HSB Recommends: Ghost Adventures

Yes, HSB is back after an unscheduled hiatus in which Robin & I both pulled off long-distance moves. We are now reunited under one roof. The combined power of our snark and pop culture knowledge could probably be harnessed to power small pieces of industrial equipment, but unfortunately my poor grasp of physics makes it difficult to capitalize on that. Instead, we just watch Ghost Adventures. And behind-the-scenes videos of Ghost Adventures online. And read Ghost Adventures fan fiction.

Ahem.

 What is Ghost Adventures, you might ask? Oh, I don't know, only the best show on television.

2010 Emmys: Stream of Consciousness Edition

For the first time in recent memory, M & I were able to watch the Emmys telecast simultaneously -- albeit still in different cities.  After the jump: our take on the show as it happened.

Eric Stonestreet FTW! Hooray!

3 Things 'American Idol' Can Learn From 'So You Think You Can Dance'

So You Think You Can Dance winner Lauren Froderman

This week Lauren Froderman won the 7th season of So You Think You Can Dance, marking the end of a divisive but enormously entertaining season. While the decision to pair new contestants with returning All-Stars left some fans cold (as it eliminated the usual ongoing partnerships, among other reasons) I was excited to see some of my favorite dancers from past seasons get a chance to shine in their specialties. (I mean, who can argue with more Pasha Kovalev? Honestly, people.) While the ratings were lower than desired, the series hit new creative highs.

The Other Other Guys: The Movie I Wanted To See

Tonight I saw The Other Guys, the highly anticipated (well, by me, anyway) summer buddy-cop comedy starring Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg.

On paper, it's a great movie.  And the previews do nothing to dispel that idea.  Wahlberg is a perfect short-tempered cop (remember his turn in The Departed?) and Ferrell can play a by-the-book innocent (see Stranger Than Fiction) as a seemingly ideal foil.  The great fun in the previews is our sense of recognition; when the cops encounter an explosion, they're not running away from it, jaws clenched and unflinching. Instead they're thrown back, and they writhe around on the ground complaining about blood blisters and soft tissue damage.  The two hotshot cops in the movie (Dwayne Johnson and Samuel L. Jackson), in an insane chase scene, are called to account for incurring $12 million in damages on a misdemeanor arrest.

Given the previews, what I expected was an unconventional buddy comedy stemming from the disparity between action movie cliches and how an action movie would play out in real life, with unmistakably mortal heroes, even schlubs.

That wasn't exactly what I got.

HSB Recommends: The Good Guys

Summer has long been a disheartening season for TV fans, particularly in terms of the major networks. While cable and premium channels can boast new episodes of critical favorites like Mad Men and True Blood, viewers of the Big Four are stuck with tired reality shows and dusted-off reruns. One happy exception is Fox's The Good Guys.

Getting It Right: Three Things Hollywood Can Learn From Inception

By now, you've probably heard a lot about Christopher Nolan's Inception.  I saw the movie on opening weekend, walking into the theater with no more knowledge of the movie's plot than I had gleaned from the trailers, and I - along with the rest of the packed house - loved it.  I've since read mixed reviews.  I won't go into the criticisms of its detractors here: instead, here are three things I think Nolan did right, and why Hollywood should take a page from the Inception book.

Warning: mild spoilers ahead!

Get These Actors Together: Jon Hamm & Paul Rudd

Take a look at these two.  Now say it with me: "Awwwww."  (OK, maybe you didn't say "Awww." Maybe you drooled a little, or sighed loudly.  Or if you're a straight dude, you might have just rolled your eyes.)

But seriously.  Jon Hamm and Paul Rudd, you guys!  They're both incredibly handsome, skilled at both drama and comedy, successful in their careers ...

And they're longtime friends.

So answer me this: WHY in the name of all that is holy are they not also costars?  We at the HSB dare to imagine the awesomeness of a Hamm and Rudd double bill: