sherri's blog

Location, Location, Location. We all know that location, at least when it comes to real estate is a major factor in determining the monetary value of a home or a vacant piece of property but should location be used to determine the cost of your everyday goods and services.

Case in point. Did you know, or perhaps you already do that cable companies also use this very same ideology or mantra when it comes to determining the rates for their cable customers. Doesn't seem right that an individual would be be penalized and forced to pay higher rates ( the same rate as those cable subscribers who get a heck of a lot more channels) for their cable tv and receive fewer channels because of where they live. Haven't you ever been curious about how much folks one town over are paying for their cable and what their getting for their money. I mean have you ever bothered to question why when you visit a cable companys web site they ask you to provide a street address and zip code before they divulge any pricing information. What's up with that.

Directv, on the other hand, unlike some of their cable company competitors allows you to satisfy your curiosity quickly and easily. You don't have to plug in all kinds of zip codes with a matching addresss in order to get a rate, because Directv's rates unlike their competitors are the same nationwide and if I might be so bold as to borrow from Martha Stewart " that's a good thing". It  doesn't matter to Directv if you live in Paris, Texas or Paris, Maine, you'll still pay the same rate.

Now if you can't say the same thing about your cable companies rates, then maybe it's time to switch to Directv, who in case you don't know has over 95 national hd channels and has been consistently ranked #1 in cutomer satisfaction.

With the constant rate hikes cable tv customers are always being subjected to perhaps it's time for the subscribers to ask their cable providers the words from the title of Janet Jackson's hit lead single from her "Control" album. The words, "What Have You Done For Me Lately".

Studies and reports have shown that the rate hikes imposed on cable tv subscribers has fast outpaced the rate of inflation and it doesn't appear that this trend will end anytime soon. In todays economy, what with the escalating price of food, fuel, clothing and other everyday living expenses people are having to tighten their purse strings and revaluate their budgets. So, because so may of us see cable as an everyday living expense and not a luxury, it only makes sense to question whether or not you're cable company is giving you value for your money, at least in this day and age.

For instance, does you cable provider constantly move you favorite channels to a higher priced programming package or maybe they just drop them all together? Do the rate hikes adequately reflect the number of channels you receive? Is your cable provider keeping up with the competition with regard to channel availibility? Perhaps you cable company, like so many, add new channles to their line- up in dribs and drabs. You know, 2 channels this month and maybe if your lucky you'll receive another 2 or three channels 6 months later.

Next there's the question of "what have you done for me lately" with regard to the quality of customer service. Do you feel that the customer service dept. is just paying you lip service or are they really attentive and interested in helping you resolve you problems.

Being a former cable tv subscriber I could probably go on and on with "what have you done for me lately" questions that you should be asking yourself about your current cable tv provider. If most of your answers to the above questions are negative, and you don't feel as if you're getting the most bang for your buck, then maybe it's time to consider a change.

Check out Directv today. In addition to over 95 national HD channels, they have a variety of programming packages with pricing sure to fit every budget. Don't just take my word for it. Do your own comparison between Directv and you cable tv provider. After that I'm sure you'll agree that Directv definitely offers you more value for you money.

What! You have got to be kidding me! Those are just a few of the words and phrases that I was shouting out when I watched the season finale of the Next Food Network Star. I could not believe that Aaron Mc Cargo, Jr., an executive catering chef for a hospital was crowned the winner. What I wonder is if the home viewer voted and only their votes ccounted would their choice be the same as the judges. It is after all the viewing audience who will be tuning in to watch the winners show.

First off, while I like Aaron and thought that he dished up some fine culinary fare, he definitely didn't come across as having any real stage presence. Yes, I know that he was nervous and who wouldn't be when you have a limited amount of time to produce a perfect performance on command. You would think however, that by the finale you would have your jitters under control. I mean, shouldn't the winner just exude confidence, authority and chrisma. It's these characteristics that give you credibility with the home viewer.

Then there's the issue with the name of his show. Rather than Aaron coming up with a catchy title or titles as Lisa did, he just latched onto the name that was pitched to him by Gordon Elliot. Does that mean Aaron will let others dictate to him the menu/meals he should prepare for each of his shows episodes.

I have to wonder why Bob Tuschman (v.p. programming & production) and Susie Fogelson (v.p. marketing) and the rest of the Food Network execs. decided to get the premier for Aaron's show "Big Daddys House" up and running so fast. The show will air it's first episode on Sunday, August 3, 1:30 p.m. e/p. Perhaps the powers that be at the Food Network have determined that it's better to air the show as soon as possible, to seize the moment and draw the viewer in quickly so they don't forget about the show, as might happen if they were to wait several months to air it. Remember The Gourmet Next Door, which was hosted by season three winner Amy Finley. She was named the winner on July 22, 2007 yet her show didn't air until October 14, 2007. Just ask yourself, when's the last time you saw a new episode of her show.

Finally, because none of the contestants had every thing the judges were looking for, they should have named all three winners, called the show "The Revolving Chef" or some other crazy name and just rotated them on a weekly basis, thereby showcasing the talent and creativity of Adam, Aaron and Lisa and giving the home viewer not only diversity but the option to choose and watch their favorite contestant do their thing.

Do you like cooking but don't have a vast assortment of cookbooks lining you booksheleves? Perhaps you're a buding culinary chef looking for some more mouthwatering recipes to add to your collection. Maybe you're just tired of seeing the same old, same old on the Food Network.

If any of the above describes you, then have I got a great channel for you to check out. The channel (hold onto your hats) is PBS. If you haven't watched PBS lately you don't know what you're missing. The network/channel airs a wide variety of cooking shows which encompass a diverese offering of gastronomical delights. You can watch and learn tips and techniques from well known chefs as they prepare dishes from the simple to the sophisticated.

Some of my personal favorite are America's Test Kitchen, Everyday Food and Everyday Baking from Everyday Food( Martha Stweart fans will love these shows). I have prepared, much to my familys delight, a fair number recipes that have been showcased in various episodes of the above mentioned shows. I enjoy these shows enough that I have set my DVR to record each series so I don't miss out on any of the recipes.

If you're a culinary show junkie like me, then be sure to give PBS a look see. There's sure to be a cooking show that offers up recipes for scrumptious meals that would bring a smile to the face of those who consider themselves to have the most discriminating of palates.

Note* Check the listings of your PBS station to see what cooking shows are airing in you area.

Everday the local and national news brings us continuing stories of the escalating costs of food, fuel and other cost of living expenses causing many to throw their hands up in frustration. Wondering if there is any end in sight to these constant increases which seem to be spiraling out of control.

If those high costs weren't bad enough, Comcast cable customers in Huntsville, Alabama will  have to dig even deeper to pay for the higher cost of the most simplest and what used to be one of the cheapest forms of entertainment, TV. Comcast, a giant in the cable industry has seen fit to increase cable rates for their Huntsville customers. Effective August 1, 2008 customers will be expected to pay more for the "privilege" of having Comcast as their cable provider. Comcast basic cable subscribers can expect to pay as much as $2.75 more per month, while digital cable subscribers will see their monthly rate increase by as much as $4.00 per month.

With this latest increase perhaps it's time for Comcast subscribers in Huntsville, to revaluate the programming Comcast provides and question whether they are getting full value for their money. While Comcast has been around for awhile, they are not the only game in town. 

So, if you're tired of Comcasts offered programming and increasing costs then maybe it's time to check out Directv. For those of you who don't know Directv has over 95 national channels and a variety of programming packages sure to fit everyones financial budget.

Don't wait for another Comcast price hike. Take a few minutes today and see what Directv has to offer. You'll be glad you did.  

The ABC Network premiered "Wanna Bet", their latest game show creation last night. After seeing and reading numerous trailers and hype about the network giants latest gamble I thought the show would have little entertainment value and would just be a move on the part of the ABC Network to fill air time, rather then run repeats of shows already in their line-up.

As Gomer Pyle would say, Surprise! Surprise! Surprise! I was actually surprised that I enjoyed the show. While all of the contestants performed quite admirably only one of them really stood out in last night's premier show. It was the contestant who was able to tell the name of a band and their album title just by licking a CD. Mind you he was blindfolded (he actually wore some kind of goggles or glasses with cds attached to them). If that isn't an unusual talent I don't know what is.

The hosts of the show, British comedians Ant and Dec, without even breaking a sweat, were actually quite funny. These two were so spot on with their line delivery that they didn't even need to come up with any over the top jokes. Perhaps Ant & Dec could give lessons to John(Henson) & John(Anderson), the hosts of ABC's other madcap game show "Wipeout", whose commentary seems somewhat lacking in humor.

Anyway, if you missed the premiere of the show either because you weren,t home or were watching something else at the time, then be sure set those DVRs to record the remaining episodes. You don't want to miss out on all the quirky, zany and over the top tricks and challenges performed by the contestants.

Food Network Foodies who are fans of the Dinner Impossible show will be ecstatic to know (if you don't already) that the show is making a comeback. The show is slated to premier sans chef Robert Irvine, with new episodes on Wednesda,y August 20th at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

While the show will be hosted by a new chef and sporting a somewhat different logo the show's theme still remains the same. Create mouth watering, scrumptious and eye pleasing food for a varying sized crowd of people in a limited amount of time.

The new Dinner:Impossible will be hosted by Chef Michael Symon who besides being the owner of Lola & Lolita, 2 critically acclaimed restaurants in the Cleveland area has also garnered numerous awards for his culinary creations. Chef Symon is no stranger to the Food Network. He has hosted over 100 episodes of The Melting Pot. He has also appeared on Sara's Secret's with chef Sara Moulton and Food Nation with Bobby Flay. If those credentials aren't impressive enough Chef Symon also competed on The Next Iron Chef in 2007 and won the coveted title of Iron Chef.

On Sunday, July 20th I managed to catch Dinner: Impossibe with chef Symon and was pleasantly surprised. His entire persona is so different from his predecessor chef Robert Irvine. He comes across as easy going and fun loving. Two admirable qualities which make him fun to watch while he attempts to complete the impossible.

So if you haven't already seen Chef Symon in action, then be sure to tune in to the Food Network on Wed. Aug., 20th and watch a culinary master take on the mission of successfully accomplishing, Dinner:Impossible.

Actor William Petersen who is best know to many tv viewers for his portrayal of scientist &  forensic sleuth extroadinare Gil Grissom on the CBS crime/drama "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" will be packing up his insect collection and specimens when he closes his crime scene kit for the last time sometime during the shows 10th season, which begins in 2009.

Mr. Petersen has been with CSI since it's premiere back in 2000. While he has co-shared the lead  with all of his fellow actors he has always at least from my perspective been the glue that holds the book together. Being a big fan of the crime/drama genre I have always appreciated his Gil Grissom character, for his analytical and leave nothing to chance approach to solving a crime. While the story line is what draws a viewer in to a program it's the actors ability to give credibiltiy to his or her character and allow the viewer to idetify with it that keeps them cominmg back.

While executive producers of the show might feel that Mr. Petersens departure will have no real effect on the show, I'm sure that CSI fans will beg to differ. When there is a major shift in the dynamics of a show there is always some fallout. It's just remains to be seen how much when Gil Grissom (Mr. Petersen) takes his final bow.

Here we go again! It seems that there is a very distinct possibility that history might repeat itself once again, at least with regard to the tv and film industry. As you all know, last year we as a viewing audience were subjected to tv series repeats and an over the top (at least in my book) influx of reality shows (it would seem that these shows don't require much creative writing) due to the Writers Strike.

This year, just over the horizion looms the threat of yet another strike by those folks whose work is responsible for our tv and movie entertainment. As of June 30th the contract for the roughly 120,000 members of the Screen Actors Guild  had expired. Talks had been under way between the SAG and AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) prior to June 30th, but neither side was able to come to any agreement. It would appear that the biggest hurdle to overcome between the 2 groups is the amount or residual revenue actors are requestng from the sale of DVD's. If the standoff can't be broken anytime soon, we can once again be subjected to repeats and reality tv (perish the thought). Having been subjected to numerous mindless reality shows last season, can't say as I'm looking forward to history at least in this instance repeating itself once again.

Say it ain't so. Handsome hunk Chris Noth who portrays Dectective Mike Logan in the gritty drama series "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" will be leaving the show after just 3 seasons.

Fans of Law & Order are familiar with Mr. Noth as this is where his Det. Logan character first originated back in 1990. Mr. Noth had been with the show for 5 years before he moved onto to other things. Whether his reasons for leaving were of a personal nature or just creative differences the show lost an integral part of the cast.

Jump ahead to 2005 and Mr. Noth reprises the character role of Det. Mike Logan in the spin-off series Law & Order: CI. Sadly his reintroduction into the series was to be short lived. While I like Vincent D'Onofrio( Det. Goren) and Kathryn Erbe(Det. Eames) they just don't bring the same something! something! (hard to define) to their characters as Chris Noth does to his Det. Mike Logan character who will be sorely missed.

*Note: Actor Jeff Goldblum who has starred in such hit films as The Big Chill, The Fly and Jurassic Park to name a few has been tapped to replace the outgoing Chris Noth. He will co-share the lead with Vincent D'Onofrio as did Mr. Noth. There is no word yet as to the name of the character Mr. Goldblum will play.