Home
OBSESSION OF THE WEEK
I exposed my 5-year-old daughter Violet to a little girl power last week — Japanese girl power! Instead of allowing her to sit through kiddie crap like Dora or Dragon Tales or...honestly, I have no idea what 5-year-old girls watch these days — I let her take in the genius that is G4's Women of Ninja Warrior. For those unfamiliar with this program, it's a Japanese game show where competitors attempt to make it through insane obstacle courses without face-planting in muddy water or running out of time. And now the channel is in the midst of showing ladies attacking the course. (See, pumpkin, girls can do anything boys can do!) It's actually our second-favorite Japanese obstacle-course game show. No. 1 would be Unbeatable Banzuke, also on G4. Violet, her older brother Dale, and I love Banzuke because the people on it don't just have to navigate the course, they have to do it on their hands, on a unicycle, or some other ridiculous contraption, like a wheelbarrow shaped like a cat. But what kind of lessons are these programs teaching children, you ask? That if they spend thousands of hours training themselves in some near-obsolete form of transportation, they too might be able to make it on Japanese television! Big in Japan, baby!
THE FIVE
A list of My Favorite Zombie Films of All Time: Watch it now...if you dare!!!
READER MAIL
Hi, remember me? Okay, it's been a while since I got around to writing a Glutton column — about a month, by my count. I could make excuses — been busy at work, was traveling, family medical issues — and in fact, I believe I just did! Anyway, I suppose this is a lame apology of sorts, and I'm sort of acting like the Fonz being unable to say he's s-s-s-s-sorrrrrrrrry. But I am sorry. And I further apologize for all the future weeks that I'll leave you hanging. Not like you care. I'm sure you have better things to do, like descrambling Doc Jensen or voting for that adorable David Archuleta on American Idol. Most of the mail that came in after the last column centered on the great Friday Night Lights debate of 2008, but you know what? We've gone back and forth on that show too many times. I'm cutting the cord, people! Since there's talk that the football drama will make it to a third season, we'll have plenty more opportunities to discuss the Dillon Panthers. Let's move on to other subjects, such as everyone's (except Oscar's) favorite sound mixer, the grandfather of reality TV, and the great-grandfather of videogames.
So did Kevin O'Connell win anything this time around? For the first time in 7 or 8 years I actually considered watching the Oscars (I didn't) just to see if I heard his name. —Bryce Gast
Had you watched, you would have heard his name, but not as a winner. For the 20th time, O'Connell was robbed — robbed, I say! The great thing about Kevin, however, is that he's such a positive dude, he won't let something like this get him down. He prefers to focus on being a 20-time Oscar nominee. (How many people can boast of that?) Plus, you know he'll be nominated 20 more times. He'll get his. And I can't wait for that day to come.
Regarding your top five variety shows, where's Sonny and Cher? That show was chockfull of cheesy goodness. —Jesssica Platzer
You know, I never got Sonny and Cher as a couple. Cher was long, leggy, and gorgeous, while Sonny was...well, Sonny. But that mismatch worked for them on their cheese-tastic variety show. Still, I say that the five on my list were even cheesier. Check it out and judge for yourself.
I was wondering...in this age of TiVo and video on demand, etc., why is it that Survivor never re-airs episodes like other reality shows (on Bravo and VH1) that re-air endlessly? Because of a mixed-up priority pass on my TiVo, I missed two episodes of Survivor and now I feel like, what's the use of catching up? I know that they can be found on the website but I prefer my easy chair and TV :) —Kim Basinski
Wow, a Survivor question for me? I don't know if I'm equipped to handle it. Isn't that a reality show or something? Well, let me give it a shot anyway. The reason CBS doesn't re-air Survivor episodes is actually pretty simple: Bravo and VH1 have 24 hours of programming to fill each day, so they rerun things ad nauseam, while CBS — once you factor in news, soap operas, and talk shows — has just a few hours a night to show its new programming. Doesn't really make sense for the network to repeat a program twice in the same week, especially a reality show (most of which typically do not repeat well). However, I believe episodes of Survivor (as well as Big Brother, should you care to indulge in that sad sack of a cast) are available on demand on many cable systems, so you could check there. It's worth it, actually — this Survivor season has been fantastic.
Any chance that Survivor Live will return this season? I miss seeing you every Friday! —Chris Wisdom
Okay, I know what you're all thinking: This letter is fake. Dalton made it up so he could shamelessly plug his new Survivor Talk EW.com show where he and Josh Wolk interview the latest Survivor cast-off each week. I mean, just look at that phony-baloney name — Chris Wisdom? The whole thing is a fake! Here's the thing, though. It's real! I swear. Now, that does not mean that I didn't decide to pick the letter to place in the column to shamelessly plug my new Survivor Talk EW.com show where Josh Wolk and I interview the latest Survivor cast-off each week, even providing the link twice for maximum shamelessness. But I didn't make it up! Chris Wisdom does in fact exist. Show yourself, Chris Wisdom! Don't leave me hanging! Anyone? Bueller? Anyone?
My favorite game from the '80s is Atari's Space Invaders, and for the life of me I can't understand why they exclude it every time they do one of those Atari game compilations like for PS2, etc. I already own two of those game compilations and Space Invaders is nowhere to be found. It's a conspiracy, I tell you! —Sheree Griffin
With apologies to the genius simplicity of Pong, Space Invaders was the first HUGE videogame. I mean, everyone under the age of 20 was completely obsessed with it, myself included. But I'll tell you a game that is truly overlooked when considering the classic games of yesteryear: Dig Dug. I loved dropping rocks on those dastardly Pookas and Fygers. And Burger Time also seems to get short shrift as well, which is a shame. I mean, how many videogames feature a dude in a big chef's hat being chased by a giant fried egg?
Okay, so what are your nominees for most overrated film, TV show, band, actor, album, whatever? And are you out for blood when it comes to my zombie list? Send your questions, comments, and quibbles to theglutton@ew.com, or just fill out the handy-dandy form below. See ya!
