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Christmas in Chelsea Square, the new Episcopal Church Christmas special aired on CBS this year, is . . . interesting.

But it does provide us with an unusual opportunity to see a composer accompanying his own hymn, with recorders no less!

David Hurd's "Ye who claim the faith of Jesus" begins 25 minutes and 35 seconds into this video.

Labels: Episcopal Church, Hurd, organ, recorder, television

I was reminded this week of my passing interest several months ago in the British television show Peep Show which I have just got around to watching this week.

It is funny, but a dark, awkward, irreverent, immature material for mature audiences kind of funny.

I am especially fond of Mark's first scene (which, for our more sensitive viewers, contains one bad word beginning with S and ending with HIT):

Another bonus of this show is that Mark keeps making Columbo refernces, so I wandered on over to Netflix and also caught one of those. This comes on the heels of hearing Terry Gross's Fresh Air interview with the late Peter Falk, which I found very entertaining despite never having scene the program in which he starred.

So there it is. This week's pop culture synergy.

Labels: television

One follow up note to organ - gratuitous use of.

It turns out that the composer for The Cape is Bear McCreary, the same person who scored Battlestar Gallactica, one of the greatest shows on television  works of art   human achievements of all time.

The music on the National Broadcasting Company program is richer, scored for full orchestra, and taking it's cues from recent comic book blockbusters - but it is decidedly excellent in its own right.

Labels: McCreary, television

I recently watched the pilot of The Cape, a new television programme from the National Broadcasting Company.

Yes, okay, judge me all you want. I'll tell you one thing though: it's no Knight Rider.

But this website wouldn't be what it is unless I pointed you to this gratuitous use of the organ to make someone seem creepy.

Also, who builds organs set up to play diminished chords with one key?

Labels: organ, television

The "stereotypical wedding" as seen frequently on television programs and popular films is one of the last remaining opportunities for people to see the "stereotypical organist."

The "stereotypical organist" is female, and slightly beyond middle age.

The music at such an affair would be the "stereotypical" repertoire: Pachelbel, Wagner and Mendelssohn, in that order.

With the continued growth of post-liturgical movement, we are entering an era where even this holy trinity of music by dead white men cannot be assumed.

Also, we find ourselves in an era where organists are violently silenced in the midst of discharging their professional duties. We resent this depiction of organists as unchanging and irrelevant.

Sinden.org would like to take this opportunity to remind you that recorded music is never appropriate in the liturgy, though sometimes it is funny.

For your reference: JK Wedding Entrance Dance 29.3 million views and counting.

Labels: liturgy, television, weddings

This overwrought episode seems to be a turning point in the series

We've recently seen the departure of three cast members and the rebirth of the organization. Everything is in flux, but we seem to be left with a more of a ragtag bunch of do-gooders.

The enterprising optimism of those who remain seems to hearken back to the physiognomy of the original series. KITT expresses a metaphor for all this: "I believe turbo boost is operational".

So if the first eleven or so episodes were just supposed to set us up with this cast, why did it take so long?

Episode	Time before initial Turbo Boost	Comments
1	4:56	second shortest time
2	7:36	second longest time; third shortest time
3	n/a	first episode without
4	n/a	second consecutive episode without
5	n/a	third consecutive episode without
6	n/a	fourth consecutive episode without
7	n/a	fifth consecutive episode without
8	n/a	sixth consecutive episode without
9*	n/a	seventh consecutive episode without
10	10:30	second longest time; a second turbo boost follows at 11:05
11	3:17	new shortest time
12	38:23	new longest time; this turbo boost terminates KARR

* Somehow I missed an episode in the table, so my numbering has been off lately. This table is the first to add the real episode 9 (which I assume does not have turbo boost?) and correct subsequent numberings.

Labels: television

Gene Robinson, the Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire, made a brief appearance on The Daily Show with John Stewart on Inauguration Day.

Here's the three minute interview:

Labels: Episcopal Church, television

Like last week's episode, the second of this two-part series also has a turbo boost. Even with a recap of last week, this turbo boost sets a new record for shortest time.

Here's this week's early "you know what this calls for" turbo boost.

Episode	Time before initial Turbo Boost	Comments
1	4:56	second shortest time
2	7:36	second longest time; third shortest time
3	n/a	first episode without
4	n/a	second consecutive episode without
5	n/a	third consecutive episode without
6	n/a	fourth consecutive episode without
7	n/a	fifth consecutive episode without
8	n/a	sixth consecutive episode without
9	10:30	longest time; a second turbo boost follows at 11:05
10	3:17	new shortest time

Labels: television

In the first episode of 2009, we have turbo boost!

At about 10:30, Michael gives the command "KITT, turbo boost" and glides over the prison fence. He exits the same way about 30 seconds later.

Here's are the two turbo boosts in context:

Does television get any better than this?

Episode	Time before initial Turbo Boost	Comments
1	4:56	shortest time
2	7:36	second longest time; second shortest time
3	n/a	first episode without
4	n/a	second consecutive episode without
5	n/a	third consecutive episode without
6	n/a	fourth consecutive episode without
7	n/a	fifth consecutive episode without
8	n/a	sixth consecutive episode without
9	10:30	longest time; a second turbo boost follows at 11:05

Labels: television

Episode	Time before initial Turbo Boost	Comments
1	4:56	shortest time
2	7:36	longest time
3	n/a	first episode without
4	n/a	second consecutive episode without
5	n/a	third consecutive episode without
6	n/a	fourth consecutive episode without
7	n/a	fifth consecutive episode without
8	n/a	sixth consecutive episode without

Not even close.

At least we didn't have a main character poisoned, or KITT out of commission, or the whole organization on the verge of falling apart. Just a nice, simple, turbo boost-less mission.

Labels: television

Episode	Time before initial Turbo Boost	Comments
1	4:56	shortest time
2	7:36	longest time
3	n/a	first episode without
4	n/a	second consecutive episode without
5	n/a	third consecutive episode without
6	n/a	fourth consecutive episode without
7	n/a	fifth consecutive episode without

So far, only 28.57% of the episodes (the first two of seven) have included turbo boost.

At this point in the season, turbo boost stats are starting to look like presidential approval ratings.

In my live blog of this episode, "I Wanna Rock & Roll All Knight", I noticed that there was an opportunity to employ a turbo boost in the final chase scene. Maybe not a perfect one, but a possible opening nonetheless. But with the traffic and the need to stop the car they were pursuing, the writers certainly could have employed this option.

Why didn't they?

Labels: television

20:58 Sad day in turbo boost land. But let me just suggest for the record that rather than the coördinated take out the tires thing, I think a turbo boost leap frog might have been in order.

20:55 Cars are stopped. I don't think we're going to see anything tonight.

20:54 It's getting narrower, but Mike weaves through traffic.

20:52 On the freeway. All we need here is some kind of obstruction . . .

20:49 Well, with this little to go on, the chase will come down to the wire, which means turbo boost, right?

20:48 This is bad, no trail? Goodyear? Do they have a product placement too?

20:47 Big wreck, now Mike is officially chasing the bad guys . . . in normal mode?. Ah yes, so as not to be seen. Are they on foot? Or "another car waiting?"

20:44 Okay, fifteen minutes, we can still get this done. Back in the car. Attack mode! yes!

20:39 Things are starting to pick up. The bad guys are l33t haX0rs, apparently.

20:38 Ack, back in the hangar. Let's get back outside.

20:35 There are too many commercials. Suddenly a half hour goes to less than 25 minutes.

20:31 We're a half-hour through this one, and I sense a couple of car chases in the near future. Possibilities of a turbo boost are high.

Labels: television

Episode	Time before initial Turbo Boost	Comments
1	4:56	shortest time
2	7:36	longest time
3	n/a	first episode without
4	n/a	second consecutive episode without
5	n/a	third consecutive episode without
6	n/a	fourth consecutive episode without

So far, only 33.33% of the episodes (the first two of six) have included turbo boost.

Turbo boost was particularly unlikely in this episode since KITT was largely confined to the cargo area of the plane.

Labels: television

The New York Times reports that Barack Obama's half-hour infomercial attracted more viewers than the network's usual shows:

On NBC, the disparity was even greater. Its regular show there, “Knight Rider,” has been averaging just under 7 million viewers. Mr. Obama pulled in 9.8 million for his half-hour special.

So, while there was no turbo boost this week, the political interruption does beg raise [see comments] the question: when will we see Obama drive KITT?

Maybe sooner than we think:

During a season where television hits are hard to find, one NBC executive suggested jokingly Wednesday that Mr. Obama might be invited back to fill the 8 p.m. Wednesday time slot on a regular basis.

Possible episode title: "Election Knight"

Labels: Obama, television

Episode	Time before initial Turbo Boost	Comments
1	4:56	shortest time
2	7:36	longest time
3	n/a	first episode without
4	n/a	second consecutive episode without
5	n/a	third consecutive

So far, only 40% of the episodes have included turbo boost.

I have to say, this "transformation" thing, while cool and gimmicky, makes for some terrible plot points. In this episode KITT references a "vulnerability" in his undercarriage during transformation. KITT suffering a blue screen of death while on a mission directly as a result of transformation seems to happen with alarming frequency.

Why just back in Episode 2, the site of our last turbo boost, Michael and KITT have a mid-air (mid-turbo-boost, actually) argument about why transforming before hitting the ground is bad. Things seem to have gotten worse as KITT is the one who suggests transformation on the landmined road to "improve [his] maneuverability".

Well, no, maneuverability is not improved if you can't move at all.

Here's hoping for gentler, more thoughtful transformations.

Labels: television

Another sad day for turbo boost fans.

Episode	Time before initial Turbo Boost	Comments
1	4:56	shortest time
2	7:36	longest time
3	n/a	first episode without
4	n/a	second consecutive episode without

Labels: television

I know you enjoyed last week's episode of Knight Rider the 2008 Series just as much as I did, but until this week we didn't really have anything to compare it to.

Thus beginneth the Turbo Boost table.

Episode	Time before initial Turbo Boost	Comments
1	4:56	shortest time
2	7:36	longest time

Labels: television

22:57 Right before the conclusion, the show settles into a very familiar rhythm. Mike is given an assignment, and drives out of the back of a semi WHAT? -- no -- it's a PLANE! This is geekily pleasing. It sure sets it up for the "next episode". Whether or not there is one, I don't know.

22:51 This was pretty lame, but it strikes me as similar to the original pilot for Knight Rider. I think all the elements are in place to make a cheesy weekly show, and I hope NBC does.

22:44 Denouement begins. That's it? I don't feel like we saw KITT do a whole lot. Not even a Turbo Boost?!

22:42 The bad guys SUV (was that a Ford?) wrecks into KITT, the FBI arrives. Charles is alright.

22:37 Mike and FBI Agent Rivai quickly take the upper hand despite being on their knees and not having guns. Charles is still caught.

22:33 Everyone is caught; Mike's mom dies. Orders to kill have been given and KITT can only be driven manually at this point. Doesn't look good.

22:29 Michael Knight is Mike Traceur's father. Nuts, KITT is being hacked. And the bad guys arrive.

21:21 A big todo is about to go down. Everyone is converging on a hotel. Looks like we're staying in the tradition of Mike not having a gun?

21:14 KITT knows Matthew 7:12

22:11 It is revealed that KITT utilizes solar power and gets 160 miles per gallon of gas.

22:08 Nope. Not a bad guy. Charles is in the clear. Turns out this is Mike's mom.

22:03 Thirteen minutes after learning he is alive, Charles is caught by a gun, presumably held by a bad guy, right before we go to commercial.

21:57 Plot is clarified: Mike spent time with the "Black River" security firm in Iraq. Sarah worked with her father on the encryption codes for all his work, which is ultimately what Black River is after.

21:50 Charles Graiman, Sarah's father who, is still alive. The man we saw in the opening seen was someone else.

21:49 Mike and Sarah are escaping in KITT. The usual introduction-to-KITT routine ensues.

21:40 Mike's plan to gamble for his winnings is interrupted by Sarah. Uh oh, the bad guys are in casino too.

21:38 A tender moment between KITT and Sarah.

21:32 So we're headed to Las Vegas to find Mike Tracer (the KITT driver-elect) , who I suspect will use KITT to get his $10,000? And Sarah's only been caught by the bad guys for four minutes including commercial. I suspect she will be caught again.

21:27 Special effect: KITT's skin transforms and the car is "disguised". Well, it has a new license plate.

21:21 Lines: "KITT: Sarah your fear is irrational and misplaced.
Sarah: Welcome to the world of being human."

21:20 Geez, even the bad guys drive a Ford.

21:18 The Knight Industries Three Thousand (KITT) arrives and Sarah is safe .

21:15 According to Wikipedia, this would be the first Knight Rider production to see the light of day since 1997.

21:12 Oh dear, Sarah's been caught by the bad guys, and we go to commercial, featuring the Ford Mustang.

21:08 Line: ". . . and the knocking doesn't sound like the hey-let's-all-grab-a-latte kind of knocking."

21:06 Tiny robots: classy. And the old license plate? "That's my kind of ride". Slow-motion special effects are a nice touch at this point. It's nice to see the bullets "handled" by the side of the car, and not simply bounce off. And cue credit sequence.

21:03 Guys in a yellow truck, clearly up to no good. Now look. They're bungling their own plan. Not exactly predictable, but not far off either. And we don't waste much time getting to KITT.

20:59 p.m. Here we go.

Labels: television

I like Drew Carey, who now hosts "The Power of 10" on CBS, but I doubt he's ever read anything by Lutheran theologian Marva Dawn. In several of her books, Dawn draws our attention to a disparity between what we know and what we do. Dawn shows us that our postmodern society's information-based economy causes us to have Low Information-Action Ratios. The acronym here is LIAR.

We hear nightly reports about hunger, disease and suffering all over the world (even in our own neighborhoods?), and we do nothing about it.

On "The Power of 10" this evening it was revealed that, according to a survey, 38% of Americans have driven a car after having too much to drink.

What bothered me about the announcement of the survey result on the game show as that not a single person in the studio was bothered by this figure. Everyone was smiling, happy to see that the contestant had guessed correctly.

Things are getting worse from what Dawn wrote about. There's no reaction, let alone action. Low Information-Action/Recation Ration (LIARR).

Usually Drew Carey is not afraid to offer some commentary on the figures, but who can blame him for hesitating when both our President and our Vice-President have driven while intoxicated, not to mention Paris Hilton and her entourage?

The problem with this game show format is that it takes very serious information, like this drunk driving statistic, and presents is solely as entertainment. This instance is perhaps a perfect example of "infotainment".

But I for one am not entertained by the 17,013 deaths from alcohol-related collisions in 2003.

And if the fact that more than 46 people per day die in alcohol-related collisions remains buried in the applause, we will, in the title of Neil Postman's book, be "entertaining ourselves to death".

Labels: information, Marva Dawn, television

I was looking at all four seasons of Knight Rider on DVD, you know, like you do, and I was really surprised by the pricing scheme at a large online retailer.

Season 1     $20.99
Season 2     $26.99
Season 3     $44.99
Season 4     $39.99

It seems sort of unusual that the third season would be the most expensive. But, on the other hand, it seems that the show may have jumped the shark, which is a funny phrase.

On "Jumping the shark": If I had to guess, I would say that a show that's a lot more likely to jump the shark would be seaQuest DSV.

Speaking of seaQuest: isn't this supposed to be a good show? I vaguely remember all the publicity for it when it came out. It was definitely promoted as being a big deal, and Spielberg's involvement was supposed to pique your interest if nothing else did. Of course, I'm not expecting it to be as good as Knight Rider, but I think I'll still give it a try.

Bruce Seth Green: I was surprised to see tha name Bruce Seth Green turn up in information for Knight Rider and seaQuest. It turns out he directed a bunch of episodes of Knight Rider, and one episode of seaQuest.

The real Seth Green, interestingly, also appears in an episode of seaQuest.

Labels: television