Shane Life

I really liked Brian’s post about his favorites of 2006, so I thought I would drop mine onto the internets.

Favorite Book: This is a tough one. I’ve read more books this year than in any year past. If I wanted to seem all intellectual and whatnot, I’d say that The Tipping Point was my favorite read. And truthfully, it was my favorite non-fiction read of the year. Great writing and a fascinating book. However, I would probably say that my favorite book of the year was Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Call me cheesy or whatever, but after reading all 6 Harry Potter books this year, I finally see what the big deal is. While I held high acclaim for several books this year (I had about 8 that scored higher than 9 out of 10 on my scale, including The Historian, which I called “the best book I’ve read in the last 5 years”), I can’t think of a single book outside of the fifth in the Harry Potter series that I enjoyed more.

Favorite Movie: OK, so the year’s not yet over, but I’m going to need to categorize my favorite movies…

Favorite Comedy: There were not a lot of terribly funny movies out there this year. Out of the few, I had a great time watching both The Devil Wears Prada and Little Miss Sunshine. Very different movies, but both were a lot of fun. However, my favorite comedy of the year was Stranger than Fiction. Honorable mentions for Clerks 2 and Thank You for Smoking.

Favorite Drama: Another tough one. I would like to retract my earlier statement that Leonardo di Caprio did not deserve two Best Actor nominations. After seeing Blood Diamond, I realized that he deserved every bit of them. Blood Diamond is excellent as was The Departed. I would give a slight edge to The Departed only because Jack Nicholson is so awesome in it.

Favorite Action: Casino Royale. Hands down.

Favorite Animated: Cars. Pixar does what only Pixar can do.

Favorite TV Sitcom: The Office is my clear choice here, but it is followed closely by How I Met Your Mother, which Alli and I have dubbed “the new Friends”.

Favorite TV Drama: Lost has really lost a lot of steam. Even at the top of its game, I don’t think I would enjoy it more than I am enjoying Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip these days.

Favorite TV Reality: Top Chef. Always Top Chef.

Favorite TV New: Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Perhaps my favorite show on TV right now. Honorable mention for the late Six Degrees.

Favorite Album: Either St. Elsewhere by Gnarls Barkley or Continuum by John Mayer.

Favorite Event: Changing jobs. It was really hard to leave PSI, but it’s been a great experience so far. I’m really liking my new position. Also, the Chiefs making the playoffs is up there.

Favorite Home Improvement Project: I would probably say the tiling project if Alli and I hadn’t decided to make our bedroom a priority. We just got a bed, nightstands, new lamps, and drapes. Totally changes it (although we haven’t gotten the bed yet). Now we just need a new mattress.

Favorite Trip: VEGAS BABY.

Favorite Poker Night: Coming back from being desperately short-stacked to winning in the longest heads-up match against Darin at Jason’s house.

Favorite Restaurant: Pizza Shack. Would have been Chipotle if not for an AWESOME 30th birthday outing.

Favorite Present: Easily my painting.

That should be all for now. Here’s to a great 2007.

Via Buzz Patrol, I saw this on Foxnews.com.

Studio 60 Cancellation Imminent

In an unbelievable stroke of idiocy, people are not watching Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, even though it is one of the best-made shows on TV. I beg of you, dear reader. If you are not watching this show, please give it a chance. It is genius. It’s funny and well-written and well-acted.

Please.

UPDATE (from IMDb.com’s Studio Briefing):

NBC Chief Says ‘Studio 60′ Will Stay

NBC Universal CEO Robert Wright has denied reports that Aaron Sorkin’s Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip is about to be canceled. In an interview with FoxNews.com’s Roger Friedman, who originally quoted insiders as saying that the show was about to be yanked from the network’s schedule, Wright said such a move was unlikely because “We have too much money invested in it. … I think it will go on.”

I’ve been looking forward to the fall TV season since Entourage went off the air back in early August. All of the television pundits claim that this is a banner year for TV with many great new shows coming out this fall. I’ve had my eye on a few, but I don’t know if I’ll find a way to watch all of them…I can’t imagine that one won’t be cancelled soon.

We’ve checked out a few shows so far, with a few more to come. Here are my initial thoughts:

‘Til Death - I had high hopes for this show starring Everybody Loves Raymond star Brad Garrett and Eddie Kaye Thomas (Finch from American Pie). We’re two episodes in and there’s not much good to say. The show has some funny moments, but for the most part, it’s just another sitcom with a lousy view of marriage. The premise of the show is that some newlyweds move next door to a couple that has been married for a long time. The older couple does everything they can to undermine the enthusiasm of the newlyweds with their pessimism and crankiness. If the show doesn’t get better quickly, it’s getting cancelled from the DVR season recorder.

the class - An ensemble sitcom from the creators of Friends? Count me in. The first episode was last night and I think it kind of served to set up some storylines, but it could be interesting. The only people even remotely recognizable (could be said for any of the Friends cast too, initially) are Andrea Anders (who co-starred with Matt LeBlanc on the oft-maligned Joey) and Jason Ritter (son of the late John Ritter). If the writing is smart, it could be a good show. I’ll give it 4 or 5 episodes to wow me, but not more than that. It has the benefit of being on Monday before How I Met Your Mother (which also started last night…YES!), so it might get a little more leniency.

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip - This has to be one of the most anticipated shows of the new season. Giant cast (Matthew Perry, Amanda Peet, Bradley Whitford, Steven Weber, Sara Paulson), high-profile writer (Aaron Sorkin of The West Wing fame), and a decent time slot (it only really has to compete against the juggernaut, Miami-flavored, awful David Caruso starring CSI. I really was looking forward to this show, especially to see what Matthew Perry would do in a more serious role. The show is centered around two guys who have taken over a Saturday-Night-Live-esque show on the fictional network NBC…errrr….NBS. I never really was able to get into The West Wing, but I LOVE this show. Alli and I are really excited because we finally have another hour-long show to replace Alias. The first episode was fast-paced, riveting, and well-acted. I thought Amanda Peet was terrific and I’m really excited for this show over most of the others that will likely get cancelled. By the way, they are showing the entire first episode on nbc.com.

So that’s it for now. There are others coming up that I’ll be recording, particularly Twenty Good Years with John Lithgow and Jeffrey Tambor, which looks good, although I don’t know if there will be enough scenes for each of these guys to chew. I also am anticipating Tina Fey’s first foray into sitcom writing with 30 Rock, although I can’t assume that NBC will put THAT many good shows on TV. Let’s hope though. I’m also looking forward to JJ Abrams’ new show Six Degrees. Could be interesting.

I’m a TV freak, I know, but hey…that’s me.