sherri's blog

What if you were stranded on a deserted island, you know like Tom Hanks in "Castaway" and instead of a soccer ball for companionship you happened to stumble upon an old tv on which you were able to pick up Satellite TV signals. Let's also suppose that the only channels available were the  premium movie channels and this would include all the channels in that particular movie package. You know, HBO, Starz, Cinemax, Showtime and The Movie Channel. Which one and you would only be able to receive just one, would you pick.

If I was placed in this situation my choice for the premium movie channel would be Starz. The Starz movie package has something for every taste. Included in the Starz line-up are comedies, westerns, love stories and suspense movies to name just a few. In addition to the varied movie genre offered by Starz they also show a new movie every Saturday night. What more could anyone want in a movie package.

Now before anyone out there finds fault with my "what if" scenario remember it's all just hypothetical. The fact is you don't have to be stranded on a deserted island to enjoy everything Staz has to offer. You can enjoy all that Starz has to offer in the comfort of your own home when you subscribe to this premium movie channel.  

While watching a stand-up comedy performance on where else but  the Comedy Channel the other day I got to wondering about the use of "swear words" by comedians in their routines. The show I watched and I don't remember the name of the comedian, was laced with profanity. 

Why is it that so many comedians feel it necessary to make profanity and intergral part of their jokes and monologues. While I personally don't find it offensive, as I've been known to use of few of those same words myself on occasion, I just don't think it adds anything to the act. If the content of the routine is already funny then using profanity, in my opinion, certainly doesn't add any additional humor. Is it possible that comedians use the "f-word" so much because they can't come up with anything better. 

There are certainly many comedians who have proved that success is possible without resorting to injecting profanity into their acts. Some of my favorites, to name just a few are Ellen DeGeneres, Jeff Foxworthy and Jerry Seinfeld. Their routines are funny without being offensive and I think for this reason they are always drawing large audiences wherever and whenever they peform.

Finally, and this is totally my opinion, I don't really think that vulgarity necessarily equals good comedy. 

Looking for adventure but don't want to leave the comfy confines of home, then why not tune into the Discovery Channel and check out the action.

Several weeks ago when there wasn't anything worth watching on the national channels I decided to do some channel surfing and was rewarded for my efforts. I came upon a great show on the Discovery Channel called Deadliest Catch. I'm telling you I was hooked on this show after only watching 1 episode. I've made sure to set my DVR to record all the episodes whether the're past or future because the show is that good and I don't even like fishing. Fishing of any type, at least to me is about as exciting as watching grass grow. So for me to be encouraging people to watch Deadliest Catch, you know it has to be phenomenal and it is.

For those of you who have no clue about the premise of the show let me give you a very brief synopsis. The show captures the highs and lows of the captains and crews of crab-fishing vessels as they brave treacherous weather with accompanying high waves while fishing for crab in the cold waters of the Bering Sea off Alaska. While the job can be extremely lucrative if the haul is good it can also be deadly.

My brief description of this show really doesn't capture it's true essence. It definitely has to be experienced first hand so that you can truly appreciate what these men go through to earn their pay. So if you want to have a totally new tv viewing experience then be sure to watch Deadliest Catch on the Discovery Channel

This week on the Biggest Loser Couples the remaing four competitors posted some seriously big numbers for pounds lost. The women competitors, Ali and Kelly with the exception of the first week and maybe a random week here or there never posted such numbers. Ali was able to shed a whopping 11 pounds, while Kelly who was no slouch in this area either managed to lose 12 pounds. The men's weight loss numbers while surprising were not shocking. Roger dropped his weight by an additional 15 pounds and Mark by an amazing 11.

Due to their high numbers on Tuesday night Ali and Roger were able to set records for Biggest Loser. Ali managed to set the bar pretty for future female contestants by losing a staggering 99lbs. The most ever for any woman on the show. Roger broke and set a new record for most lbs. lost by a male competitior with a mind blowing 147 lb. loss. All this in a matter of 15 weeks.

I'm curious about the workout and dietary changes the final four made in order to accomplish this feat. It's certainly worth sharing with the rest of America and especially all of those folks who have entered themselves into the "Biggest Loser Couples Million Pound Match Up".

Time Warner Cable subscribers (more than 615,000) in a region of New York that includes the Hudson Valley area were in for a surprise when they opened their recent cable bill. Seems the powers that be at Time Warner have decided that a rate increase is necessary. Rates will increase by an average of 2.6%.

When questioned about the increase Time Warner gave their usual canned response which cites the following for the rate hike: labor, health care costs, programming increases and increased costs for fuel. Heard those reasons countless times before.

When a company such as Time Warner Cable decides to impose a rate hike on it customers I think it only fair that they provide full disclosure of their total operating costs and profits in every letter or bill they send out to their subscribers when informing them of an impending rate increase. An action such as this would allow customers to decide whether or not to remain with Time Warner or perhaps switch to another cable provider if possible.

I just came across an on-line article in Philly.com about the 20% decrease that Comcast Corp.'s CEO, Brian L. Roberts compensation for his services fell to $20.8 million in 2007. Don't expect me to be crying a river anytime soon for Mr. Roberts loss of income. Imagine if his yearly compensation with stock options, bonuses and all the othe perks that CEO's are given fell to a mere say $500,000 a year then I might consider that to be noteworthy although I can honestly say I still wouldn't shed any tears.

If Mr. Roberts or any of the other overpayed management running Comcast: Mr.Michael Angelakis CFO - $20.5 million, Mr. Stephen Burke COO - $16.9 million and David Cohen executive V.P. - $7.4 million to name a few took even a small percentage of a pay cut from their posted 2007 salaries and had that money applied to reduce the rates of Comcast subscribers then that would definitely be newsworthy.

With regard to tv viewing this could quite possibly be one of the better viewing nights, at least for me. I was happy, no ecstatic is a more fitting word to describe how I felt when I learned  that several of my many favorite shows would begin airing new episodes again this week. What are these shows you ask. I'll tell you seeing as how I'm of a mind to share. Two of my favorite shows  that are airing new episodes are Criminal Minds and CSI: NY which fans of these shows know occupy the 9:00 - 11:00 time slot on Wednesday nights on CBS.

Being a big fan of whodunits, be they of the written persuasion, namely books or a show on tv I like being able to solve the mystery, by paying close attention to all the subtle clues that are interspersed throughout. Pitting my wits against the writers of these whodunits and being able to solve the crime before the story line is even a third finished not only gives me great satisfacton but also serves to let me know that as with all thing in life observation is key. I must say with all due modesty that I have a very high solve rate with regard to these types of shows.

While I could extol the virtue of my prowress with regard to solving these whodunits it's time to say enough with the self congragulatory pats on the back. If you're a rabid fan, perhaps just fan would be a better choice of words as it doesn't sound so intense, of these shows like I am then be sure to tune in Wed. April 4 @ 9:00 p.m./et so you don't miss a single moment of the action 

Satellite TV and Azteca have crossed all the t's and dotted all the i's in an agreement which allows Azteca America to be distributed nationally on Satellite TV Mas, which is Satellite TV's Spanish Programming Package. Satellite TV subscribers will be able to view Azteca America on channel 441 on Satellite TV. In the programming guide it will be listed as AZA 441.

For those of you who don't know, Azteca America airs spanish programming from three networks in Mexico (Canal 7, Canal 13 and Proyecto 40). In addition the network will also air original series from some of the most creative U.S. Latino producers.

The network also airs more Mexican League Soccer games than anyone in the U.S. because of their exclusive deal with 8 of the 16 Mexican Soccer teams.

The partnership between Satellite TV and Azteca America will allow more tv viewers to experience the best of Mexico in the comfort of their homes. In addition to soccer games and original programming the network will also air variety shows.

The agreement between Satellite TV and Azteca not only provides nationwide availitbity but will be accessible to Satellite TV Mas customers at no additional charge.

*The National Azteca Channel feed will not be availabe in the following areas: San Diego, Bakersfield, Denver and Colorado Springs. 

Whether or not you're a fan of figure skating you have got to watch the movie "Blades of Glory: starring Will Ferrel as Chazz Michael Michaels, a self absorbed sex addicted skater and Jon Heder as Jimmy Mac Elroy an anal, germophobic skater. These fine actors did a superb with regard to bringing a sense of realism to their charcters. The end result of their acting is nothing short of hilarious. In other word a lotta laughs.

The brief synopsis is that 2 male figure skaters, each with his own eccentricities, have been banned from singles skating because of their inexcuseable behavior during a medals ceremony. They each go they own way only to hook up again several years later. Seems there's a loophole in the rules that would allow them to skate as a pair in competition. The fun really begins when these two are forced to work through their issues so that they might have a chance at the gold.

This movie made me think about the airs and attitudes that seem to be displayed by some figure skaters. I mean who can forget the Tanya Harding/Nancy Kerrigan rivalry which resulted in Ms. Kerrigan being injured. Portions of this movie are somewhat reminiscient of that incident. In other words you do what you have to do to ensure your own victory. 

So check it out if you get the chance.

Celebrity dancers gave their all last night in a last ditch effort to convince home viewers to vote for them so tha they might remain in the competition. While all the dancers gave a fine performance one competitor proved they have what it takes to be a winner.

Last night Kristi Yamaguchi proved once again that she has what it takes to not only be the current leader but also to take home the gold. The poise and elegance for which she was so well known for during her competitive years of skating has been successfully brought to the dance floor. Her posture, foot work and hand positions is not only a testament to her hard work but her competitive streak. Mark Ballas, her partner, through his teaching and choreography has helped Kristi to complete the total package necessary to win the competition. Together they make a formidable pair.