Macgirl's Media Pick of the Week: Farscape Flashback

I'm going way back for this favorite TV show, to the turn of the century...the year 2000.  Just moved into a new apartment, this one with cable included!  Sc-fi junky that I was, the commercials for the new show Farscape had me hooked. I was thrilled to have the Sci-Fi Channel, and watching Farscape was a can't miss event each week.

Airing in the US on the Sci-Fi Channel (now sy-fy...sigh), this creative space-journey TV series was conceived by Rockne S. O'Bannon.   Produced by Jim Henson Productions and Hallmark, the show featured Henson Muppets as key characters.  The main plot point revolves around a US astronaut from our time (John Crichton) who gets sucked through a wormhole near Earth and is ejected into the middle of an epic space battle.  He clips a passing ship as he arrives, leading to a death and a brother's revenge plot.  After being rescued by a rouge group of escapees flying in a living space craft (Moya), each show is formed around a mini-arch for the episode, and follows the overall arch of Crichton being pursued by multiple baddies, and his trying to get back to the wormhole.  It may sound a bit hokey, but the set design, acting and writing are compelling and just plain entertaining.

All 4 seasons and the concluding mini-series are available on netflix, or through iTunes (links below).

Farscape, Season 1 - Farscape

Farscape, Season 2 - Farscape

Farscape, Season 3 - Farscape

Farscape, Season 4 - Farscape

Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars

Macgirl Media Pick of the Week: Mumford & Sons

I am loving Mumford & Sons right now.  It's hard to believe this week's pick is a band that just formed in 2007.  They have a depth and quality of decades-old performers.  The band is comprised of members Marcus Mumford, Country Winston, Ben Lovett, and Ted Dwane.  Their sound is achy and twangy, like a mix of Wilco and My Morning Jacket.  This young group of friends have brought me the best song I've heard in ages...Little Lion Man.

Here's the Little Lion Man video for your enjoyment:

Macgirl Media Pick of the Week: DEVO!

Did I just hear new DEVO coming out of the living room speakers!  Yes!  Completely off my incredibly  short-range radar, DEVO is totally rocking with a new album, Something for Everybody.

I feel like a teenager again.  After delving in to the new music, it seems this record is more modern and mature than older works.   Or, maybe, I'm older and more mature!  Either way, its a great album and I'm glad they are still kickin it. 

You can check it out on their website, or find it on iTunes here: Something for Everybody (Deluxe Version) - Devo

Macgirl Media Pick of the Week: The Prisoner (1967 Original Series)

I just completed a delightful ride, a precurser to the mystery and confusion of LOST...The Prisoner.  The Prisoner, starring Patrick McGoohan, was a true work of art. Part spy vs. spy, part political statement, and all around clever at every turn.  The writing is solid throughout the series.  Originally planned as a miniseries, and produced in the UK, the show ended abruptly with a finale episode in the middle of season two, at 17 episodes.  There has been some controversy about the ending of the show, but I must say without giving anything away-I really enjoyed it.

So take the time and fire up some great mind bending sci-fi/action/fun!

Macgirl Media Pick of the Week: Hello Dolly!

After my last viewing of Wall-E (also known as one of my favorite movies ever) I decided I had to see the musical referenced so heavily in the film. And so, a few days later, Hello Dolly was at my door in a nice little red envelope.

I was totally captured from the first scene.  The frozen streetscape provoked a deep concentration- what am I looking at?  Why isn't anyone moving?  Then, off in the distance, a tiny train started to move across the screen.  As the world opened up and became alive, I couldn't look away.  This is a musical with creativity and amazing actors.  I usually get bored when the "singing" parts happen- not in this case.  I was fully in love- with the scenery, the feeling of a play being acted out in miniature right in front of me in my living room.  Who knew I loved Barbra Streisand?  Who knew I'd watch it again the next day, and find myself singing the signature song, Hello Dolly, while making dinner? 

Hello Dolly is a wonderfully romantic and light comedy that anyone can identify with.  Starring Walter Matthau, Barbra Streisand and Michael Crawford, the cast is amazing.  The fun songs and great acting are not to be missed.  If you were intrigued by the music in Wall-E, be sure to rent Hello Dolly.  It is a fabulous fun ride, and I'm glad I caught it.