Monthly Archives: September 2011

Blaming Buckner Again – And ‘Curb’ – for Sox Collapse

By Roger Catlin | Published: September 30, 2011

Bill Buckner seemed to be just shedding the scapegoat role he’s been saddled with since 1986. After title wins in 2004 and 2007, Boston fans began to forgive him missing a ball between his legs in a Game 6 ninth inning against the Mets. Just last week, he was featured in a lengthy segment about [...]

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Friday TV: Postseason Baseball Begins, ‘House’ as Musician

By Roger Catlin | Published: September 30, 2011

Postseason baseball begins today and will try to be as dramatic as that frenzied final day of the season Wednesday. It’s American League wild card winners Tampa Bay at Texas (TBS, 5 p.m.) followed by division winners Detroit at the Yankees (TBS, 8:30 p.m.), with their aces facing off: Justin Verlander, left and C.C. Sabathia. [...]

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Comcast Fail II

By Roger Catlin | Published: September 30, 2011

Here’s a good way to get speedy reaction from the monopoly utility that can’t quite get your service right: Write a blog. I may not have legions of readers here at RogerCatlin.Com, but a post on “Comcast Fail” a couple days ago surely caught the attention of someone from their national response teams. How can [...]

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The Problem with ‘X Factor’ So Far

By Roger Catlin | Published: September 29, 2011

Watching the first three episodes of Simon Cowell’s new American venture has been more of a chore than it should be. Didn’t we once look forward to watching “American Idol”? “The X Factor” by contrast is much less of pleasure, and not just because its sheer volume. In three episodes, it’s already expended six hours, [...]

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Thursday TV: ‘How to Be a Gentleman,’ ‘Latino List’

By Roger Catlin | Published: September 29, 2011

It’s got one of the strongest supporting casts on TV, with Rhys Darby (Murray from “Flight of the Conchords,” Dave Foley of “Newsradio,” Mary Lynn Rajskub of “24.” But at its center looks to be  an “Odd Couple” rehash with creator David Hornsby (a minor character from “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”) as an uptight [...]

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Hugh Laurie Goes to New Orleans

By Roger Catlin | Published: September 29, 2011

Ah, celebrity! It opens so many doors to the good life: the best tables at restaurants, invitations to royal events, packed goodie bags at awards shows. And say you’re a weekend musician who has dabbled in a certain style of music, record companies may contact you to come into the studio, film companies may underwrite [...]

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Wednesday TV: New ‘Suburgatory,’ More ‘Luther’

By Roger Catlin | Published: September 28, 2011

New fall shows are still trickling out at the networks, and the new sitcom tonight, “Suburgatory” (ABC, 8:30 p.m.), about a fresh-faced but cynical girl who moves out to the suburbs, has the lightness and appeal of a not-bad ABC Family sitcom. It’s unclear that it deserves to be on the big broadcast network, but [...]

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Elisa’betta’ Pack Her Dancing Shoes

By Roger Catlin | Published: September 27, 2011

Models don’t last long on “Dancing with the Stars” – even if they are the most improved dancer of the week, and only two points below the top judges’ score. That was the case for Elisabetta Canalis Tuesday. She and her partner were the second to be eliminated from the show, despite an average judges’ [...]

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More Women Among Rock Hall Nominees

By Roger Catlin | Published: September 27, 2011

Women rockers are prominent among the nominees for the class of 2012 in the Rock and Roll hall of Fame released Tuesday. First time nominees Joan Jett, right, and the Blackhearts, the band Heart and Rufus featuring Chaka Khan are among a group of nominees that include such repeat nominees as Donna Summer and Laura [...]

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‘Terra Nova’ No Blockbuster in Ratings

By Roger Catlin | Published: September 27, 2011

For all its hype and build-up Fox’s costly two hour “Terra Nova” premiere Monday only drew 9 million viewers. Not terra-ble (sorry) but certainly not was expected for what was planned to be a surefire blockbuster. It fell against the CBS comedy lineup, led by the retooled “Two and Half Men” which was down by [...]

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