Hello World

Hey Everyone!

James here. This is the very first entry of JamesThoughts (which really is a working title... if anyone has any suggestions, let me know). As I sit here, jetlagged as hell, I can only think one question:
Why a blog? Why JamesThoughts? Why not IanThoughts as my good friend Ian suggested?
The last question can easily be answered by the fact that I already tried to blog Ian's thoughts a couple of months ago, and spending that much time in that man's mind proved to be dangerous to my health and society as a whole.
I have no clue what this blog will be like. Most likely, it will track the creative process as I take on new projects as an actor and writer. I might recap my thoughts on movies I've seen and some of my favorite TV shows, or I might philosophize on life in general. This will not be a log of how my feelings waver from day to day (I spent way too much time doing that on livejournal in highschool and my freshman year of college... it was a horrible habit, haha). It's just a place for me to share some thoughts.

I figure since I spend a good deal of time obsessing over TV shows, I might as well rehash/preview some of the Season Finales:
(Warning: The rehashes will include spoilers)

The Office:
Once Arrested Development went off the air, this became by far my favorite comedy on TV. Everything about the Office is great: the acting, the writing, the ability to mix silliness with the sentimental. I think this season's finale pretty much showcased all of these great elements. It's amazing that a show that can pull off jokes about Schrutebucks and Stanleynickles can still provide an emotional punch with a beautiful sequence where Jim find's Pam's "Don't Forget Us When You're Famous" note. As much as I really did like Jim and Karen together, it feels very right that Jim and Pam are now dating. It should be interesting to see how the writers handle them as a couple. Much of the show was built upon the tension of ther "Will They Get Together" question. Personally, I think the writers are skilled enough to make as compelling a story for Jim and Pam as a couple as they did with them apart, without going cliche and breaking them up early on (which would make me a very sad panda).
Other highlights of the episode were creedthoughts (which was the inspiration for this blog, and is actually posted on nbc.com... really check it out. Even for the internet, it's quite shocking), Pam being the secret Assistant (to the) Regional Manager, Andy's interviewing skills, and pretty much anything with Michael and Jan.
Overall, this episode gets 10 Schrutebucks out of 10.

Grey's Anatomy:
This was a disappointing end to an uneven season. I really did enjoy the first two seasons of Grey's, and I have to wonder if developing the "Private Practice" spinoff didn't stretch out Shonda Rhimes a bit. Meredith and Derek's relationship really did not make sense to me. The conflict that was mounting the past few weeks felt very forced, and Meredith declaration of "It's so over" was more pathetic than anything. The whole "Who's going to be the next chief" ended with a whimper, as an arc that took up the better part of the season ended with everything conveniently remaining the same! More over, this finale was just a bummer, and I don't feel the overpowering urge to know what happens (like I did after last season). I really hope Grey's finds it mojo again, because I miss it.
3 Schrutebucks out of 10.

Heroes:
I thought this really wrapped up the season nicely. I know the battle at the end was a little anti-climatic, but I thought it was really cool how everything came to a head at the end. This finale did everything I wanted it to: entertained me, provided a satisfying (if not a little predictable) conclusion to a great story, and left me wanting more and really looking forward to next season (despite the prospect of the cheesy spinoff: Heroes: Origins).
8 Schutebucks and 50 Stanley Nickles (or an 8.5 out of 10).

Now to prehash really quickly:

American Idol: I hate Blake. He's way too cheesy and not good enough a singer or performer to win the show. I absolutely despised his version of "You Give Love A Bad Name." Go Jordin!

Lost: Oh my freaking Lord, I cannot wait. I have no clue what's going to happen, and I like it that way.


Alright, well, I'm very tired and delirious and trying to figure out if farty is a real word.
Till next time,

James