V

V
Unlike BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (great until its disastrous final season), this update of the ‘80s sci-fi show doesn’t take enough risks to rise above merely serviceable. Alien queen Morena Baccarin is solely interesting amidst a painfully bland cast and the social / media metaphors are labored to the point of exhaustion.

Passengers

PASSENGERS
Anne Hathaway is a psychotherapist who senses something is amiss while treating five plane crash survivors (including an annoyingly Carpe-Diem Patrick Wilson). This plodding suspense thriller is obnoxiously Buscaglia-esque and its “twist ending” would be predictable even if THE SIXTH SENSE hadn’t rendered it a cliché.

Asterios Polyp

ASTERIOS POLYP by David Mazzucchelli (Pantheon)
This decade-in-the-making epic about an architect too smart for his own good is well worth the wait. Mazzucchelli’s masterful usage of comics’ unique storytelling flexibility makes the book as much about art as its protagonist’s journey. Depth and detail warrant repeat readings (but I hate that truncated dust jacket!).

Dexter Season 3

DEXTER The Third Season DVD
Can a quasi-sociopathic serial killer find true friendship and perhaps even a partner in crime? That’s the question asked (and brutally answered) in the third season of this ridiculously great show. If only the extra features weren’t so lame (more commentaries, less “bonus” episodes of other Showtime shows).

Parker: the Hunter

RICHARD STARK’S PARKER: THE HUNTER by Darwyn Cooke (IDW)
Cooke’s unabashedly retro style (particularly this less polished version) fits this crime noir graphic novel like a tailored suit. A supremely unlikable protagonist doesn’t hamper the enjoyment of this visceral tale of revenge and retribution. Booze, broads, blood and betrayal make for a read that’s not for fanboys only!

83rd Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

83rd MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE
The one reason to watch NBC’s annual advertainment crapapalooza: To make fun of it! Watch Matt Lauer wince as he reads his scripted gags! Carly Simon lipsynchs (why use microphones?) in front of skating Care Bears near the Hamburger Helper float under a giant floating Pillsbury Doughboy! KILL ME NOW!!!

2012

2012
Roland Emmerich destroys the world again, but at least he’s getting better at it. If you ignore the Everest-sized plot holes (two years? Really?) and teeth-grating stock movie clichés (Shut up and save the people already!), 2012 is actually a fairly fun ride. Okay, except for the chasm-jumping Winnebago.

Trauma

TRAUMA
I never saw this DOA NBC medical drama, I’m reviewing it based solely on a line from a commercial, wherein an EMT actually says to someone with some life-threatening emergency, “DON’T YOU DIE ON ME!!!” Call me reactionary, but that alone was enough to keep me far away from TRAUMA.

Was Superman a Spy?

WAS SUPERMAN A SPY? AND OTHER COMIC BOOK LEGENDS… REVEALED! By Brian Cronin (Plume)
This collection of urban legends about comic book culture doesn’t contain a slew of revelations for the hardcore geek, but it’s still a fun read (despite a preponderance of exclamation points). Kudos to Cronin for clearing up some muddled history (e.g. the impetus for Batgirl and the Fantastic Four).

30 Rock

30 ROCK
Despite a rather intense dislike of Tina Fey, I swear I’ve tried to like 30 ROCK. But the overly mannered broad humor of this show just makes me wince (ala the execrable SCRUBS). Yes, Alec Baldwin verges on genius, but he’s lost in a sea of painful, unfunny mugging.

Mercy

MERCY
The Jersey City setting (one character lives in my building) drew me in, but this NBC nurse drama is yet another cliché-ridden predicta-fest populated by pretty (unappealing) people and caricatures. Parallel characters (naive young nurses Zoey and Chloe!) beg unfavorable comparison to Showtime's far superior NURSE JACKIE. DVR, delete!

Eugene Mirman, God is a Twelve Year Old Boy with Asperger's

Eugene Mirman, GOD IS A TWELVE YEAR OLD BOY WITH ASPERGER’S (Sub Pop Records)
Eugene Mirman’s aptly self-proclaimed absurdist comedy is rooted in the kind of brain-twisting wordplay that usually works better read than heard (he often reads letters and lists onstage). Still, Mirman is a singular voice in the often stale stand-up community and the title bit is pure genius.

The Office Season 6

THE OFFICE Season 6
While I’m really tired of the Jim & Pam Show and wish there weren’t so many fuzzy feel-good endings, The Office remains worth watching, thanks to the strong (if recently underused) ensemble cast. Still, despite a few standout episodes (primarly “The Lover”), the show mostly feels past its prime.

Green Lantern: First Flight

GREEN LANTERN: FIRST FLIGHT
One of DC Comics’ untapped A-listers, Hal Jordan finally gets some respect in this new animated take on the pre-eminent GL’s (and arch-enemy Sinestro’s) origin. A lot of action, intrigue, violence and humor is packed into 77 minutes, setting a cosmically high bar for Ryan Reynolds’ 2011 live action film.

Strange Tales

STRANGE TALES
This three issue series looses alternative cartoonists on the Marvel Universe (ala DC’s BIZARRO COMICS) with mixed results. Paul Pope’s Inhumans, Nick Bertozzi’s look at Modok’s ripening and Jeffrey Brown’s “Fantastic Fool’s Day” are all beautiful, but a few too many twee or amateurish strips bring down the overall quality.

Where the Wild Things Are

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE
I wanted to love this, but Spike Jonze’s take on Maurice Sendak’s classic ode to imagination feels sad and curiously hollow. Despite a few nice moments, the sum (hampered by Karen O’s grating soundtrack) invokes some hipster Levi’s ad, leaving me not only markedly umoved, but often bored and annoyed.

By the People: The Election of Barack Obama

BY THE PEOPLE: THE ELECTION OF BARACK OBAMA
Initially conceived as a portrait of a galvanizing young politician, this documentary evolved during filming into an inside chronicle of the Obama team’s brilliant Presidential campaign. The film feels a bit rushed at times, but overall it’s a dizzying, often candid and intimate time capsule of a historic election.

Curb Your Enthusiasm Season 7

CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM Season 7
While sometimes still verging on self-parody, the 7th season of CURB is reinvigorated by Larry’s separation from Cheryl and, yes, the SEINFELD reunion. Larry, Jerry, Julia and Jason are obviously having a ball playing off of each other (Michael? Who knows?) and it’s ridiculously fun to watch. “Krup you!”

Ruby Spears Superman

RUBY-SPEARS SUPERMAN
Despite the involvement of DC Comics alumni (writer Marv Wolfman and artist Gil Kane), this 1988 Saturday morning Superman suffers from network restraints and sloppy animation. A few tales hold up, but this is mostly another piece of nostalgia that’s better left in the fuzzy part of the brain.

Connective Tissue

CONNECTIVE TISSUE by Bob Fingerman (Fantagraphics Books)
Part H.P. Lovecraft, part Harvey Kurtzman, part Russ Meyer: That’s Bob Fingerman, the dark genius behind this tale of a zaftig video store clerk’s meat-candy bad trip. Using just a loose outline, Fingerman did the book’s illustrations first, filling in the prose later, resulting in a beautifully loose, dreamlike structure.

Bored to Death

BORED TO DEATH
Jonathan Ames’ nominally autobiographical “noir-otic comedy” casts Woody Allen’s MANHATTAN MURDER MYSTERY with a gaggle of Wes Andersonian misfits. Jason Schwartzman is charming as ever and Ted Danson steals every scene as a bored narcissist desperate for excitement. The show’s Brooklyn Hipster vibe would grate if it wasn’t so funny.

Mad Men Season 3

MAD MEN Season 3
Existential angst, marital woes, corporate uncertainty and overall anxiety overwhelm this season as the staff of Sterling Cooper deal with the end of the shiny, polished postwar era. The inevitable JFK assassination episode felt eerily dire and painfully real, foreshadowing a milieu shift to the more turbulent Sixties next season.

Schulz and Peanuts

SCHULZ AND PEANUTS by David Michaelis (Harper Perennial)
This exhaustively researched biography paints an illuminating, sometimes heartbreaking portrait of one of the 20th century’s greatest artists (note I didn’t limit it to “cartoonists”). Selected PEANUTS strips correlate directly to Charles Schulz’ many demons (even infidelity) while reminding the reader what an extraordinary observer of human nature he was.

Star Trek

STAR TREK
Self-avowed non-Trekkie/er J.J. Abrams crafts a highly successful reboot of SF’s sturdiest franchise, nicely balancing drama, humor and action. But STAR TREK’s fuel is characterization, and the stellar cast rides nicely on the shoulders of Chris Pine as a worthy successor to William Shatner’s iconic James T. Kirk.

Visqueen, Message to Garcia

Visqueen, MESSAGE TO GARCIA (Local 638 Records)
Visqueen leader Rachel Flotard’s musical ode to her late father is neither maudlin nor overly sentimental, but a raucous, smart slab of inspired ebullience. A peppery balance of hooks and sometimes startling nuance, this quantum leap forward for the Seattle band is easily my favorite record of the year.

Models of the Runway

MODELS OF THE RUNWAYLifetime’s PROJECT RUNWAY companion isn’t really a competition as the models’ fates are left to the designers’ whims. As a reality show, it’s lacking in ANTM-esque drama or humor, since these are actual working models rather than deluded, narcissistic wannabes. So why bother watching? Um… well, Kojii’s pretty.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE
This origin tale of everyone’s (well, most people’s) favorite X-Man is a bloated affair overstuffed with too many characters (Gambit? Really?), ridiculous FX and a stilted, abrupt ending. Hugh Jackman remains likeable as Logan, and as a prequel, the movie serves its purpose. But as entertainment, it misses the X.

Project Runway Season 6

PROJECT RUNWAY Season 6
The long-delayed 6th season may be late, but it’s the location shift from NYC to Los Angeles that makes the show feel a bit off. Fewer drama queens and some pretty lame designers add to the overall been-there-done-that tone. Still, Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn remain adorable, don’t they?

Wednesday Comics

WEDNESDAY COMICS (DC Comics)
BLACKEST NIGHT? Feh! The comics event of the summer was DC’s unabashedly retro homage to the glory days of Sunday newspaper comics tabloids. Not every strip worked (Wonder Woman, Hawkman), and I wish there would've been more variety (Binky?) and experimentation, but I was hooked and would love a sequel.

Frank Sinatra: My Way

Frank Sinatra, MY WAY Reissue (Concord Records)
Concord’s reissue of this 1969 set is a mixed bag of (then) contemporary songs, sublime (“Watch What Happens”), superfluous (“Yesterday”) and silly (“Mrs. Robinson”). The iconic title track is what it is, for better or worse. Features two bonus cuts, a pompous essay by Bono (surprise) and truly hideous packaging.

Hoarders

HOARDERS
These tales of people struggling with obsessive compulsive hoarding disorder are frustrating, mind boggling and often heartbreaking (especially for me, as my entire family suffers from this malady to some extent). The differing methods of those assigned to help painfully display how nearly impossible this addiction is to defeat.

Community

COMMUNITY
THE SOUP’s eminently likeable Joel McHale is less likeable as a lawyer out to get a real degree in this sporadically funny, but often lazy sitcom (fuzzy feel good endings abound). Of the mostly boring (Britta) or overplayed (Abed) ensemble, Chevy Chase and John Oliver shine, but remain underused.

Dave Brubeck: Time Out Legacy Edition

Dave Brubeck, TIME OUT Legacy Edition (Sony Legacy)
One of jazz’ all time classics gets a lavish, loving reissue with live recordings from the 60s, a half-hour documentary on the groundbreaking recording and more. Happily, the original side remains uncluttered with superfluous alternate takes, leaving its startling impact fresh a half century later. Everyone should own this.

Dexter Season 4

DEXTER Season 4
After watching the previous seasons this summer, DEXTER has become my favorite current show, and Season 4 may be the most subversive yet. Entertaining in every way, with a pitch-perfect cast (John Lithgow, serial killer!), brilliant writing and the best score on TV. Worth the price of Showtime by itself.

Superman / Batman: Public Enemies

SUPERMAN / BATMAN: PUBLIC ENEMIES
I despise Ed McGuinness’ work (he drew the source comics), and even this film’s streamlined animated versions are still a bit too “Tom of Finland.” The story suffers from weak characterizations (Oh, Power Girl) and a predominance of slugfests. This weakest of the DC animated movies is for fanboys only.

Patton Oswalt: My Weakness is Strong

Patton Oswalt, MY WEAKNESS IS STRONG (Warner Bros.)
I hate to say it, but marriage and fatherhood HAS had a dulling effect on one of comedy’s most brilliant wordsmiths. Baskets of rainbow kisses have their place, and this is a funny set, but I miss the pure, unadulterated misanthropy and anti-social anger of the pre-domesticated Patton.

Inglourious Basterds

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS
The title is a misnomer, as the film mostly revolves around the revenge of Shoshanna (where’s the payoff with Landa?) and Operation Kino. Mike Myers is distracting and the anachronistic music is jarring, but those are minor quibbles. This is another rousing hoot / holler from film’s ultimate cover artist.

District 9

DISTRICT 9
The lofty aspirations of the much-vaunted Apartheid parable fall to the wayside in act 3, replaced with every Sci-Fi and action film cliché in the book, right down to the cute kid alien! Plus there are more plot holes than a Scooby Doo episode. Bleak, but hollow.

The Cake Boss

THE CAKE BOSS
Carlo’s Bake Shop is in my town, and honestly, the pastries are just okay. But this dull reality series’ manufactured drama and humor are borderline tasteless and its forced “Mia famiglia” platitudes make me wince (also I wanna slap the idiots who clog the Hoboken sidewalks taking pictures every day!).

Love and Rockets: New Stories No.1

LOVE & ROCKETS: NEW STORIES No. 1 by los bros Hernandez (Fantagraphics)
Los Bros Hernandez return with the third iteration of their legendary comic book, and while it’s a kick to see Jaime doing superhero stories, I still can’t shake the feeling that the long-peaked Gilbert is making his shit up as he’s drawing it. I’ll wait for Xaime’s collected editions.

Watchmen

WATCHMEN
An acolyte of the source material, I loved this faithful deconstructionist superhero flick, even preferring the movie’s altered climax to the comic’s. But WATCHMEN relies on a dense, hyper-specific frame of reference to fully appreciate its style and substance. If you’re not the slightest bit geek, I’d skip it.

Watchmen: Music from the Motion Picture

WATCHMEN Music from the Motion Picture (Reprise)
Alan Moore did much of the movie’s music supervision when he wrote the comic, as some of the songs on this collection were quoted therein. Some creaky classics (Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel) sparkle with fresh context and Nina Simone’s “Pirate Jenny” alone makes this worth buying for Watchnerds.

Trust Me

TRUST ME
This contemporary MAD MEN is entertaining, but Tom Cavanagh’s hyperactive man-child shtick can be grating and it is impossible to believe that Eric McCormack’s nervous, clueless Mason could even keep his job, let alone be promoted to creative director. Ultimately as realistic as an Axe Body Spray ad.

Bat-Manga! The Secret History of Batman in Japan

BAT-MANGA! THE SECRET HISTORY OF BATMAN IN JAPAN by Chip Kidd (Pantheon)
Just when you think there’s nothing old that’s new in the Batcave, along comes this amazing sampling of rare, original Japanese Batman comics from the 1960s, beautifully designed (of course) and enhanced by awesome and often bizarre images of toys and art from the era when Batmania reigned even overseas.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL
Intermittently bits of hilarity (“Boosheet, boosheet, boosheet!”) and refreshingly complex characters (Russell Brand! Who knew?) can’t quite overcome another utterly predictable plotline in this rom-com from the Apatow factory. Jason Segel is cuddly as the schlubby hero, but Paul Rudd steals the show (as usual) as a wasted surf instructor.

The Spirit

THE SPIRIT
I always thought that Frank Miller was a bad choice to adapt Will Eisner’s classic mix of whimsy and noir, but nothing prepared me for this execrable display of ineptitude. To compare Miller to Ed Wood is an insult to Wood. Truly one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen.

Religulous

RELIGULOUS
I love Bill Maher, but this look into the lunacy and hypocrisy of religion overreaches. I wanted more confrontation (like the truck stop church scene) and less history lesson, but I’ll bet that the DVD will feature much more meat for atheists like me to chew on.

Quantum of Solace

QUANTUM OF SOLACE
After CASINO ROYALE blew away all the naysayers, maybe expectations were too high for the next 007 installment. Craig, Dench and Wright remain great, but the action is over-edited and the plot too slow to develop. Marc Foster was the wrong director for a spy flick.

Superman: Last Son

SUPERMAN: LAST SON by Richard Donner, Geoff Johns, and Adam Kubert (DC Comics)
I have mixed feelings about the ever-expanding population of Kryptonian survivors in the DCU, and this tale of a mysterious super-powered boy isn’t spectacular enough to allay my concerns. Some clunky storytelling in the art doesn’t help matters. Still, it is nice to have General Zod and Ursa back.

Batman: Brave and the Bold

BATMAN: BRAVE AND THE BOLD
The Light Knight Returns in this homage to the Batman of the 1950s and 60s, teaming the hero up with a series of DC Comics B-listers like Red Tornado and Guy Gardner. The simplified SAMURAI-JACK-esque animation and light, comedic tone is a fresh take on an oft-tackled character.