipated TV Shows of Fall 2014

Summer television sucks, it’s a fact of life. Always has and probably always will. Oh sure it’s better than it used to be. I remember a time where summer meant nothing but re-runs and sports. Now, we can watch our choice of re-runs on services like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime. (Seriously, did you ever think that you’d pay money to re-watch shows from 10 to 20 years ago?)

Sure we have our competition shows such as America’s Got Talent, So You Think You Can Dance and The Voice, but the vast majority of the good scripted shows are saved for the fall season.

And as is tradition, late July and August is when the networks decide to throw us some trailers, making us salivate in anticipation, not unlike Pavlov’s dogs. Scraps of material we can pour over and dissect for any information that may give away a plot line.

Here is a list of the 10 shows that have me drooling away as I wait. Some of them are new, some are returning, and as always, there are in no particular order.

1.      The Walking Dead – Oh yeah baby! The comic book inspired zombie action/drama’s Season 5 is set to debut in mid-October and AMC has released a 3 minute trailer that is freaking amazing. Fans will know that Rick and company were left in a fairly dire situation in last season’s finale, but the trailer let’s know that the fight is just beginning.

2.      The Newsroom – HBO’s critically acclaimed drama will be returning for its final season this fall. Although no official date has been announced, filming had wrapped up at the beginning of July. Jeff Daniels leads a fantastic cast in Aaron Sorkin’s series that is rich in quick witted dialogue and engaging story lines about real life events and the people that report them. File this under “cannot wait.”

3.      The Flash – Originally slated to be a supporting character on CW’s Arrow, the network wisely decided to give speedster superhero Barry Allen (aka The Flash) his own series. It will debut on October 7^th. Fans are generally pleased with CW’s foray into the DC Comic Universe so expectations are high. I’m just glad it’s not Aquaman.

4.      Gotham – Speaking of the DC Universe, Gotham makes its debut September 22^nd and will feature the beginnings of the Bruce Wayne and police commissioner Gordon (just a lowly detective at this point.) Hoping to cash in like Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., DC will also feature the beginnings of super villains The Joker, The Penguin and Poison Ivy.

5.      Sons Of Anarchy – The final season for FX’s most successful show is set to start September 9^th for 12 more glorious episodes. This entire series has been building to this climax and creator Kurt Sutter has masterfully dictated the pace. Gemma really “forked” up last season (horrible pun intended) and now our anti-hero Jax has some tough decisions to make.

6.      Hell On Wheels – As a treat this AMC western drama will premier its 4^th season August 2^nd. It’s the story of the first continental railroad’s construction by the Union Pacific in the 1860’s. The engaging storylines following a railroad tycoon, a recently freed slave and a vengeful Southern soldier make for a great watch. Even if westerns aren’t your thing, this one is well worth it.

7.      Boardwalk Empire – HBO’s prohibition-era gangster series set in Atlantic City, NJ is set to start its 5^th season on September 7^th. Steve Buscemi is captivating as Enoch “Nuckie” Thompson, crime boss of the time who based on an actual historical figure, Enoch L. Johnson. No word on whether this will be the last season, but faithful watchers like myself hope there is least one more. That’s right HBO, I’m looking at you.

8.      The Blacklist – NBC struck gold with this James Spader action drama about a former government agent turned criminal genius turned informer. Red Reddington will return September 22^nd to give us more clues about his history and true intentions. Probably the best show of its kind on network television.

9.      Scandal – ABC made parent company Disney blush with this sexy political drama but its huge popularity has guaranteed its return on September 25^th. Kerry Washington plays Olivia Pope, a political “fixer” who gets called in to advert various scandals, in and around Washington DC, including the White House. This show keeps you guessing and has at least one “omg” moment per episode.

10.   Constantine – Based on the comic book series Hellblazer, this new action series will debut October 24^th on NBC. It’s the story of dark magician John Constantine and his fight against supernatural powers that threaten humanity. I’m on the fence about this one, but the comic was so good, I’m giving it a chance.

Feeling Old…

I’m not old.

That’s what I keep telling myself. How can I be old? My memories seem fresh and vivid. I clearly remember my 21^st birthday…well… okay, bad example. But I do remember being 21 and it quite literally feels like just few years ago. Of course I also remember being 31 and 41, so this gets a little confusing.

So I am old. Crap. What the hell happened? 

This is an enigma of life and a never-ending dialogue from one generation to the next. Just reading this post, a generation younger (my sons) won’t really understand it. And a generation older (my mom and her sisters) will laugh because they have been trying to convey it to me for years. But they shouldn’t laugh too hard because the generation ahead of them is howling! And on it goes.

But it occurs to me that you never feel old all at once, it’s a myriad of little things that brings you to the eventual realization that you are Danny Glover’s Roger Murtaugh and that you are indeed “too old for this s***.”

Here are some instances in my life that have cleared the fog of youthful self-delusion. Take of it what you will.

• The first time I heard Nirvana played on a classic rock station. I was positive it was a mistake until some quick math made me wince. Damn, it qualified
• When I really eyed that motorized chair at Walmart. Nope, not yet.
• Realized that comfort outweighs style in footwear. Pretty much.
• The 80’s are to now as the 50’s were to the 80’s. Think about it. Especially when catching a re-run of Roseanne.
• The first time I lied about my age for no good reason at all.
• Picked more grey hair from the hairbrush than brown. It was neck-and-neck for a while, but grey has now taken the lead.
• When I first referred to college-aged people as “those damn kids.”
• When I pulled out my ID at a store for alcohol and the clerk laughed out loud. The sign says, “We Check ID If You Look Under 40.” Damn kids.
• Once I had dinner before 6pm. I skipped lunch, I swear.
• I’m closer to retirement than the start of my adult life. I really need to get a career…
• Mid-life crises make complete sense now.
• Pain can appear in any part of my body, at any time and for no particular reason.
• Movie theaters are loud. Really loud.
• Pepto-Bismol is the elixir of life.
• And the coup de grace, I uttered the phrase: “When I was a kid…” That one stung.

There are many more, but those immediately came to mind. Like I said, take of it what you will. I’m realizing that aging and age really comes down to perspective. So you should do your best to keep yours.

10 Chick Flicks That I Admit to Liking...

I love movies. My wife likes movies. However, it's rare to find a movie that matches both of our tastes, so this leads to compromises. She will watch a couple of action/fantasy/sci-fi movies (as long as they aren't too gory) and I will watch romantic comedies/tear jerkers/love stories (as long as they aren't too "estrogenized".)

So in that spirit, I have compiled a list of “Chick Flicks” that I consider good (or watchable). Different movies made this list for different reasons. No, ladies, "The Notebook" is not on here. Sorry, but I have to draw the line somewhere.

1. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – My wife's all-time favorite romantic comedy. It's a funny and enjoyable movie about a Greek-American woman who goes through a bit of a rough time (the first 30 years of her life) before getting a make-over and dating a non-Greek. It's a clash of cultures when they fall in love and get engaged. And there is a sequel in the works! Oy vey. (Yes, I know that's Yiddish, but it's all Greek to me.)
   
2. Steel Magnolias – Originally a play, this movie follows six Southern women in a small Louisiana town, as they share laughter and tears (sometimes both at once.) This movie is a true tear-jerker (damn you Shelby!) I absolutely love Shirley MacLaine and Olympia Dukakis as they constantly go at each other with barbs and insults. Meg Ryan was originally supposed to play Julia Roberts part, but had already committed to When Harry Met Sally. Not to bash Julia, but I personally think Meg would have been better.
   
3. When Harry Met Sally – Speaking of Meg Ryan, she is great with Billy Crystal in this Rob Reiner rom/com. Following two people over a 15 year period from acquaintances to friends to lovers to friends to... well, just see it if you haven't. Of course the best scene is Meg in the restaurant (those who have seen it know exactly which scene) and Rob Reiner's mother has a cameo with the best line of the movie. Billy is fantastic too, with his comedic observations of relationships and life.
   
4. Sleepless in Seattle – Speaking of Meg Ryan...wait, just did that. This Nora Ephron movie follows a widower (played by Tom Hanks) as his son tries to find him a new wife. Oh yeah, the son (played by Ross Malinger) is adorable. Meg Ryan hears the boys on a call-in radio show talking about his father and falls in love. One of the best endings to a rom/com, at the iconic Empire State Building. You know, because New Yorkers are so romantic...
   
5. Dirty Dancing – Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze bump-and-grind there way through the summer of 1963 at a resort in the Catskill Mountains. She's the Jewish princess, he's the tough kid from the streets. Well, a tough kid who can apparently dance his butt off, because it's cool to be from Brooklyn and do the Mambo and Pachanga. If you can get over the fact she's 15 and he's in his late twenties/early thirties, this is a really good movie. Spoiler alert, in the sequel he get's 20 years for statutory. Just kidding! I never saw the sequel.
   
6. Pretty Woman – Millionaire Richard Gere falls in love with a hooker played by Julia Roberts. 'Nuff said. It made all the girls want to grow up to be hookers so they could find the man of their dreams. I just wanted to be a millionaire. Well, looks like both dreams were dashed against the rocks of life. Jason Alexander from Seinfeld steals the show as a sleezeball lawyer. Did that guy ever have hair?
   
7. Legally Blonde – Reese Witherspoon shines as a (seemingly) vacuous girl who gets into Harvard Law School so she can win back her man. Of course, along the way she discovers she really can be smart and pretty at the same time! Hey, being a lawyer is better than being a hooker (wait, strike that.)
   
8. Titanic – James Cameron could have made an action-packed thriller, but instead he turns into a love story and makes the highest grossing movie of all time. Well played, sir. Leonardo DeCaprio and Kate Winslet are the classic poor boy meets rich girl and fall in love. One of the best tear-jerkers ever made. That said, does anyone not think that Rose could have moved her fat butt over and made room for Jack? Seriously... the plank was freaking huge.
   
9. Mystic Pizza – Another Julia Roberts flick, this one follows three childhood friends (Julia, Annabeth Gish and Lili Taylor) as they find love in different ways. Julia hooks up with a rich kid, Annabeth with a married man and Lili with a fisherman. All this and Portuguese pizza too! Gotta love Vince D'Onofrio post-Full Metal Jacket and pre-Law and Order. He and Conchata Ferrell steal each scene in which they appear.
   
10. Gone With The Wind – The sweeping epic story of Scarlet and Rhett. Everyone knows the story and has seen the movie, but like Wizard of Oz, you can watch it 100 times and still love it. (Although that would be 400 hours of your life...) Of course, every time I watch it, I get more and more annoyed with Ashley Wilkes. What a pansy. The movie could have been 2 hours and had a happy ending if Ashley had “a pair.”
    
    

10 “Chick Flicks” That I Will Admit To Liking

I love movies. My wife likes movies. However, it's rare to find a movie that matches both of our tastes, so this leads to compromises. She will watch a couple of action/fantasy/sci-fi movies (as long as they aren't too gory) and I will watch romantic comedies/tear jerkers/love stories (as long as they aren't too "estrogenized".)
So in that spirit, I have compiled a list of “Chick Flicks” that I consider good (or watchable). Different movies made this list for different reasons. No, ladies, "The Notebook" is not on here. Sorry, but I have to draw the line somewhere.

1. My Big Fat Greek Wedding – My wife's all-time favorite romantic comedy. It's a funny and enjoyable movie about a Greek-American woman who goes through a bit of a rough time (the first 30 years of her life) before getting a make-over and dating a non-Greek. It's a clash of cultures when they fall in love and get engaged. And there is a sequel in the works! Oy vey. (Yes, I know that's Yiddish, but it's all Greek to me.)
   
2. Steel Magnolias – Originally a play, this movie follows six Southern women in a small Louisiana town, as they share laughter and tears (sometimes both at once.) This movie is a true tear-jerker (damn you Shelby!) I absolutely love Shirley MacLaine and Olympia Dukakis as they constantly go at each other with barbs and insults. Meg Ryan was originally supposed to play Julia Roberts part, but had already committed to When Harry Met Sally. Not to bash Julia, but I personally think Meg would have been better.
   
3. When Harry Met Sally – Speaking of Meg Ryan, she is great with Billy Crystal in this Rob Reiner rom/com. Following two people over a 15 year period from acquaintances to friends to lovers to friends to... well, just see it if you haven't. Of course the best scene is Meg in the restaurant (those who have seen it know exactly which scene) and Rob Reiner's mother has a cameo with the best line of the movie. Billy is fantastic too, with his comedic observations of relationships and life.
   
4. Sleepless in Seattle – Speaking of Meg Ryan...wait, just did that. This Nora Ephron movie follows a widower (played by Tom Hanks) as his son tries to find him a new wife. Oh yeah, the son (played by Ross Malinger) is adorable. Meg Ryan hears the boys on a call-in radio show talking about his father and falls in love. One of the best endings to a rom/com, at the iconic Empire State Building. You know, because New Yorkers are so romantic...
   
5. Dirty Dancing – Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze bump-and-grind there way through the summer of 1963 at a resort in the Catskill Mountains. She's the Jewish princess, he's the tough kid from the streets. Well, a tough kid who can apparently dance his butt off, because it's cool to be from Brooklyn and do the Mambo and Pachanga. If you can get over the fact she's 15 and he's in his late twenties/early thirties, this is a really good movie. Spoiler alert, in the sequel he get's 20 years for statutory. Just kidding! I never saw the sequel.
   
6. Pretty Woman – Millionaire Richard Gere falls in love with a hooker played by Julia Roberts. 'Nuff said. It made all the girls want to grow up to be hookers so they could find the man of their dreams. I just wanted to be a millionaire. Well, looks like both dreams were dashed against the rocks of life. Jason Alexander from Seinfeld steals the show as a sleezeball lawyer. Did that guy ever have hair?
   
7. Legally Blonde – Reese Witherspoon shines as a (seemingly) vacuous girl who gets into Harvard Law School so she can win back her man. Of course, along the way she discovers she really can be smart and pretty at the same time! Hey, being a lawyer is better than being a hooker (wait, strike that.)
   
8. Titanic – James Cameron could have made an action-packed thriller, but instead he turns into a love story and makes the highest grossing movie of all time. Well played, sir. Leonardo DeCaprio and Kate Winslet are the classic poor boy meets rich girl and fall in love. One of the best tear-jerkers ever made. That said, does anyone not think that Rose could have moved her fat butt over and made room for Jack? Seriously... the plank was freaking huge.
   
9. Mystic Pizza – Another Julia Roberts flick, this one follows three childhood friends (Julia, Annabeth Gish and Lili Taylor) as they find love in different ways. Julia hooks up with a rich kid, Annabeth with a married man and Lili with a fisherman. All this and Portuguese pizza too! Gotta love Vince D'Onofrio post-Full Metal Jacket and pre-Law and Order. He and Conchata Ferrell steal each scene in which they appear.
   
10. Gone With The Wind – The sweeping epic story of Scarlet and Rhett. Everyone knows the story and has seen the movie, but like Wizard of Oz, you can watch it 100 times and still love it. (Although that would be 400 hours of your life...) Of course, every time I watch it, I get more and more annoyed with Ashley Wilkes. What a pansy. The movie could have been 2 hours and had a happy ending if Ashley had “a pair.”
    
    

9 Things You Probably Don’t Know About Riding a Motorcycle

I love to ride motorcycles and have done so for a couple of decades now. Millions of people worldwide would agree that there is nothing like the feeling of riding on an open road during a beautiful day.

However, it’s not all sunshine and roses. Everything good has drawbacks. There are aspects of riding a motorcycle that non-riders cannot appreciate. Sacrifices, if you will. It’s a dedicated rider that looks past these and continue on. Me? I just like to complain…

1. Rain – Rain hurts. A lot. Do the math; if you are riding 70 miles an hour, then you are being pelted by 70 mile an hour raindrops. Equivalent to a hurricane. Throw in the fact that most glasses and visors do not come with wipers, now you’re blind too. But hey, at least you can look forward to wearing wet jeans for the next 5 hours.
2. Cold – Not as much of a factor in southern states, it’s a big factor in the rest. When riding, 70 degrees feels like 60 degrees. 60 degrees, however, feels like 40 degrees. See the way this works? Some riders wear chaps to help protect their legs. I can’t, unfortunately, as the resemblance to the Village People is too great.
3. Heat – On the other side of the coin, heat can be just as uncomfortable. When riding, it feels perfect, but in heavy traffic or long lights, your bike turns into an oven and the sun tries to bake your skull through your helmet. AC? That’s for cages! I’ll just keep an eye open for roadside sprinklers.
4. Engine Heat – This is different from outside heat. Air cooled engines on bikes are fine as long as you are moving. One you come to a slow roll or stop, it’s a different story. The heat that comes off a big engine feels like it can cook your leg right through your jeans and boots. I like mine medium rare.
5. Your hands – No one ever tells you that your right hand will constantly be numb. It usually takes about 15 to 20 minutes, but it’s inevitable. You release the throttle, shake your hand for a second, and then reapply. A never ending cycle. Thanks god for cruise control.
6. Invisibility – No one ever sees you. And if they do, you would swear they were trying to hit you. It doesn’t matter if you have the biggest, loudest and shiniest bike on the road. Grandma doesn’t see you and she’s coming in your lane. Safety in numbers is your best bet.
7. Storage – I have saddle bags on my bike, which are life savers. However, sometimes I‘ll forget I rode the bike to the grocery store and bring out 6 full bags. Then its 10 minutes of playing “Tetris” trying to make it all fit. 5 minutes of determining what can be balanced in the handlebars or the seat behind you. 5 minutes of arguing with yourself over basic safety and distance to home.  And then finally, another 10 minutes of taking things back into the store for a refund.
8. Eating and Drinking – Although extremely easy in a car, not so much on a bike. This also goes for smoking, talking, spitting, scratching, stretching and texting. Hmm, maybe it is safer in a bike…
9. Parking – Parking on a downward slope in a street side space is a mistake you only make once. It took my wife pushing from the front while I was on the bike trying to steer. “Reverse” is something you never think about until you don’t have it.
10. Radio – I’m lucky enough to have a stereo on my bike, perfect for long rides. I did not realize how loud it is. Everyone within half a mile can hear it. This directly influences what music you listen too. I learned this while riding down the road, thinking I’m looking cool because of the looks that I’m getting. Then I realized I was singing along to the song from Disney’s Frozen; much much less cool. Ear buds anyone?

Riders should get a chuckle or two from this and non-riders probably won’t understand until they climb aboard. If it looks like I’m complaining, I’m not. I enjoy riding in all types of conditions. It can be sunny, clear and 75 degrees or sunny, clear and 76 degrees, either way I’m good.