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mad_typist

mad_typist
Location
Alexandria, Virginia, USA
Birthday
September 18
Bio
I'm a liberal secular humanist who enjoys writing, reading, playing video games and watching sports. I am a former member of the Armed Services who now enjoys the sweet sweet freedom of civilian life. My blog will be centered mostly on politics, football and video games. Also, yes, I am a girl.

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JULY 1, 2009 11:20AM

OS, Help Me Decide Which Shows To Review!

Rate: 8 Flag
Readers, Help Me Decide Which Shows To Review!

I was polling friends recently as to which iPhone apps they considered essential (since I have now drank the Kool Aid and am the owner of a brand new iPhone 3GS). One friend suggested I check out a program called AudioBoo. It allows users to upload short audio clips, which are then published immediately on the AudioBoo site, and can be subscribed to via RSS. In other words, it's like Twitter but for podcasts.

Now, I already do a bi-weekly podcast, and it clocks in at a whopping 1 hour and 30 minutes most episodes, so I was dubious about my ability to convey anything interesting in a micro-podcast that runs under 3 minutes. However, after some thought an idea percolated about how I might use this new technology.

I don't have the time and energy to write detailed recaps/reviews of the shows I watch, since people seem to expect those posted the next morning after the show airs. However, I am considering doing micro-podcasts immediately after I watch each show reviewing the episode.

This is where you, dear reader, come in.

Several of you have said you enjoy reading my reviews on pop culture things like the new HBO series "Hung." On the other hand, maybe the rest of you are silently groaning at the thought of me blathering on about more TV. So, please take a moment and let me know in the comments your responses to the following:

1) Would you be interested in listening to my 3 minute micro-podcast reviews of various TV shows? I ask because this only makes sense if people actually want to hear it. Otherwise, I'm just wasting my time.

2) If the answer, is yes, which 3-5 shows would you like to hear recapped/reviewed? I'm open to any suggestion (feel free to shout out requests), but for reference, here's a list of the shows currently on my watch-list (now with vote tally - will be updating as the day goes along and more votes come in):
  • Hung (for now)
  • True Blood (2)
  • The Closer (1)
  • How I Met Your Mother (I'm catching up on the series by watching Lifetime's reruns)
  • Better Off Ted
  • Nurse Jackie (3)
  • Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D List (2)
  • Deadliest Catch (1)
  • Mad Men (returns in August)
  • Hard Knocks: Bengals Training Camp (returns in August)

User submitted suggestions:

  • Whale Wars (1)
  • In Plain Sight (1)
  • Burn Notice (1) - note: would be watching the DVD starting w/s1
  • Merlin (1)
  • Rescue Me (1) - note: would be watching the DVD starting w/s1

Obviously, if this is successful and I make it through the summer, this list will be revised to handle the new and returning series in the fall.

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Comments

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Yes! I spend, on average, 40 hours a week on the road with podcasts and radio as my only companion.

I'd like to hear your opinions on The Closer, Nurse Jackie, and K G's Life on the D list, but I'd be happy to listen to your podcast on any of these shows.

Are there any OS themed podcasts out there now? I suppose I should check and see if I can find some.

Thank you for this.
Especially if you can view all the previous shows I would recommend "Whale Wars." It's about the Sea Shepherd organizaiton trying to stop Japanese whaling in the antarctic.

What's amazing about the show is the utter incompetence of the crew and captain. It's a sailing cluster fuck, the Keystone Cops on water, and every week it's exciting just to see what they will screw up next.

If you want any more iPhone app recommendations, here's mine:

Games: Zen Bound, Glyder, Edge, iShoot, Flight Control

Artistic Stuff: Sandscapes, iZenGarden, Spawn Illuminati, Koi Pond

Photography: Photogene, Juxtaposer, Color Splash, Tilt Shift

Media: Pandora, Kindle, Stanza (Pandora and Kindle are free).

Utility: SOS Torch (it's basically a thing that turns your iPhone into a flashlight. There are many others. You should have at least one).
mishma666, thanks for the suggestions! I LOVE flight control (can't stop playing it, even when going to bed). I will definitely check out the apps you recommended.
I'm with mishima on glyder; I've really enjoyed that one. For an "action" game, it has more of a "Myst" feel, if you know what I mean. (You can get Myst on the iPhone now, by the way.) I also like Glyph, Bookworm, Flick Bowling, and Paper Toss.

I think eReader is superior to both Stanza and Kindle, and appears to have almost exactly the same library. I expect the Kindle library will grow, with the weight of Amazon behind it, and I'm sure the software will improve. I still like eReader, though.

As for shows, there's nothing on currently other than "Kings" that I'm watching. Come fall, there will be "Fringe" and "Dollhouse," but that's all I can think of for now.
Douglas - Fringe and Dollhouse are definitely going to be on my fall list, if this thing takes off. Speaking of sci-fi, I'm also contemplating picking up the new Stargate Universe when it finally premieres as well, so that will be a future candidate for the list.
I'm a fan of "D-List", but what about "In Plain Sight" on USA? It's a pretty decent show, in my opinion.
I love True Blood, Nurse Jackie and Deadliest Catch. Sounds like a winner of an idea to me.
Rated
Thanks everyone who's responded so far. Your feedback means a lot to me.

I'm going to update the post above to keep track of the votes so far.
Unfortunately I watch none of those shows. I just started watching Lost though so if you don't mind being five years behind the times I'd love to listen to your season 1 insights. :)

I love talk radio and podcasts though so perhaps you and Scott could get together and do movie reviews a la the late Siskel & Ebert.

I'd also listen to an NFL preview and fall reviews of the Simpsons, the Office & 30 Rock as though are the only shows I currently watch.
Travis - I may throw in a movie review or two when I get a chance. I'd happily do a Siskel & Ebert style podcast with Scott, if he wanted. :)

30 Rock is on the list for the fall.

Douglas - I missed the first couple episodes of Merlin already :(
TRUE BLOOD gets a vote, and here's one to add to your shout out list: BURN NOTICE. It's a smart, quirky, tongue-in-cheek spy show on USA Network.
iTunes, M_T; iTunes.
"Resuce Me"? The season is winding down, but it's a pretty well-written show.
@Douglas - is it free on iTunes? I'm already spending all my money on iPhone games, so I refuse to pay for any of these shows.

@Mal - Burn Notice has been on my To-Do list for awhile now.

Right now, I may do 3-4 current shows (as in, new episodes airing now), and 1-2 shows that I haven't seen yet (i.e. Burn Notice)
I'll only say one more thing about BN--the chemistry among the leads is fetching. Hopefully, it'll be worth your time.
well, MT, I'm a big fan, but I'm poor, technologically impaired and generally resentful of iphone owners (I wouldn't own one even if I could afford it, damnit! :)

I haven't listened to a podcast in quite a while... I don't have speakers on my computer at work and I don't have a working computer at home... or a working "pod" or any of that stuff, so I'm not going to be listening.

But, good luck! And don't forget to review the new Man v. Wild...