Jude's Thursday Dish (as if I write anything else lately)

I survived the last couple weeks of my life and for that, I'm very grateful.  The first week of April is always insane at the Hut house with my birthday on the 1st and Katie's on the 3rd.  With the celebrations, Katie's party, etc. and then we go into Conference Weekend that holds more get-togethers, it's non-stop.  And tomorrow, I've got the Highland Park Elementary Arts Night that I'm on the Silent Auction committee.  I think by Monday, I'm going to crawl into bed for a mental health day!  Enough of all that, on to Dish!

1. I'm saying it.  "The Office" has officially Jumped the Shark.  Michael quitting?  Pam leaving with him?  SPOILER ALERT: The new bleached blond Ryan we saw in the commercial is working as a manager at a bowling alley and he leaves to go work with Michael.  And rumors are going around that another Dunder Mifflin-ite is going to defect over to Michael's new company.  This is when producers need to stick with their creative integrity and go out on a high note.  Yes, the show is awesome and has turned into a cash cow/audience fav for NBC.  But don't let it go on and on.  Take a cue book from HBO or the BBC.  Let your shows end before they wear out their welcome.  I'd much rather it leave with fond memories than exhaust me on the way out like a bad break-up!

To remind me of funnier days, "My horn can pierce the sky!"

2.  Speaking of a show exhausting itself, does anyone still watch E/R?  Did anyone see the George Clooney return?  I was going to tune in, but forgot.  If you saw it, tell me how it was.  I guess tonight is the last episode and there's a show before it reminiscing on the series.  I may DVR it, but I lost interest in that show when Carter and Luka started going to Africa.

3. For my birthday yesterday, I decided to relax and watch a movie I ordered On Demand.  "Twilight" -- which I still hadn't seen.  I was into it, but unfortunately, Katie called from school saying she was sick and I had to go pick her up.  I didn't want to finish watching it with her around.  On Demand shows last 24 hours, so this morning, I went to finish the movie and it was gone out of my Saved Programs.  I think I barely missed the 24 hour mark.  I'm so annoyed.  And I'm not paying another $4.99 to watch the 2nd half.  Anyone near me have it and can I borrow it, so I can finish and review? :)

4. Since I have no time to go SEE movies, my latest past time is watching trailers online.  I guess I'm fantasizing for the day I have a chance to actually GO to the theater and by looking at trailers, it makes me think I might slow down enough to catch that film when it hits the theaters. That, and for rated R movies, I guess this is as close as I'll get until it comes out on ClearPlay.  So, I guess this spot was on during the Super Bowl, but we were having a family birthday party and the game was on in the background, so I didn't see it.  This is probably old news for most of you, but I actually laughed out loud at this clip when I found it online.  Especially seeing Tobias playing Cain.   My favorite part: "What do I continue to do?"

4. And on to LOSTapooloza! If you haven't seen it, GO AWAY!

Last night's episode was solid. Maybe not as flashy or as "big reveal" as others, but definitely a good show. I'm digging the new Jack, even though Kate isn't, I guess. I loved how he stood up to her and said, "You didn't like the old me." I was also pleased to see Sawyer not just go to mush over Kate and he's staying true to his new woman. That might end, but for now, it's very realistic that he'd be loyal to Juliet since they've been together so long. It was interesting to see Juliet confront Jack (in the shower, naked! Hello? Neither seemed affected at all that he walked out all bare-nekkid.) Was she anguished that Jack came back or was she upset that he brought KATE back? I thought it was interesting how everybody wanted to save young Benry. Sure, I get the whole thing about him being a child and it doesn't matter who he becomes, but hey... Producers, read 1st Nephi. It's better than ONE man perish than a whole nation dwindle in unbelief! Ha ha! Why did Kate care so much about Benry living? I thought for sure that Benry TOOK Aaron and she would want him to live because she knew that was the only way in the future she would find him. I was actually VERY surprised that Kate gave Aaron back to his grandma and she's going back to the Island to find Clair. (Is Claire alive or dead or resurrected?) John thought it was totally out of character, but I think it's her turning point and her only true way to redeem herself. She's FINALLY taking steps to be a better person. It was a great performance and truly heartwrenching. Kate wanted to save Benry because of her growth as a woman and as a mom. She is turning into a real heroine. I totally bought it.

Still loving that Hurley's thoughts and questions about the time travel mirror the audiences. John and I even discussed the whole "Back to the Future" theory, so when Hurley voiced that, it was like a shout-out to all the Geeks like us out there. And when he asked Miles why didn't Benry remember Sayid shooting him as a kid, classic. Like we haven't all been wondering that.

One point of mythology clarification came up. Charles Widmore was part of the Richard Alpert Others and not the Dharma Others. The Ellie they referred to had to be Eloise Hawking. Were they an item? Maybe Penny and Faraday are 1/2 siblings? Or maybe Eloise IS Penny's mom? Those 2 were obviously in charge, but it's odd to me that Eloise will help Big Benry go back to the Island and Charles Widmore is totally on the outs. They must've had some falling out. That makes me wonder how does Benry grow up with the Richard Alpert peeps and overtake Charles? But how does that fit in with Benry going back to the Dharma peeps and killing his dad and everybody else?

Coming Up: Benry says he's back at the Island to atone for his sins. Whatever. If he is, he's only doing that to get back into the good graces of Jacob. In the preview for next week, you can see that he's talking with a young Rousseau in the temple. So, Locke, Benry, Sun, Frank and the survivors of the plane crash must have landed in 1985-ish. Will we ever get back to 2008 -2009? There are rampant rumors online about who the 2 deaths are going to be this season. One is floating around that Sawyer is going to die in the season finale. I will have a REALLY hard time watching next season if that happens. There's been confirmation that it's not Kate or Penny (thank heaven!!!), but other than that, everyone else is wide open. I'm thinking it's got to be Sayid. How is he can stay on the Island with the Dharma peeps all after him for shooting young Benry? Plus, his story arc seems to be running out.

That's it for this week!