Category DirecTV

Mar 8 2015

Two New Dead Again Episodes – Why a DVR Is So Handy

Joe Schillaci, Kevin Gannon and Michele Wood are on new cases. © AETV 2014

Joe Schillaci, Kevin Gannon and Michele Wood are on new cases. © AETV 2014

If you own a DVR and really use it to it’s full potential, then you should be able to skip the first couple of paragraphs of this post. I left to go shopping this morning and was completely unaware that Dead Again, one of my new favorites on A&E was coming on with not one, but two new episodes.

Which is where my DVR comes in. Since I have it set to record all “new” episodes of Dead Again, I came again home several hours later, unpacked my groceries, walked my dog, and sat down wondering what I was going to watch on TV.

When I pressed my Play List button, I was overjoyed to find at the very top of the list, a folder entitled Dead Again with two new episodes in it – the case of Margo Prade and the murder of millionaire William McLaughlin.

With these two particular episodes I was one-for-one. I remember the case of Margo Prade, vividly. I’ve seen at least three different television shows on this particular murder, but because Dead Again is so unique, is done so differently, and the real names of the people involved aren’t revealed until the very end, I wasn’t exactly sure it was the Prade case until the last 7 minutes or so.

The second episode, the murder of William McLaughlin, I wasn’t familiar with at all, but when I googled his name, I noticed there was extensive coverage of the murder trials of both suspects that are currently serving time in prison.

One of the biggest enjoyments I get from Dead Again is the affirmation of my own opinions on cases they’ve reexamined. Most recently the Prade case. Last season there were two cases they had a go at that reaffirmed my opinions.

So what’s my advice – if you don’t want to miss any of this season’s Dead Again, you should learn how to operate your DVR.

 

 

 

Oct 21 2014

The Posse Rides Again – @LongmirePosse

This morning I received a tweet from the @LongmirePosse with a link to sign a petition: longmire.epetitions.net (you should copy the link and paste it into a new browser window if you want to sign the petition).

I of course, quickly went there to sign the petition because I, of course, have been and will continue to be a big fan of both the series and the books (written by Craig Johnson).

I myself have been a little vocal about A&E stomping all over the specific demographic that I myself are located in (55+). It’s no secret that A&E wants to distance themselves from the baby boomers even though Nielsen, AARP and several others continue to release tons of data that, in a nutshell, state that the (Nielson) 50-plus market that many advertisers ignore (or insult) is not big: IT IS ENORMOUS.

The AARP October, 2014 Bulletin

The AARP October, 2014 Bulletin

David Wallis wrote a great article that’s published in the newest AARP Bulletin entitled “Selling Us Short.” The deck of the article says: People 50+ have bucks, but advertisers don’t seem to care.

In this article he talks about advertisers that are either ignoring us, or insulting us. Take Esurance as an example and that extremely idiotic commercial starring Beatrice who tapes her recent vacation pictures to her “wall” and unfriends her friend (literally) or the woman who plays candy crush with actual candy using a hammer on her dining room table (3-in-a-row, level 2).

I’m not into rolling my eyes at stupid, insulting commercials. I just hit the 30-second fast-forward button on my DirecTV DVR remote and zap it into outer space.

No thanks Esurance, I’ll stick with my cute gecko telling jokes on the ferry.

Signing the petition isn’t just registering your vote to get a quality show like Longmire back on television. It’s also exercising your right as a 55+ demographic that many networks don’t take seriously.

The same Nielsen study found that the 50-plus market many advertisers ignore (or insult) will control 70% of the country’s disposable income by 2017. Nearly 60% of homeowners over 65 are no longer weighed down by a mortgage compared with just 11% of 35-44 year olds. Baby boomers account for 80% of America’s luxury travel spending.

And here’s a fact for Esurance – consumers over 50 buy nearly five times as many new cars (which require insurance) than does that prized 18-34 demographic.

Now armed with those facts and figures, mosey on over to that petition signing site and exercise your rights. And if you have insurance with Esurance, and you’re a baby boomer, consider cancelling and going with someone who doesn’t insult your intelligence with stupid commercials.

Amen to that! Long Live Longmire!

 

Aug 1 2014

Susie’s Hope – Proof You Shouldn’t Judge a Pit Bull By His Tail Wag

Susies Hope | UPtv.com – TV Shows – Television Shows – uplifting entertainment – Family Movies, Series, Music.

I’m sure you’ve heard a lot of horror stories about Pit Bulls. You may have heard, or read, a few stories about how a Pit Bull has saved someone. You might even know someone who has a Pit Bull that swears it’s the best dog in the world.

I’ve owned two Rottweilers. They also get a bad rap. They’re loyal, stoic dogs who will give their lives for their owners. They will literally put themselves between harm and danger and risk themselves for their owner. German Shepherds will do the same. Pit Bulls are the only other bred who is known to do this.

Unfortunately, that’s why Pit Bulls are exploited, because of their loyalty to their owners. Just in case you think you know some other facts about Pit Bulls, here’s some other myths I’m happy to disperse:

• Pit Bulls have locking jaws (incorrect). Pit Bulls jaws function the same as the jaws of any other breed.

• Pit Bulls don’t feel pain (incorrect). They feel pain just like your average collie, or just like the little chiweenie laying at my feet at this very moment.

• They clamp on with their front teeth and chew with their back teeth. If this myth were true, the Pit Bull would have moveable jaw parts.

• Pit Bulls have a higher bite force in psi’s (pounds per square inch). This one is my favorite. This particular one was actually on a Law & Order episode once. Again, wrong. The jaw and facial anatomy of the Pit Bull is not different than any other dog breed, except for extremely short muzzled breeds.

• Pit Bull attacks are similar to shark attacks. (I had a good laugh at this one.) The Pit Bull, just like any other breed is a descendant of the gray wolf.

If you want to read more myths (or facts) you can visit the same website I did. www.pitbullnakedtruth.com

On Sunday at 7pm CST the UP Network is airing a movie called Susie’s Hope. Here’s the description from UP Network: Donna Lawrence, the survivor of a pit bull attack, adopts a pit bull mix puppy that was beaten, set afire and left for dead. Together, they learn to love and forgive as they seek justice and protection for all animals. 

If you click on the link above you can watch a 30 second preview and there are a couple of stories about heroic pit bulls you’re sure to enjoy. On DirecTV, the UP Network is on Channel 338. If you won’t be home to see Susie’s Hope, don’t forget to set your DVR.

Jun 22 2014

Summer Shows – Where are They?

Longmire, The Bridge, Major Crimes, Rizzoli & Isles … those are just a few of the one-hour dramas that have returned for the summer. There’s a list of new shows that will be joining those in the coming weeks. . . you should be checking to see if you have room on your DVR.

And there are some that won’t be returning. One that I guessed wouldn’t be coming back, even as I watched the season finale was The Glades. In case you don’t remember (spoiler alert) Matt Passmore was “killed” in every sense of the word, on his wedding day.

You can see him in his new USA Network drama Satisfaction coming up July 17. Kiele Sanchez moved on to the new DirecTV drama Navy St. 

The Bridge on FX has a new showrunner, which is probably a good thing. It lost it’s way slightly toward the end of the first season. The new season begins Wednesday, July 9. It is set in and filmed in El-Paso, Texas.

Major Crimes on TNT is two episodes into its new season and promises to be just as gutsy and thought provoking as its two previous seasons. Jon Tenney will make some recurring appearances this season as Agent Fritz Howard and Tom Berenger will again guest star as Capt. Raydor’s estranged husband.

Rizzoli & Isles is one episode into its fifth season and will use the second episode to dramatically say goodbye to Lee Thompson Young (Det. Barry Frost), the actor who committed suicide in 2013.

Michaela Gray Wolf (Faye Viviana) demonstrates the best way to dress a deer as part of the Miss Cheyenne pageant.

Michaela Gray Wolf (Faye Viviana) demonstrates the best way to dress a deer as part of the Miss Cheyenne pageant.

Longmire on A&E has picked up where it left off, with Henry Standing Bear in jail and Branch recovering from being shot. Ever wonder how they get everything “right?”

In episode 3, Henry asks Walt to sit in as a judge at the Miss Cheyenne pageant, which is interesting as all hell. Hulu has a 6 minute web exclusive video about The Cheyenne World and Marcus Red Thunder, who is the advisor to the show.

Shows are always better when they do their homework, and Longmire would never be accused of not staying up all night studying. It’s one show that makes coming in the house on a summer evening worth it.

May 24 2014

Penny Dreadful is Wunderbar on Showtime

http://www.sho.com/sho/penny-dreadful/home?utm_source=google&utm_medium=ppc&utm_term=penny+dreadful+showtime&utm_campaign=brandpennydreadful_showtimepennydreadful

I adore Josh Hartnett. Even when he’s in something I don’t like, I still watch it because he’s in it. For example, I didn’t really like The Black Dahlia, but I watched it because he was in it.

He’s currently appearing in Penny Dreadful, a new series on Showtime. But I’d watch that even if Josh Hartnett wasn’t in it, that’s how good it is. It also stars Timothy Dalton, Eva Green and Harry Treadaway; but the cast will be growing as more episodes are shown.

It premiered on Sunday, May 11 at 10pm ET, but you can catch the first episode anytime at http://www.sho.com. You can also see it at http://www.huluplus.com if you have a huluplus.com account.

Once you view the first episode and get introduced to some of the iconic characters in Showtime’s reinvented Victorian London you’ll understand what I mean about wanting to catch the entire series. Showtime recently had a free preview weekend on DirecTV and they had a BTS (behind the scenes) on it. There’s an extremely committed and dedicated, talented cast bringing each episode to the screen. Those are the kind of programs I enjoy watching.

The nice thing about premium series is that if you miss one episode at its premiere showing, you can catch it at other times throughout the week. That helps tremendously if you have over committed your DVR as well.

The link (above) takes you to the Showtime/Penny Dreadful show site which as recaps, previews and BTS features. But be forewarned because I guarantee, you will get as hooked as I well. Not just on John Hartnett, but on the rest of the cast as well.

Feb 15 2014

DirecTV Previewing HD Package Lineup Until Feb. 19

If you  have DirecTV, you should check out your Messages for the free preview of their HD Channel package running until February 19. This starts at Channel 565 with the Hallmark Movie Channel, HD Net Movies (566), MGM HD (567), Sony HD (568), Universal HD (569), Smithsonian Channel HD (570), Crime & Investigation (571), Palladia (572) and Shorts HD (573).

Palladia shows concerts, music videos, episodes of Live From Daryl’s House and some music award shows.

Arnel Pineda ©Michael Stewart/WireImage

Arnel Pineda
©Michael Stewart/WireImage

I just finished watching Journey: Love in Manila. This was a recent concert with their newest lead singer, Arnel Pineda. You should check out the 2012 documentary about Journey (Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey) and how they found Arnel and incorporated him into Journey as their lead singer. Pineda didn’t just get lucky and fall into Journey as some people think. He definitely paid his dues. He’s been singing most of his life and won several competitions.

He recorded a self titled album for Warner Bros. in 1999. Hearing him tonight with Journey playing with him is a tribute to how good a shape his voice is in and how flexible his range is. He’s definitely his own person, not just a follow up to Steve Perry.

Rush, Elton John, the CMT Music Awards (2013), the 25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Awards and tons of other stuff is going to be shown on Palladia between now and when the free preview is over on Feb. 19.

So there’s a great excuse for  you to get your remote control fingers in shape, clean all that old crap off your DVR and check out what’s worth taping in the next couple of days. That’s what I’m going to do.

Enjoy.

Nov 28 2013

Thanksgiving Day Marathons

Are you ready for Turkey Day? As I was driving home this afternoon one of the radio DJs was giving advice on what potatoes made the best mashed. I received a terse text message from my sister over a week ago saying she wasn’t doing Thanksgiving till “well after 3pm on Friday.”

I think that was in reply to my “did you want me to bring anything for Thanksgiving?” text message. On a scale of 1-10 for families, mine’s a solid 1. But that’s okay, I don’t mind the solitude the Holidays and the days off from work gives me.

Anyway, I digress. I found these marathons by using my program guide on my DirecTV and forwarding ahead with my remote. I DIDN’T JUST read a bunch of press releases from networks weeks ago. So you can depend that these marathons are 85% correct.

If there’s a network I didn’t list, just Google it i.e. “A&E Schedule,” and 9 out of 10 times it will come up with a great listings schedule of what’s playing for the next week or so. It even lets you click on a timezone.

A&E, will be running their standard weekly programming (CT): 8am Criminal Minds; 10am CSI: Miami for two hours; 12pm Criminal Minds for two hours; 2pm The First 48 for three hours; 5pm The Duck Dynasty.

AMC, Under Siege 2: Dark Territory at 8:15am (CT); The Godfather at 10:30am; The Godfather 2 at 2:30pm till 7pm. The Godfather movies repeat the balance of the day. AMC is planning on showing The Walking Dead Season 3 on Sunday starting at 2:30pm (ET).

Animal Planet, 6am (CT) The Crocodile Hunter; 7am Call of the Wild; 8am Polar Bear: Spy on the Ice; 9am Wild Russia; 1pm Frozen Planet; 6pm River Monsters: Unhooked; 8pm Megalodon: The Monster Shark Lives

BBCA, Star Trek: The Next Generation marathon starting at 7am (CT)

CLOO, White Collar Marathon starts at 5am (CT)

Discovery, (CT) 8am North America; 11am Alaska: The Last Frontier; 7pm Punkin Chunkin 2013

FX HD, Buffy at 6am (CT); 8am Ellen (30-minute segments) followed by Kung Fu Panda at 11am and then Kung Fu Panda 2 at 1pm and then replays most of the day of those two movies.

History Channel, 6am (CT) Swamp People; 4pm Swampsgiving; 5pm Pawn Stars; 8pm Swampsgiving 2 (the sequel?); 9pm Pawn Stars

ID, 6am (CT) Deadly Women; 12pm Deadly Devotion; 4pm Bloody Marys; 5pm Deadly Sins

Nat Geo, 8am (CT) starts a Life Below Zero Marathon

OWN, starting at 6am (CT) Dr. Phil; 12pm Too Cute!; 6pm Oprah’s Next Chapter; 8pm The Shawshank Redemption

Spike, Cops Marathon starting at 8am (CT) followed by Impact Wresting starting at 8pm for an hour and then back to Cops

Syfy, 2-Day James Bond Marathon starting at 7am (CT) with Dr. No followed by Thunderball

TBS, Friends Marathon starting at 9am (CT); 4pm The King of Queens followed by Seinfeld at 5pm; 6:30pm Family Guy followed by Big Bang Theory at 8pm.

TLC, 6am (CT) The Lottery Changed My Life; 1pm a Marathon of Undercover Boss.

TNT, Castle Marathon starting at 9am (CT) followed by Hawaii Five-O at 10pm

truTV, starts out with The Investigators at 8am (CT); Guiness World Record Unleashed at 10am followed by Wipeout at 2pm which runs the balance of the day.

WE, Roseanne starting at 9am (CT) followed by Will & Grace at 12pm followed by Braxton Family Values at 3pm.

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Mar 26 2013

10 Ways to Get Ready for The Walking Dead Season 3 Finale

Ten Ways to Get Ready for The Walking Dead Season 3 Finale This Sunday – The Walking Dead – AMC.

The Zombie Apocalypse Marathon has already started, Monday night at 8/7 CT with the very first episode of The Walking Dead, “Days Gone Bye.” Since I have a brand new DirecTV Genie, I recorded all the episodes from Season 1 on that, because there’s just a ton of space (and Season 1 is by far my favorite).

There are certain episodes in Season 2 that are my favorites, for instance when the barn is emptied and when Glenn and Maggie go to town and Maggie gets attacked by a walker and Glenn beats him to death with a shelf (he always finds unique weapons to use against walkers).

While you’re reading the link (Ten Ways to Get Ready …) click on the link on the right side of the page about Steven Yeun Chats with Jimmy Kimmel. Great stuff.

I’m so glad I’m getting The Walking Dead Magazine so I have some regular Walking Dead material to feed my jones once Season 3 is over. In the most recent issue, there’s an interview with each of the brothers Dixon (Daryl and Merle). Also, I’ll hang on to Season 1 on my Genie so if I really start to jones I can watch a few episodes here or there. I also bought a Kindle Fire HD and have some Walking Dead apps on there which will tide me over.

Have you taken the all-new The Walking Dead Which Character Are You? quiz yet? You can get to it on the list of 10 Ways to Get Ready for the Season 3 Finale.

So what are your waiting for? Click the link above and have fun.

Dec 27 2012

The Story Behind the Movie “Argo”

How the CIA Used a Fake Sci-Fi Flick to Rescue Americans From Tehran | Wired Magazine | Wired.com.

Keyart from the movie "Argo"

Keyart from the movie “Argo”

I was doing my day job yesterday, processing photos for movies that are On Demand in February, one of those being the Ben Affleck directed “Argo.” While I was checking out the information on imdbpro.com, I discovered it was produced by George Clooney‘s Smoke House production company.

Chris Terrio wrote the screenplay based on an article by Joshuah Bearman entitled “Escape from Tehran” (the link above will take you to the article).

Thinking that reading the article would help me put the 63 pictures I downloaded from the Warner Bros. in perspective (it did), I went ahead and tore right into and was thoroughly entertained.

Ben Affleck plays Tony Mendez to put it into perspective for you, but that’s as far as I’m willing to go. Read the article, see the movie and enjoy your self. I intend to see it when it’s available on DirecTV On Demand, I don’t even want to wait for Netflix.

Dec 24 2012

Even More New Years Day TV Marathons (Updated)

Brandi from Storage Wars

Brandi from Storage Wars

It doesn’t matter what you’re doing or what  you have planned for New Years Eve or New Years Day, sooner or later, you’ll turn on the television. (Times are given in Central Time.)

I’ve been compiling some lists from some of my favorite channels to see who’s playing what all day December 31st and January 1st (2013). To start, AMC announced they were playing all three seasons of The Walking Dead beginning December 31. Bob82 posted a comment that it looked like that was cancelled, and I checked this morning. Bob82 was right, only Season 3 is on the schedule beginning at 8pm on December 31.

So here’s what I’ve come up with so far and I’ll keep adding to it as I find more. Hope I’ve hit on some of your favorites.

Updated: I googled “TV Marathons New Years Eve/Day” and I can not believe how many reliable sources are coming back unreliable. Most, if not all still have AMC running The Walking Dead Marathon. I’ve added a couple of other marathons that I checked out with DirecTV programming so I’m 90%+ they’re correct.

New Years Eve Day

AMC – The Walking Dead, Season 3, starting 12/31 at 8pm

Current – Final 24 Hours, starting 12/31 at 7pm mixed in with other programming: John Belushi @7pm; The 25 Best Things about 2012 8pm; followed by The Final 24 Hours every hour beginning at 9pm with Marvin Gaye; Jim Morrison at 10pm; repeat of The Best 25 Things at 11pm.

History Channel – Pawn Stars, starting 12/31 at 7am

Nat Geo – Locked Up Abroad, starting 12/31 at 8am
at 6pm on 12/31 – Evacuate Earth
at 8pm on 12/31 – Maya Underworld: The Real Doomsday
at 9m on 12/31 – The Mayan Apocalypse

Syfy – The Twilight Zone with Rod Serling, 1959-1963, starting 12/31 at 7am and continuing through Jan. 1

New Years Day

Moe, the foot doctor, from Storage Wars Texas.

Moe, the foot doctor, from Storage Wars Texas.

A&E – Storage Wars Marathon, starting 1/1 at 7am. Two new Storage Wars Texas at 8pm and two new episodes of the newest Storage Wars, SW: New York at 9pm.

Current – Tupac Shakur’s Final 24 at Midnight on 1/1; Biggie & Tupac at 1-3am; with a repeat of Tupac Shakur’s Final 24 at 3am; River Phoenix’s Final 24 at 4am; Janis Joplin’s Final 24 at 5am; Hunter S. Thompson’s Final 24 at 6am; David Koresch’s Final 24 at 7am.

History Channel – Swamp People, starting 1/1 at 6am

Investigation Discovery – Deadly Women, starting at 5am-5pm

ION East/West Feeds – Criminal Minds/Numbers almost all day, depending on which feeds you get, check your local listings

Military Channel – Clash of Wings, starting at 5am; Hitler’s Bodyguards, starting at 8am, Secrets of World War II, starting at 2pm

Nat Geo – Doomsday Preppers, starting 1/1 at 8am, Diggers starts at 9pm

Science Channel – Fringe, starting 1/1 at 9:30am

Spike – 1,000 Ways to Die, starting 1/1 at 8am

WGN – Cheers, starting at 8am and pretty much running all day