I'm a fan of procedural television.  I grew up watching Hill Street Blues, NYPD Blue, Homicide, the Commish... hell, I even sat through more than a fair share of Murder, She Wrote.  I have my parents to thank for this, specifically my mother.  She's read Patricia Cornwall and Ed McBain for as long as I can remember, watched British mystery series back when they were only aired on PBS.  Sure, when I was a kid I didn't really understand all of that stuff but as I got older and started reading things that weren't superhero comics I fell in love with the various different sub-sections of the crime genre. 

Nowadays I get my fix from TV shows like the Wire, the Shield, and Dexter (thanks to pinkhairedcyn for that one).  I watch Heat at least once a year if not more.  I read books by Duane Swierczynski, Charlie Huston, and James Ellroy. 

I'm kind of predictable when it comes to these sorts of things.  I like stuff that involves the undermining of the male persona, the terrible impact of violence, and anything with a pitch black sense of humor. 

I can also sing any song from Moulin Rouge, but that's not really what I'm talking about right now. 

I watched Burn Notice earlier today with my room mate.  It's part of the new line up of shows from USA, concerning a covert operative named Michael Winston that works with the US government.  That is until he gets black listed, the Burn Notice the show takes its name from.  He winds up stuck without funding in Miami, the FBI monitoring him, and with no clue as to who put out the burn notice on him. 

Also, it co-stars Bruce Campbell. 

Burn Notice is fun, what little I've watched of it so far.  Because of Michael's situation he is forced to take on jobs through the local branches of the retired spy network and basically becomes a down on his luck detective in the Chandler vein.  The show plays with the conceits of the procedural drama without trying to do anything ironic or undermining to them.  Michael narrates each episode, stopping the action to talk about what he's doing and sprinkling in little bits of information about tradecraft.  He's a smart, funny character and it's a very effective narration.  What is also interesting about it is that, because he's speaking directly to the viewer, the narration comes off in the same tone as a blog post.  It's a little smart-assed, self-aware, and maybe even a little self-deprecating. 

I understand that the show is a bit hit and miss, but when it hits it does so like a bullet.  I'm working on more downloads right now, so we'll see how it holds up.  

...and believe me, I've got plenty to go around, but Ive got my therapist's apointment tomorrow.  So I'll take a break tonight and simply say--

Why didn't anyone tell me that Crusade was that bad of a fucking television show?  I mean, everyone said that it was really bad, but there really should be a new word invented to describe it.  Like the inverse of "scrumtrulescent".  I open the floor to those out there to come up with a new word to describe Crusade. 

Gary Cole, Daniel Dae Kim, I hurt for you both. 

My cellphone is not working.  Of course, when I actually want it working, when it seems important to have it working, it isn't.  There is some sort of problem with my phone company.  That problem being that they suck.  So I have no phone.  Hopefully that will change tomorrow.

The other end of this is that I do have my new television.  It's all shiny black and silver, with flat screens, wide screens, and 1080i high definition screens.  It is now all set up in my living room with video game systems and surround sound speakers hooked up to it. 

And of course I'm in my bedroom, tapping away at my keyboard and not playing video games or watching movies. 

In celebration of the arrival of the new TV I am thinking of hosting some kind of party, or maybe a fete, or perhaps a soire.  Something french, apparently.  In truth, it's really just a reason to have people come over and hang out, but I figure the TV is good incentive.  It's like punch and pie.

So, is this something that people would want to attend?  If so, when would be a good time?  Comment here or email me at mposullivan at fullmotor dot net.  I'd say you could also call me, but... well, let's not talk of that any further.