Sopranos Goes Out With A Whimper

Actually a whimper is too strong a word. The Sopranos series finale went out with...a big nothing. A quick cut to black and silence, mid Journey song even ("Don't Stop Believing" -- but believing in what?!). A fill-in-the-blank ending for every viewer. This is the lamest outcome I ever feared for the show, but my fears increased throughout that last episode. I thought life was coming together too quick and easy for everybody. The fabulous penultimate episode with all out war between NY and New Jersey crews breaking out really sucked me in and had me drooling for an amazing ending. But it was all a fake out. Where is Deadwood when I need it most? Oh yeah, canceled.

Now I'm left with nothing but memories of Lost, which did live up to its hype and provided a great season ending episode a few weeks ago, to last me through the summer. The Sopranos letdown also reminded me of what could be the greatest final episode ever - the finale of HBO's Six Feet Under. They flashed forward and gave closure for every character, that was a fantastic ending, and it stuck with me for weeks. As for Tony and family, I'll just assume the various suspicious strangers in the restaurant opened fire and wiped them all out; blood splattering all over their onion rings. I'd hate to think creator David Chase did the non-ending so they can reunite for movies down the road. I think the backlash is gonna be big. I am a fan of ambiguous endings, but this was ridiculous and maddening. It just reeks of writers who didn't know how to end their story.

Can't wait to see how many people post their own Sopranos endings to YouTube and the like.

Hurray Up Wednesday!

Man, this feels like the slowest moving week ever! I'm dying to get to Wednesday for the season finale of LOST. This season - the third for the show - has come on huge over the last few months after a rather tepid start. I've been running to Lost sites and blogs more than ever before, anyone who gave up on the show due to a lack of answers has been missing out. Lost is just the best show on TV, the layers to the writing and performances seem never ending. It is the only show I'm talking about days, even weeks, after each episode airs. For the last couple months I no longer look forward to weekends, I only look forward to Wednesdays. Though I am thrilled that the series itself will have an ending. In an unprecedented move, ABC has made a deal with the producers to end the show in 2010, after six seasons. This lets the producers tell the full story, without filler episodes and trying to stretch too little story over too many years (hello Star Wars prequels) for the sake of ratings and money. That is the sort of fate that killed once great programs like The X-Files and Twin Peaks.

24 wraps up tonight and The Sopranos has only two more episodes, but neither inspires the curiosity, interest and fervor in me that Lost does. This season of 24 has just felt like a jumble of repeats from previous years, the only real surprises happened in the first couple hours. But I have to give the show credit; for five season it kept topping itself. It is only here in season 6 that it has felt flat. Which is rather amazing because I didn't think it could even live up to it's first season again. So unless Jack Bauer dies tonight (for real) I don't think anything can save the season for me.

West Coast

Spent last week in California for work and had the chance to run around San Francisco a bit with Larry The Lizard. Larry has been there many times, but there is very little photographic evidence. Even had a mini PlasticVille reunion as we spent some time with Leominster refugees Matt and Maribeth.

IA Release Day

After many months of wondering and worrying, "Illegal Aliens" is out on DVD. You can buy or rent it at major and minor stores and websites all over the US. So why aren't you watching it right now? Do it for little Dannielynn if not for me. Hell, do it for Larry The Lizard - this is his first movie since "Mr. Deeds."

We celebrated IA Day by attending a Draft Recap presentation by the Patriots down at Gillette Stadium. I still can't believe Randy Moss is a Patriot. On top of all the other great off-season acquisitions (Adalious Thomas, Donte Stallworth, Wes Welker...) and considering how close we came to the Super Bowl last year; the Patriots have to be considered the favorites to win it all again next season. As long as everyone stays healthy and out of trouble, this will be the most potent Patriots' offense ever!

Scott Pioli (Pats VP - Player Personnel) got a huge ovation when he said there was still room for Troy Brown. TB, the Pat's all-time leading receiver, is currently an unsigned free agent while he recovers from off-season surgery. Very glad to see that even the "all business" Patriots realize there are some fan favorites that just can't play football anywhere else - like Troy and Tedy Bruschi. They should be Patriots as long as they want to.

More "Illegal Aliens" Stories

Here are a couple "Illegal Aliens" articles from the Burlington Free Press.
Made in Vermont: Marketing tricky for Anna Nicole film
Anna Nicole Smith's funeral 'beautiful and strange,' director says

Be on the lookout next week for stories in "People" and "In-Touch" magazines as well as on all the expected TV shows - Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, The Insider...

Wow - Dennis Lemoine gets his own story!
Exeter man starred in films with Anna Nicole Smith