These were two of my favorite shows as a young child. Did anyone else watch these? I was having major flashbacks as I watched these intros. Both theme songs are amazing. Some of the instruments sound like they are dying in the Today’s Special theme song. And check out the forward thinking graphic effects! A mannequin outlined and filled in with a galaxy then turns into a real man?! Thrilling! However, I was disappointed that the puppet parrot that eats crackers in the mall storage closet wasn’t featured in the opening. Or did I just imagine that character?

Also, I came across a surprising and somewhat frightening discovery. Remember the show David the Gnome? I will post the opening below. I was always a bit freaked out by it. I never really trusted David or the fox, and I hated (and still do) that opening embrace between David and his gnome companion. Anyway, I was just re-watching the opening and guess what the last credit was (for executive producers in charge of the show)? None other than Harvey and Bob Weinstein. I feel tricked in some way. And more weirded out now.

I meant to post this earlier, but here is a link to Pitchfork’s write-up on the Bright Eyes show and photos by Omaha-based Paparazzi by Appointment (including the one featured above).

I first fell in love with the Wallabees about 8 years ago. I have prolonged my longing for the shoes for 8 years. I wait no longer. How beautiful are they?

To give you a bit of history, Clarks originated back in 1825 when Cyrus and James Clark set up a small sheepskin slipper business in the tiny English village of Street, Somerset. In 1883, William Clark creates shoes that follow the natural shape of the foot, a revolutionary concept. Fast forward to 1950 when Nathan Clark, inspired by the crepe-soled boots worn by British officers in World War II, introduces the Desert Boot, the first of Clarks Originals. 2007, Lindsay receives her first pair of Clarks. History is made.

I must also mention that I placed my order for the Clarks with the store Straitlaced in L.A. and I have to commend the store and their customer service. That place is awesome. It’s on Melrose (7553) and it’s fairly small but has some great shoes and Walter, who I assume is the owner, is super nice and laid back and seems to hand pick the choice selection, which is why I chose to order from them in L.A. from Omaha, where they then ordered from England. Like Michael Scott and his customers, I appreciate that personal touch.

Near the end of True Blue:

I saw Bright Eyes tonight at the intimate bar/venue The Waiting Room – thanks to Cynthia who skillfully procured the hard-to-get tickets. The show was pretty amazing. It’s too late (or too early) to write about it in any articulate or even cohesive way. Simon Joyner and Flowers Forever opened — sadly, I missed most of Flowers’ set, but enjoyed what I did see and Simon Joyner sounded good tonight too. Bright Eyes set list photo below.

Friday Night Lights. The show is well written, well acted, and has an interesting and effective style. I have only one disc left of Season 5 for 24 and only the premiere for Season 6 is out on DVD. That means about a month of waiting for Jack and company. Luckily, I have found this show to fill that void. For those of you who have yet to watch Season 5 of 24, I will hold my commentary except to say prepare for heartbreak. 24 teaches the painful lesson of not getting too emotionally involved, especially with characters on television. It’s tough love and loss on 24.

Back to Friday Night Lights though. There are some great people behind the show, notably Creator Peter Berg (Writer/Actor/Director, he directed the film) and Head Writer/Executive Producer Jason Katims (former Producer/Writer on My So-Called Life), who made some bold choices, especially in the way that they choose to shoot the show. They shoot in Austin in real locations rather than on a stage in L.A. They shoot at least three cameras simultaneously at all times, documentary style. Little to no blocking or rehearsal is involved and actors are encouraged to improvise in both lines and performance. According to actor Kyle Chandler, Berg said, “The few rules to the game that we play are, you come to the set, you know your character 110 percent, you know the lines that are on the page 110 percent, and then be prepared to get rid of everything and start all over.” The lighting setups are minimal, which allow the actors more freedom to move where they want, there are no marks that they have to hit. The cinematographers looked to Direct Cinema pioneers like D.A. Pennebaker and the Maysles for inspiration. The result is a very realistic looking and seeming show. The performances are more natural, and the cameras (because of the multiple camera setup) are free to capture subtle things like a hand fidgeting or a bored look. They can wander and capture these small nuanced moments that add depth and realism to the show and its characters. Apparently, they often shoot on long lenses to stay out of the actors’ way and to go more easily undetected.

The characters feel like real people, and for a cast of mostly unknowns, they’ve kept overacting and melodrama at bay. Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton, as the coach and his wife, are really talented and pull off one of the few believable representations of a husband and wife on television. You can tell that the producers and directors pay close attention to performance and are attuned to when a performance feels real or when it feels like acting. Also, I love Matt Saracen on the show, and the actor Zach Gilford is from Evanston.

Season 1 is out on DVD and you can also watch episodes on nbc.com.

Mike Mills’ new documentary, Does Your Soul Have a Cold? premieres TONIGHT on the IFC channel at 9 PM Eastern time. Some online sources have stated that it premieres Oct. 29th, but IFC states that it’s on tonight. So tune in or set your DVRs for tonight, just in case.

Here’s a quick rundown on the film:

“Does Your Soul Have a Cold?” is an intimate and compassionate journey into the lives of five depressed Japanese individuals who decide to take antidepressants. Their personal histories are examined, together with their hopes and fears, ultimately offering an intriguing perspective on the broad socio-cultural issues that are only now being uncovered in Japan.