"You're All I Need"

It's Valentine's Day, so it's the perfect excuse for me to post two of the best scenes from my all-time favorite television pairing, Alias' Sydney and Vaughn. They likely won't mean much for anyone who hasn't seen the show, but they're adorable nonetheless.

Vaughn: Syd, this watch belonged to my father. It's broken now, but it used to keep perfect time. And when he gave it to me, he said, "You could set your heart by this watch." It stopped October first -- the day we met.

Clip:



Vaughn: We're not gonna make it out of here. There's something I need you to know.
Sydney: Vaughn...
Vaughn: In my life, there's only one person...
Sydney: Don't do this.
Vaughn: Look at me.
Sydney: Vaughn...
Vaughn: The only reason I pushed you away...
Sydney: Please...
Vaughn: The only reason I didn't know how to be around you...
Sydney: They're coming.
Vaughn: Sydney...
Sydney: I know, Vaughn. I know. We'll find each other. We always find each other.

Clip:

Will You Be My Valentine?

A few months ago I blogged about how trite and cliche the new movie Valentine's Day looked. A new (and better) trailer premiered here today. Now, I am excited to see the movie. Bizarre, I know, since Valentine's Day doesn't actually look good or particularly original. Maybe I am looking forward to it because I really want to see Jennifer Garner go ape-crazy on a pinata (awesome!), or maybe I am turning into a softie who can actually enjoy awful rom-coms (yuck!). Whatever the reason, I think I know where I'll be spending my Single's Awareness Day in 2010 - with my butt in the seat of a movie theater, right where I belong. Who's with me?

Top 10 TV Shows of the Decade

As the first decade of the 2000's comes to a close, it's the perfect time to make "best of" lists. So with that, over the next few weeks I'll be making my own lists of the Top 10 movies, songs, television series, and entertainers of the decade. We begin with TV.

1. Alias (ABC, 2001-2006)
My least shocking selection. Sure it had some rough patches (season four anyone?), and it was hard for the producers to sustain such quality over five seasons, but Alias is my all-time favorite television series. I have yet to see a better episode of television than the show's pilot, and season two will absolutely blow your mind. Sydney Bristow will likely be the best role of Jennifer Garner's career, and the fact that she never won an Emmy is a travesty. She portrayed Sydney with incredible strength and vulnerability, and without her, Alias would not have succeeded. J.J. Abrams owes his career to this show. Without it, he never would've been given the creative freedom to later create sci-fi gems LOST and Star Trek. However, I contend that Alias represents his best work. I only hope that the next decade brings another show that I love this much.

2. Battlestar Galactica (Sci-Fi, 2004-2009)
Even though it's set in space with spaceships and "aliens," I never really considered Battlestar Galactica a science fiction show. It was merely television's best drama. Everything about the four season series was perfection. The writing, acting, directing, and even the special effects were sublime. However, Galactica's greatest asset was it's short run. Unlike many TV shows, Galactica knew when to hang it up, and the storytelling benefited greatly, and the show turned in one of television's most satisfying series finales ever.

3. American Idol (FOX, 2002 - present)
Television purists would lament the inclusion of reality television on a list like this, but I am not one of them. How can you ignore the biggest show of the decade, and one of the most entertaining? Sure, American Idol had a winning formula with Simon Cowell's acerbic wit, Paula Abdul's antics, Randy Jackson's gibberish, and Ryan Seacrest's "metrosexuality." However, this is a show all about the contestants. Without the talent of stars like Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry the show would have failed. It'll be interesting to see if the show can continue to churn out music's next big thing. If so, it'll likely be a ratings giant well into the next decade.

4. Everwood (WB, 2002-2006)
The most underrated show of the 2000's, probably because it aired on the WB. Everwood was Greg Berlanti's Alias. Just as the spy drama set the stage for J.J. Abrams career, Everwood cemented Berlanti's place in Hollywood. After Everwood, he'd later go on to produce the much better known Brothers & Sisters, and he's slated as the writer for 2011's The Green Lantern. As with Abrams, his lesser-known work was his best. Everwood was the ideal family drama. It was smart and funny, and didn't shy away from hot-button issues like abortion and teen pregnancy. Television needs more shows like this.

5. Veronica Mars (UPN/CW, 2004-2007)
This one falls under the category of "TV Shows Canceled Much Too Soon." A victim of poor ratings, Veronica Mars never once suffered from poor quality. Kristen Bell infused Veronica with such life and vitality that she was impossible to resist, and she delivered Veronica's trademark zingers impeccably. Plus, any show that can survive a Paris Hilton cameo in only its second episode must be pretty damn good.

6. LOST (ABC, 2004 - present)
Yes, J.J. Abrams' second best effort makes the list too. LOST started off with a bang, and its first two seasons were breathtaking. The show lost its way for a while, but got back on track when producers and the network decided the show would end in 2010 (something that Abrams' learned from Alias). The show's final season will go a long way to determining LOST's legacy, and it's still confusing as hell, but for now, it remains television's most accessible science-fiction offering.

7. Grey's Anatomy (ABC, 2005 - present)
Primetime's best soap opera. Lots of love and lots of sex, and it's completely irresistible. Like many shows on this list, Grey's started with a magnificent two season run. There have been a few bumps in the road, but the show still manages to blend medical drama with good old-fashioned love stories. It doesn't hurt that the cast including Chandra Wilson, Sandra Oh, and Ellen Pompeo turn in first-rate performances each and every week.

8. Arrested Development (FOX, 2003 - 2006)
It's probably heresy that I am listing a show that I've only seen 2/3 of, but that's a testament to Arrested Development's superior quality. Once I see the entire series, the show will probably climb its way up this list. It was one of the funniest and most original comedies to ever hit the small screen. It's groundbreaking style paved the way for other quirky, critically-acclaimed shows including 30 Rock, Modern Family, and Better Off Ted.

9. Survivor (CBS, 2000 - present)
The only show on the list that has survived the entire decade. The granddaddy of reality television, Survivor is a statement to quality equaling longevity. After nearly 20 installments, Survivor continues to cast people and create situations that bring new twists and freshness to the show. If they keep up this pace, we'll still be talking about Survivor come 2019.

10. Modern Family / Glee (ABC / FOX, 2009 - present)
Some will say it's "too soon," and I was tempted to put both of these shows even higher, but since they're only halfway through their first seasons they both land at number 10. Their addition to the television landscape has made 2009 a banner year. They're original and "side-splittingly" funny, and I cannot wait to see what they bring to the next decade.

Quote of the Week Returns

This is neither relevant nor timely, but after re-watching some of my favorite Alias episodes last weekend, I remembered how much I love this scene in the season three premiere. Jennifer Garner kills it.

"I am not going say, 'I understand.' I am not going to sympathize with you and tell you how hard it must be for you. But you want to know how I am? I am horrible. Vaughn, I am ripped apart. And not because I lost you, but because, if it had been me, I would have waited. I would have found the truth. I wouldn't have given up on you. And now, I realize what an absolute waste that would have been."
-Sydney Bristow

The Truth Hurts

Last fall, Ricky Gervais headlined Ghost Town, a surprisingly funny romantic comedy about a man who sees ghosts. This fall, Gervais is back, this time as both director and lead actor, with another quirky rom-com about a world where no one can lie and everyone says what they think. However, The Invention of Lying, while funny at times, doesn't live up to it's one-of-a-kind concept.

Gervais plays Mark Bellison, a frumpy, down-on-his-luck screenwriter. Since it's a world without lying (and imagniation), Mark's screenplays are dry historical documentaries. Pretty exciting stuff. After Mark gets rejected by the woman of his dreams (Jennifer Garner), belittled by his snappy coworkers (Tina Fey and Rob Lowe), and fired from his job, he tells the world's first lie. Mark's fibs make him famous, and without giving away too much, a large portion of the film is a commentary on religion and the afterlife.

Anyone who has watched an award show during the past few years knows that Gervais is a comedic all-star. His delivery is spot-on and he knows how to make the most scathing one-liners endearing. While he's an excellent comedian, Gervais' directorial skills need some work. The Invention of Lying suffers from an identity crisis. The film waffles between romantic comedy and biting satire, and doesn't succeed fully on either front.

The supporting cast is stellar and elevates the muddy material. Jennifer Garner mails in her go-to, girl next door persona (perfected in 13 Going on 30), Tina Fey is, well, Tina Fey, and there are quite a few funny cameos from a smattering of stars including Edward Norton and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Though not even a cast this loaded can completely save the film.

There is a strong message to be found in The Invention of Lying, but it's just not as powerful as it should be. However, truthfully speaking, let's hope Gervais' is back soon with a comedy that delivers on his award show potential.

Grade: B

An Open Letter to Jennifer Garner

Dear Mrs. Affleck:

Hopefully this doesn't make Ben jealous, but I've been in love with you for a long time.

You had me at the red wig. (Actually the red wig wasn't the first time we met, I distinctly remember you in Aftershock: Earthquake in New York, but let's pretend.) After Sydney Bristow/Alias/you entered my life, you could do no wrong: I rushed home from my Grandma's funeral so I didn't miss Alias' third season finale (I needed to keep up my streak of never missing an episode in real-time), I saw you test your comic chops in 13 Going on 30 on opening day (and boy, were you great), I was one of the few people that enjoyed (and own) Daredevil, and I saw the travesty that was Elektra in the theater twice (!) so that I could help your box office clout. In fact, you (or maybe just your cleavage) were plastered all over my dorm room in college. Obviously, I was smitten.

However, when Alias ended, your career choices had me concerned. (Not that your cinematic endeavors during Alias were great.) First, there was Catch and Release, your would-be coming-out-party as America's next rom-com star. Instead, it was two hours of "how creatively can Susannah Grant hide Jennifer's baby bump." Next came The Kingdom, which received decent reviews, but I actually never saw. I'll take the blame for that one. I was starting to sweat bullets when it came to your future prospects. Then came Juno.

Oh, how I was so happy about Juno. Your subtle, heartfelt performance showed the world what I already knew: that you are a superb actress who can be more than a butt-kicking bad-ass. Despite my bias, your performance grounded that film, and you were robbed of both Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations.

Once again, I thought, "Jennifer is on the path to greatness." Not so fast. For whatever reason, you decided to costar with Hollywood man-boy Matthew McConaughey in Ghosts of Girlfriends Past. I was thisclose to seeing the film, but I refused. Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer, really? You're so much better than Kate Hudson.

Now you have two more films coming out soon, and I am uneasy.

First, The Invention of Lying hits theaters later this month. The trailer is unimpressive and the jokes are amusing, but far from laugh-out-loud worthy. However, Ricky Gervais' last film, Ghost Town, had the same lackluster trailer problem, and yet it was one of 2008's most enjoyable films. Though Lying's cast is great and you're charming as always (though bangs really aren't your best look), so I am keeping my fingers crossed.



I'm more concerned with February's Valentine's Day. Romantic comedies aren't your best vehicle, and this one appears to be the not-as-good American interpretation of Love, Actually, which may be the most overrated romantic movie of all-time (well, except for The Notebook). You're surrounded by some of Hollywood's A-list (Julia Roberts, Anne Hathaway, and Jamie Foxx), so I can't blame you for taking the role. Plus it's a pseudo Alias reunion for you and Bradley Cooper, and I'd never complain about that.



Maybe I'm paranoid, and you still have another Oscar-worthy role up your sleeve. At least I'm hoping so. Please, look for another Juno, a movie where you can showcase your dramatic range while keeping your trademark sweetness.

Regardless, I'll still see your films because, after all, you were Sydney Bristow.

Love always,
Jason