Season six of the Shield (FX) was supposed to start three months ago (as season 5 ½), but the delay was well worth the wait. Last season ended with a cliff hanger – the murder of one detective by another – in part because lead actor Michael Chiklis was due to do his Thing for the Fantastic Four sequel. This season began with an IAD investigation against the Strike Team, who list two cop killings on their resume, and the promise of a potentially deadly fraternal conflict to come. Will this show be happy with two cop-on-cop murders? Six episodes and next season’s final 13 are all that’s left before we find out.
The Shield broke ground by going where the politics of network TV wouldn’t allow ABC to take Andy Sipowitz – following the career of a very bad, ruthlessly effective cop, Vic Mackey, and his Strike Team, encouraging you to cheer him on as he doesn’t bend or break but explodes the rules with the force of a hydrogen bomb. The character was so well executed by Chiklis that he earned both Emmy and Golden Globe awards after the first season.
Early on, the Shield did wonders exploring the relationship between bad cops and law and order – no liberal in his right mind wouldn’t admit the Sipowitz’s and Mackay’s of the world are necessary, but no conservative would defend Mackey’s treatment of the lead suspect in his friend and Strike Team member Curtis ‘Lem’ Lemansky’s murder, either – but after the third season the show was ready for some refreshing. Weighing the righteousness of cops who supply drug dealers with intel and narcotics in exchange for peace on the streets is only entertaining for so long.
Enter the movie actors. Glenn Close, whose outstanding performance as Mackay’s boss in season four was equaled by Forest Whitaker’s later turn as his nemesis IAD investigator (Lt. Jon Kavanaugh). Glenn surprised me with her completely convincing performance. She never looked or acted out of place, even though the Shield, set in gritty inner city LA, is far from the lights of Hollywood. Apparently her stint on the Shield was cut short due to unrelated personal issues.
Forest Whitaker’s character was an utterly fascinating look at a completely unsympathetic, by the book IAD investigator, who is completely tied in knots emotionally by his personal life.
In the current season, cop killer Det. Shane Vendrell’s [Who Is HOT!!! - comment by Aaron] guilt begins impacting his behavior for the worse, and actor Walton Goggins’ portrayal of his transition is far superior to his work with the pedestrian Vendrell for most of the series. Indeed, Goggins has become a reason to watch, a heavy compliment on such a riveting show.
The coming confrontations are forming an ever stronger undercurrent as the season progresses. The directors use quick-cuts to good effect to accent what might be otherwise benign situations with the weight of the coming meltdowns. We can only guess, for now, what form they’ll take and how quickly events may spiral out of control. The anticipation is priceless.
But it is the writing, as ever, that makes the Shield so entertaining. Not only are the plots original, but the resolution of seemingly completely irresolvable conflicts week in and week out is amazing. The writers are at their best when they’ve painted a character into a corner, and the series maintains a high level of suspense because they’re also willing to do something completely unexpected while maintaining a high level of credibility with the viewer.
Why the big plug? I recently caught the re-run of episode four, and it’s one of the best yet. The season is rocketing forward after tying up some of the plotlines from season five, simplifying the narrative flow and letting the crew really nail the explosive action scenes. The editing uses quick cuts not to confuse – often the case when excitement in an action scene is lacking due to pedestrian choreography or acting – but to show the build up step by step until BAM! the door is knocked in and all hell breaks loose. Each film clip is chosen to show a unique angle on the action, allowing you to know which bad guy is covered by which cop in which room as the scene rapidly unfolds.
During this episode Chiklis, pictured to the right, [who's even HOTTER - comment by Aaron] gives one of the all time greatest acting sequences I’ve ever watched.
Episode five airs tomorrow (Tuesday) at 10 p.m. eastern, and each episode is rerun a handful of times until the next premieres.
The Shield can be gory, though not frequently and quick cuts are used so it’s often difficult to discern exactly what’s being shown. If you don’t like blood, this is certainly a program to think about passing on.
And I would like to say "surprise, suckas!" to the rest of the LLP Crew. Aaron needed to throw a bomb and I was it.
1. USA Today, 2,278,022, up 0.2 percent [Some say that USA Today is totally left wing - I don't really even see it as being able to show bias because it doesn't have any words - just pretty pictures and graphs]
2. The Wall Street Journal, 2,062,312, up 0.6 percent
3. The New York Times, 1,120,420, down 1.9 percent
4. Los Angeles Times, 815,723, down 4.2 percent
5. New York Post, 724,748, up 7.6 percent
6. New York Daily News, 718,174, up 1.4 percent
7. The Washington Post, 699,130, down 3.5 percent
8. Chicago Tribune, 566,827, down 2.1 percent
9. Houston Chronicle, 503,114, down 2 percent
10. The Arizona Republic, 433,731, down 1.1 percent
11. Dallas Morning News, 411,919, down 14.3 percent
12. Newsday, Long Island, 398,231, down 6.9 percent
13. San Francisco Chronicle, 386,564, down 2.9 percent
14. The Boston Globe, 382,503, down 3.7 percent
15. The Star-Ledger of Newark, N.J., 372,629, down 6.1 percent
16. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 357,399, down 2.1 percent
17. The Philadelphia Inquirer, 352,593, up 0.6 percent This is a total outlier. This is a total rag.
18. Star Tribune of Minneapolis-St. Paul, 345,252, down 4.9 percent
19. The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, 344,704, up 0.5 percent
20. Detroit Free Press, 329,989, down 4.7 percent
So as you can see, left-wing papers are losing readers. I was surprised how the WSJ has almost DOUBLE the circ as the NYT. That's amazing.
In an often defensive interview on CBS' "60 Minutes" aired Sunday, Tenet says the intelligence gained from suspected terrorists in the CIA's covert detention program and its "enhanced interrogation techniques" was more valuable than all the other terrorism-related intelligence gathered by the FBI, the National Security Agency and his own agency.
Yet McCain said the U.S. cannot torture people and maintain its moral superiority in the world. "I don't care what George Tenet says. I know what's right. I know what's morally right as far as America's behavior," the presidential candidate and former prisoner-of-war said Sunday.
First, Tenet never said torture. Waterboarding, which is laying someone in a decline position and splashing water on their face, is not torture. But McCain responded, "I don't care what George Tenet says."
It is this attitude that makes him unsuitable to be commander in chief. He may be good on the war in Iraq, but he fails miserably on the War on Terror.
And I had such high hopes after his "bomb Iran" ditty.
This my working post that will probably be completed tomorrow. I got back a few hour ago (and took a nap) from a great event where 200 active duty and wounded veterans rode their bicycles from Gettysburg, PA, to Washington, DC. Many of the men were missing both legs, but used their arms to crank their way across the finish line. Man, it was inspiring!
GLOBAL WARMING: RELIGION OR SCAM – OR SOMETHING ELSE ALTOGETHER?
Global warming alarmists are pounding us from every direction and, like many cults, dissent is simply not allowed! But the more I think about it, the more I have a theory as to why the left and the limousine liberals (including former Vice President Albert Gore, Jr.) are pushing this new “religion” of environmentalism.
Certainly it can be seen that many of those who are doing the “chicken little, the sky is falling” routine are actually quite sincere – albeit shallow and not enormously intelligent. One only needs to look at the proposal of singer Sheryl Crow to know that great intelligence did not inform her “one square” suggestion, nor for that matter did simple good hygiene! And by the way, have you noticed how many on the left make asinine suggestions like Ms. Crow’s and then, when they are justifiably ridiculed for their remarks, always want to claim it’s a “joke”? Is that the new EXCUSE du jour? How intellectually bankrupt are they? Very!
The only environmental activist for whom I have ANY respect (and yes, there are many who thinks he’s an unbelievable oddball – but I like oddballs) is Ed Begley, Jr. and I’ll tell you why. He actually LIVES the mantra he preaches. He rides his bicycle by preference, he uses solar power (and being a male – competes with his neighbors for more and better solar panels), he does recycle and he does drive an electric car when he isn’t walking or riding his bike. He doesn’t fly all around the world on private jets yelling “do as I say, not as I do”; he doesn’t live in a 28,000 sq. ft. mansion and prattle about “carbon offsets” to excuse his profligate behavior. He has always made a point that many of his lifestyle choices are make excellent economic sense as well as environmental sense.
I have long opined that the baby boomer generation is horrified that their precious selves might actually die. This is, in my view, the result of parents “giving” them self-esteem rather than making them actually earn it and also explains their dedication to frequently dopey exercise and diet programs, their endless search for physical perfection, their horror that they might actually have to risk their precious lives to defend something worthwhile, and their embrace of abortion, because after all, a baby might impact their relentless pursuit of self-gratification. I think it might even explain their inexplicable support for some of the most egregious felons on death row – first of all, it’s safe because there’s little chance that these people will actually be released from incarceration and second, the thought of people taking a firm moral stance about killing even those who have committed the most horrendous of acts, might eventually trickle back and affect their “sacrament” of abortion on demand.
All that being said, I’m beginning to think that the totalitarianism attitude of the “global warming is going to kill us all” cult has a different root cause.
Think about it. What POSITIVE agenda (other than anybody but Bush which is a knee-jerk reflexive non-agenda) does the left really have? Everything they say and do reflects defeatism and negativity. They propose NO positive agendas. But if they make a lot of noise about global warming, I think they are hoping we won’t notice that! They are hoping that people will vote for them out of fear, rather than conviction. How cynical is that? Beyond belief.
So you can run around clucking and screaming “Save us Al Gore” and vote for him and the dopey leftwing liberals on that basis (heaven forfend) or you can listen to BOTH sides of the global warming story and make up your own mind – which may take some serious research on your part but which, in the end, may bring some sanity to this whole discussion, because have you noticed, the left doesn’t want to discuss both sides of the issue. They certainly don’t want to hear the opinions of the “little people” (you know, us peasants they claim to love so much – as long as we’re voting the way THEY want us to vote).
So that’s my opinion: global warming is as much a scam to deflect our attention from the moral and intellectual bankruptcy of the left wing as it is even slightly a real (rather than cyclical) problem.
What? The media didn't lead in with the story? It's not on Chrissy Matthews' show?
The Securities and Exchange Commission has decided not to file insider-trading charges against former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist in connection with the sales of stock in the hospital chain his family owns, The Washington Post reported Friday.
An 18-month investigation by the SEC staff and the U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York ended without action against the Tennessee Republican, the Post reported.
Frist had a formal interview with Justice Department and SEC lawyers to address the stock sales in late January, the Post reported, citing unidentified sources.
In a statement, Frist said he had "acted properly" and that his only reason for selling HCA Inc. stock in his trust accounts was to "eliminate the appearance of a conflict of interest."
And yet, there is still no word on Tom Delay...its been almost 2 years since that got started. WHERE IS THE EVIDENCE???
That's why they are called the DRIVE BY MEDIA! Someone accuses Frist, the media comes in and creates all kinds of chaos, gun shooting, mortar fire, then drive away before the dust settles.
No accountability on their coverage with this issue. Now, just a footnote.
I know this is several weeks old, but one of writers had not seen this clip from house two weeks ago. Its the seen that sent NARAL and Planned Parenthood into a state of panic.
"I addressed these questions, almost the same questions, during my confirmation hearing," she said. "This is an issue that has been answered and answered and answered."
Rice noted that she had been serving as President Bush's national security adviser during the period covered by the panel's questions and stressed the administration's position that presidential aides not confirmed by the Senate cannot be forced to testify before Congress under the doctrine of executive privilege.
"This all took place in my role as national security adviser," she said. "There is a constitutional principle. There is a separation of powers and advisers to the president under that constitutional principle are not generally required to go and testify in Congress.
Remember when the Democrats were out of power but INSISTED that Bush's advisers needed to testify and promised that it would be "just this once! We just need so and so to come down and testify...just this once! It won't create a pattern!" While I would love to see Condi run rings around Nostrilitis Waxman, its best she just tells the Dems, "Thanks, but no thanks."
And the situation in Iraq will most likely IMPROVE.
Honestly? I think this razor thin vote scares the Democrats. 218 - 208. Five seats between funding our troops, winning the war and transforming the Middle East or surrender.
I don't think San Fran Nan and White Flag Fag Harry Reid are able to back up their bravado with votes.
They cannot move on from this one issue because that is all their base cares about and leaving our troops without funding will not fly with the People.
Gingrich learned a similar lesson and so will Nancy.
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Coalition Forces positively identified a terrorist killed in an operation April 20 northwest of Baghdad.
Muhammad Abdullah Abbas al-Issawi, also known as Abu Abd al-Sattar and Abu Akram, was a known al-Qaeda terrorist leader known to operate in Karmah and Ameriyah areas and was the al-Qaeda in Iraq Security Emir of the eastern Anbar Province.
Coalition Forces were conducting operations targeting associates of a known senior leader within al-Qaeda in Iraq. During the operation the terrorists engaged ground forces with small arms fire. Coalition Forces used appropriate self-defense measures and engaged the armed men, killing two and detaining one. One of the terrorists killed has been positively identified as Abu Abd al-Sattar.
Coalition Forces recovered assault vests, weapons, hand grenades and suicide vests at the site.
Abu Abd al-Sattar had links to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and was reported to have been in contact with him since late 2004, up to al-Zarqawi's death.
He was also a weapons supplier to insurgent forces fighting against the Iraqi Army, Iraqi Police and Coalition Forces, and had links to the recent surge in chlorine VBIED attacks across Iraq.
Intelligence reports also indicate that his VBIED cell used 12- to 13-year-old children as VBIED drivers.
"Abu Abd al-Satter's death is a serious disruption to al-Qaeda in Iraq's VBIED network," said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson.
"This represents one more victory in the war against those that would deny safety and security to the Iraqi people."
Jack Murtha thinks we can do this from Okinawa. Harry Reid thinks we are losing. Nancy Pelosi thinks if we huggy kissy nicey to the Syrian murderer thug dictator we won't have to do this, it will go away.
Season six of the Shield (FX) was supposed to start three months ago (as season 5 ½), but the delay was well worth the wait. Last season ended with a cliff hanger – the murder of one detective by another – in part because lead actor Michael Chiklis was due to do his Thing for the Fantastic Four sequel. This season began with an IAD investigation against the Strike Team, who list two cop killings on their resume, and the promise of a potentially deadly fraternal conflict to come. Will this show be happy with two cop-on-cop murders? Six episodes and next season’s final 13 are all that’s left before we find out.
Glenn surprised me with her completely convincing performance. She never looked or acted out of place, even though the Shield, set in gritty inner city LA, is far from the lights of Hollywood. Apparently her stint on the Shield was cut short due to unrelated personal issues.
The season is rocketing forward after tying up some of the plotlines from season five, simplifying the narrative flow and letting the crew really nail the explosive action scenes. The editing uses quick cuts not to confuse – often the case when excitement in an action scene is lacking due to pedestrian choreography or acting – but to show the build up step by step until BAM! the door is knocked in and all hell breaks loose. Each film clip is chosen to show a unique angle on the action, allowing you to know which bad guy is covered by which cop in which room as the scene rapidly unfolds.
