We Love You Neil, Congratulations

A Thoroughly Entertaining Read

One of Entertainment Weekly's newest photo galleries is a run down of what they consider to be the 25 greatest episodes in the Whedonverse. And while I don't agree with every choice (how are "Waiting in the Wings", "Tabula Rasa" and "Spin the Bottle" not on this list?), they get it almost exactly right.

So, in honour of Dollhouse's 2nd season premiere this week, click here to read all about the best of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly, Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-long Blog and Dollhouse, you'll be amazed at the fact that you let yourself forget just how much of a genius the man really is.

Late Obsessions: Firefly edition

So I've only just realized that I completely forgot to post my obsessions of the week. Sorry. 

Tonight I'm watching a Firefly marathon, finally finishing the series. So, a little late, here are my Firefly-themed obsessions. 

Simon Tam

How is it possible NOT to be in love with this guy? He's smart and noble and funny (unintentionally perhaps), he's awkward and endearingly proper and the way he takes care of his sister- downright heroic. 

Summer Glau

River's a cool character but Summer Glau's performance in the role is what really impresses me here. She's intense and odd and sometimes even a little scary but she also has these incredibly tender moments of sweetness or silliness or innocence and sometimes all of it at once. The girl is a revelation. 

Mal Reynolds

Hands down, no questions asked the coolest of all Whedon's heroes, possibly even the coolest TV hero ever. Mal is a fascinating combination of... no wait, he's too complicated to use adjectives. Let's just say he's freaking cool. 

and, last but most certainly not least, 

Nathan Fillion

It takes serious chops to play a character with as many levels as Mal Reynolds and Fillion hits it out of the park every time. Not to mention, he seems like a really awesome dude in interviews and commentaries. And then there's Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog (the DVD of which is coming out soon),  in which he plays a narcissistic hero/antagonist. He sings, he swaggers, he's fantastically self deprecating- what could be better?

This Week's Obsessions

Felicity's Haircut
Most people hated it when Felicity's response to getting her heart broken was to cut off her signature long curls. In fact, the change of hair in season 2 is (somewhat jokingly) charged with the decline in the show's ratings. I, on the other hand, love her haircut. I think if you've got Keri Russell's graceful neck and delicate feminine features why not show them off with a short haircut. Audrey Hepburn pulled it off, and so does Keri Russell.

Jason Robert Brown
The best contemporary musical theatre composer out there is a staple of my music collection. This week I've wailed alongside Cathy and sympathized with Jamie in The Last Five Years while baking a batch of cookies. I've wept for Leo while listening to Parade and walking home. I've examined "What it means to be a friend" while listening to a sample recording of 13 and been inspired by Songs for a New World. There's no one better than JRB.

Jeopardy
Seriously, it's surprisingly entertaining.

The Mole's Nicole
She may be crazy but has there been a smarter or bolder woman on reality TV in recent history? If she isn't the mole (which, if she is, she is doing an amazing job of hiding), I really hope she wins.

The Dr. Horrible Panel at Comic Con
I may not have been able to be there but from the audio recording I heard this sounds like the greatest panel in history. Then again, was there ever any question when the central forces of the project are 2 of the coolest men alive (Joss Whedon and Neil Patrick Harris)?

Joss+Neil+free time= GENIUS

The writers' strike was a good thing.

1) it negotiated fairly for the future of the industry

2) I barely even noticed the shortened TV seasons (though I wish they weren't so)

3) it allowed me to catch up on my DVD watching

and

4) it resulted in one of the coolest things since Xander conjured a song and dance demon. It is so cool, in fact, that one might call it "Legendary"... (see how I got both Joss and Neil references in there? smooth eh?)

While bored during the writers' strike, genius writer Joss Whedon (Buffy, Angel, Firefly) created Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. Starring the incomparable Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother) and featuring Nathan Fillion (Firefly, Desperate Housewives), Felicia Day (Buffy) and Simon Helberg (Big Bang Theory), this 45 minute saga, chronicling Dr. Horrible (Harris)'s rise to evil, is being released in 15 minute installments on the Internet.

After seeing the first 2 acts of this outrageously funny venture, this critic can't wait for the third and final act to be released tomorrow (July 19th).

I love Joss, I love Neil and I love musicals... what more could I ask for?

Dr. Horrible is funny, charming, original and brilliantly crafted and it will only be available for free for a limited time (after that it will still be available for iTunes download).

If you don't follow the link below in a timely fashion I suspect you'll regret it for a long time to come. Don't say I didn't warn you.

http://www.drhorrible.com/index.html