An Ending

2016 is the year...

My sisterand I finished reading THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL novels.

I finished reading Theodore Dreiser's novels.

My favorite book/film/music store closed.

I subscribed to NETFLIX, and man did I enjoy it!

My eyesight took a downward spiral.  My left eye has been steadily failing in the last two weeks.  My right eye is dubious  at best, but it's keeping me from running into walls for now.   I have an optometrist appointment scheduled. 

Until I sort this vision situation out, if it can be sorted, this will be my final tale from the freakboy zone.  The last couple of posts have been typed  with great difficulty and really large text size.

I will also be MIA in various social media platforms.  I hate abandoning my vast lifeline to the world, and I would love to say I'll check in, but that remains to be, well, seen.

My old blogposts will still exist, along with DARK EXCURSIONS and DARKENING STURGEONS.   I can't deprive potential new readers the pleasure and pain of whatever the hell my so-called writing is.

In conclusion, I sincerely thank you for all the support over the last few years.

Freak Out,

John L. Harmon 

The TV Freak: THE CURSE OF LOGAN

Seriously, when did Logan become the go-to name for rich, white jerks, who also happen to be a love interest for the main character?

Jason Dohring as Logan Echolls 

I initially saw this Logan as a psycho-jerk, but slowly came to like him.  Yet, I wonder why Veronica Mars kept giving him the time of day.  Actually, I also wonder why Logan kept giving Veronica the time of day either.

Matt Czuchry as Logan Huntzberger

I was really hoping Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life would reveal this Logan perished in a gruesome yachting accident.  Tragically he is still alive and continuing to be a smug, arrogant jerk who doesn't care about the consequences of his deplorable actions.  Unfortunately, if there are more episodes, we will all suffer the consequence of Logan probably being the father of Rory's baby.  

Adam Campbell as Logan Beekman

This Logan seems to be a parody of all other rich, white Logans, so I don't necessarily hate him.  I'm just glad Kimmy saw Dong for the sweet man he is and showed Daddy's Boy Logan out the door.   I hope he doesn't return any time soon, but I still have 2 episodes of the first season and all of the second season of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt to watch.  I guess I'll find out soon enough.

Freak Out,

JLH

P.S.  Click 1987 to go back in TV time

The TV Freak: RETURNS & REVIVALS

While the idea of continuing a television series long after its cancellation is nothing new, there were quite a few made-for-TV movies of Hart to Hart, it does seem to be a popular trend lately.  Veronica Mars and Absolutely Fabulous got theatrical films.  The X-Files returned to FOX for a few new episodes.  Gilmore Girls found a new home on Netflix.  24 is scheduled to return, and I read that Prison Break is on the horizon.  Plus, and this is the big one for me, Twin Peaks will be back on the television map next year.  I'm nervous that the quirky, bizarre magic of the original series will be somewhat lost in the new episodes, but this post isn't about my geeky concerns and theories over Special Agent Dale Cooper, Sheriff Harry S. Truman, and the late, wrapped in plastic, homecoming queen, Laura Palmer.

This post is a short list of series that I would like to see return, mainly because they didn't get an ending.  Don't get me wrong, I love cliffhangers, just not unresolved ones.

Must see episode:

Season 1, Episode 14

CAGED!

Coinciding menstrual cycles leads to a showdown in the Novak.

POPULAR aired for two season on the WB from 1999 to 2001.  Before Glee and Scream Queens, Ryan Murphy created this high school teen-angst hyper-reality, which I obsessively enjoyed visiting every week.  Tragically, it was cancelled after two seasons, ending with a life and death cliffhanger.  We'll never know if Nicole Julian killed Brooke McQueen or just turned her hair from blond to brunette, as was teased in the DVD audio commentary.

Must see episode:

Season 4, Episode 20

WITCH LADY

An invitation to tea leads to being chained in the basement.

MY NAME IS EARL aired for four seasons on NBC from 2005 to 2009.  I mostly avoided this series during its original run because I thought the premise of a criminal just trying to be a better person sounded like an extended, vomit-inducing very special episode or a painful Afterschool Special.  Once I caught part of an episode I realized it was hilarious and joyfully non-p.c.  Sadly, we'll never know if Earl Hickey is for certain Dodge's dad (Little Chubby could have messed with the DNA results) and if Darnell Turner isn't Earl Junior's dad, then we'll never learn who is, which is especially confusing with that kid's hair! 

Must see episode:

Season 1, Episode 8

PUZZLERAMA

A neighborhood contest leads to more than fun and games.

SWINGTOWN aired for one season on CBS over the summer of 2008.  I often feel like the only person in the world who enjoyed this drama about relationships (friends, love, forbidden love, marriage, open-marriage) set in the summer of 1976.  The more I watch the 13 episodes, the more I love this short-lived series, especially because of how much the characters grow and change.  Strangely, while I would love to see what happens next, I also find myself satisfied with the open-ended conclusion.  Maybe I don't need anymore than Trina Decker reading a baby book, Janet Thompson adding her first advice column to her scrapbook, and Susan Miller stepping over the threshold of Roger Thompson's hotel room.  Just thinking about those final scenes give me goosebumps and makes me want to watch the series again for the Nth time! 

Thank you for reading my list.  Please feel free to mention series you'd like to see return in some form or another in the comment section below!  

Freak Out,

JLH

P.S. Click 1975 for a post about a television show I obsessed over not too long ago.

The TV Freak: NETFLIX

First, yes, December's blog theme is television.  If this offends your delicate, highbrow senses, then stop reading this and continue to look down upon the world from your hypocritical ivory tower.

Second, yes, I finally took a sip from the streaming punch and subscribed to NETFLIX.  What did it take to pull me, at least temporarily, into the 21st Century?  The answer is two films (Pee Wee's Big Holiday and Mascots) and two series...

GILMORE GIRLS: A YEAR IN THE LIFE - Admittedly, I'm not a longtime, die-hard fan of the original series. It wasn't even on my radar until last year when a friend heavily suggested I watch.  Thankfully, ABC FAMILY/FREEFORM was showing repeats, so I watched with severe skepticism.  The quirky small town characters quickly won me over, so I knew I would want to see what happens next.  As for the new episodes, I am halfway finished and overall I am enjoying them.  Emily Gilmore is the real reason to watch, which doesn't surprise me at all. 

STRANGER THINGS - I've been told this show is right up my alley.  I haven't watched any episodes yet, but I've liked Winona Ryder since Lucas and Heathers, so I suspect I'll enjoy this series.  

If I have time, I hope to squeeze in some Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Black Mirror.  I say if I have time because I'm not certain I'll continue past the free first month.  Without Internet or wi-fi at home, I don't know if I can justify even 10 dollars a month.  Though, before logging offline yesterday, I noticed it appears there are some series and films that can be downloaded to watch offline.  If this is true, then my one month decision may be in a state of flux.

I guess only limited time will tell.

Freak Out,

JLH

P.S.  Click NOVEMBER to read the post that inspired December's theme.