Exclusive: On the set with Pierce Brosnan

I am not the paparazzi or is it paparazzo? Either way I'm bad at it.

Either way I found out that the movie The Greatest staring Pierce Brosnan and Susan Sarandon was being filmed near me. It is a Shana Feste film about two parents dealing with the death of their son when a young woman comes into their lives and causes more problems. It's a drama.

Before I start out with the excuses why my pictures are awful lets start with how to find a film shoot.

I saw this pink flyer.
This is taped to all the post and street lamps when a film crew decides to take over the streets.

For filming on the streets you would see one like this...


Know I saw nothing of the Pippa Lee movie but still found their flyer.


So I know the movie The Greatest is being filmed near me but it will not be on the streets most likely be at a local medical facility.

Here starts the excuses

It is hot in NYC over 90 degrees and with the humidity it feels like 100+. So I decide instead of waiting outside in the heat I would be indoors and just look out the window.

Film shoots are long and boring since I have no access to the set I must wait for hours so I start taking random pictures to set my shot when a celebrity approaches.

I was waiting at the window when Pierce Brosnan comes out and walk to his trailer but I had my camera off and next to me and nearly killed my self focusing and clikcing buttons but only got this shot...


Yes that really is my exclusive first on the scene photos of Pierce Brosnan in The Greatest.

So I learned I must be more professional, since he must come out of the trailer soon I leave my camera on and practice taking photos of moving objects.


After 45 minutes I get a bit tired and my camera automatically shuts off and wouldn't you know Mr. Brosnan comes out so I hurry to turn on my camera, focus, turn off the flash, and point and shoot. Well the result was one shot that was less then stellar.

Honestly that is Pierce Brosnan.

I gave up after this even though they kept filming until midnight and Pierce showed up once more but again I was too slow to set my camera to night mode.

There has been other movies I was privileged enough to watch in person and equally legitimate excuse that I have no pictures.

Ransom = I didn't own a camera.
Malcom X = I wasn't near any cameras.
Keeping The Faith = It was filmed indoors and I saw nothing.

Movies On TV

It is common knowledge that most modern movies are horrible. Thanks to over hyping, internet spoilers, and the worst special effects since Jason and the Argonauts. Come to think to think of it most special effects these days are worse then Jason and the Argonauts, this is thanks to CGI.

Image Source: http://www.tomsgames.com/us/2006/08/30/cgi_gone_awry/page2.html

So since I'm not paying for a movie and I have the Gold Package on my cable box I wait to see them. Here are the best and worst that I've seen, of course this my opinion so that means little. Please feel free to agree or disagree. I've just seen these movies in the past 6 weeks even if some have been out for years this my first time watching them.

Best:
An American Crime: It has to be the best piece of drama in years. Ellen Page is beyond brilliant in this crime-based docudrama. The horrible nature of people is on full display .

Resident Evil: Extinction: Reminded me of the last episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

The Simpsons Movie: Sure it's just a very long episode but I did laugh out loud.

Surf's Up: It was cute.

Smokin' Aces: Only on the best list for the crazy violence.

28 Weeks Later: Good enough but still depressing.

The Game Plan: So The Rock is not the best actor I still found this movie enjoyable.

Knocked Up: It wasn't that good or that bad so since there is no blah category I'll keep it here.

Worst:
Superbad: I waited for this young couple to fall in love and kiss at the end instead they go their separate ways. Plus to much cursing.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: I fell asleep twice during this magically awful sequel. They're just not cute anymore. Add to the fact that unless you read the books you will be lost with all these pale characters.

Premonition: I love time traveling flicks but this one had such a huge hole that is throws you out of the plot.

Freedom Writers: Isn't great when a the privileged come down from their high horse to rescue the troubled youth. Exaggerating to make your point is fine but the little hoods in this story took it to a whole 'nother level.

Hot Fuzz: It is no Shaun of the Dead.

The Number 23: A crime-drama falsely elevated to a mythic status.

Rush Hour 3: Chris Tucker could have carried this movie by himself but he was teamed up with dead weight.


If you have any suggestions of movies to either watch on cable or TiVo for later just leave a comment I give all movies an equal shot.

Fireworks Just Missed My Eye

I use to have window view to the Macy's Fourth of July Celebration for years without a camera then I got one. This year I finally perfected my night time photo shooting and then...Kaboom.

They moved the fireworks closer to the Brooklyn Bridge and I lost my view. Since my neighborhood has new condos this building I'm in is no longer the tallest and going to the roof will not help.

Either way Happy 4th y'all.

Here are some of pictures that aren't mine.

Allergic to the Sun

I've been home relaxing and doing nothing of any importance when suddenly I realized I have a TiVo. So quickly I enable TiVo suggestions to automatically record anything that pops up.

One month later I'm still bored with TV.

The last few years there 6 to 10 summer shows worth watching, now there is nothing.

I'm so desperate for TV I started watching Law & Order: Criminal Intent, CSI: Miami, Cold Case, all are TiVo suggestions. Apparently my TiVo thinks I'm a cop show freak.


I do enjoy these shows, except for CSI: Miami the acting is just horrible.

It got so bad I started watching Life on Mars online the British version because the upcoming U.S. version is not officially out yet. This time traveling cop show reminds me of The Odyssey a Canadian kids TV show about a boy who falls into a coma and enters a mysterious world and searches for his missing father.

TiVo also recorded Weeds for me which turned out to be nicer then when I originally tried watching this show.

Then after words they have Secret Diary of a Call Girl which is about the worlds most boring hooker. She starts of the series by saying she does not do drugs, was never touched by an uncle, and is just horny. That statement alone turned this show from fiction to fantasy. I wonder if these women were any other ethnicity would they still be comedies.

Either way during every episode we are treated to Belle the hooker's different trysts. Each one more boring then the next. In the "all-nighter" she had to go to we were treated to a two minute montage of her being bored.

Where are my shows? My sci-fi, my mid-season replacements, and even reruns.

Sure I could go out and interact with real people but that is too much work.


Minisodes are not enough.

Rescue Me Mini-Episode

Rescue Me returns tonight with a 6 minute episode...


Turns out it was a 4 minute episode with only donut eating madness and the most cursing ever for a four minute show.
Still funny.

WPIX turned 60

WPIX Celebrates 60 Years on the air as New York City's first independent television station. Granted a license under the WLTV call letters it was an open contest to pick new call letters that someone suggested WPIX.


To this day this is the best news show in NYC.

To celebrate they've been giving a showcase of some of their well known broadcasts. The line-up is as follows...

• 12noon The Little Rascals
• 1pm Abbott & Costello
• 2pm The Three Stooges
• 3pm The Adventures of Superman
• 4pm Get Smart
• 5pm My Favorite Martian
• 6pm I Dream of Jeannie
• 7pm The Odd Couple
• 8pm The Honeymooners
• 9pm WPIX 60th Anniversary Special

Watching The Little Rascals, Abbott & Costello, and The Three Stooges you get kind of that funny-creepy feeling because of all the stereotypes and racial jokes.

With The Adventures of Superman, Get Smart, and My Favorite Martian they cleaned up their acts but the shows were kind of cheesy. I don't mean to say they're second rate but they were not high budget shows.

WPIX is given trivia in between the breaks one was that the budget for The Adventures of Superman was so low that they filmed all the scenes for each set at once in the same clothes. Meaning for each season the cast never changed their outfits.

Other trivia...

• Anytime the Three Stooges hit their noses a bike horn would sound.
• The Martian's spaceship was made of wood and cardboard and painted silver later it was sold in 1975 for $750.
• Superman's original costume was brown and gray because it showed up better in black and white then red & blue.
• Babara Eden and Larry Hagman later starred together in Dallas.

I wathced most of these shows on WPIX channel 11 growing up. My least favorite were The Honeymooners and The Odd Couple I just never got into them didn't think they were funny.

Kathy's back

Yes a new season of Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List just started and it featured an even more potty mouth Kathy with her boyfriend/man-date/arm-candy Steve Wozniak.

The scene where he ignores her and attempts to hack her Ipod is bound to be a reality show classic. Kind of reminds me of the guys from Big Bang Theory.



All in all it was a funny start because her last season was just too damn depressing. Although this season the scene around the producers awards show were hilarious.


As the World Turns
Odd in late December 2005 I saw Debra Jo Rupp of That 70s Show fame appeared on All My Children and now she was on As the World Turns playing very minor characters.



This time she was a camp counselor, last time she was a drunk.

National Puerto Rican Day Parade

On Fox!?!

Report goes to the crowd for a sideline interview.

Reporter: So how do you feel today?
Crowd member #1: WOOOOOOOHH! YEEEEEAAAAHHHH! (whistling blowing) WWUUUOOO!
Reporter: So about you?
Crowd member #2: WOOOOOOOHH! (whistling blowing)YEEEEEAAAAHHHH! (whistling blowing) WWUUUOOO!
Reporter: How are you enjoying the parade so far?
Crowd member #3: WOOOOOOOHH! (whistling blowing)YEEEEEAAAAHHHH! (whistling blowing) LALALALALALALALA!

After an hour of going back to this clueless reporter.

Reporter: How are you enjoying the parade so far?
Crowd member #761: BORIQUAAAAAA! AAAAAAAHHHHHH! WOOOOOOOHH! (whistling blowing)YEEEEEAAAAHHHH! (whistling blowing) LALALALALALALALA!




I liked it better on channel 4 (NYC WNBC).

Harvey Korman 1927-2008

You want to know funny watch anything with Harvey Korman.
Most famous for his work with Carol Burnett and her signature show Korman quickly became a household name in the 1970s and 1980s.

He passed away from an aneurysm and the complications of several major operations.

CGI you are my N M E

Get NME it is a play on acronyms. Damn I kill myself.

Computer-generated imagery^[1] (also known as CGI) is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media.
Thank you Wikipedia.

Also commonly known as you ruined my movie. Form what I here Indiana Jones 4 and the Newest Hulk still are plagued with this crap.

Remember Surface yeah they ruined that show too. Ignoring bad plots I blame CGI.

As prepare for what will most likely be a disappointing Lost finale I take solace in the fact the kept the smoke monster to a bare minimum.


Okay quick review

GOOD...
And BAD....

Mystery Solved

About 3 years ago I saw an actress on the subway, the 1, 2, or 3 train. I could not remember her name or anything she worked in or any one she worked with so I made a mental note and waited.

The other day I flipped through the channels and saw her in a movie called Because I Said So with Diane Keaton and Mandy Moore. Quickly I went to IMDB and found out her name.

Mary Pat Gleason


She's been in over 100 credited works and had a one-woman show, details here.

It only took three years but finally I can put that section of my brain to rest.