If you watch them (or even if you don't), I'd love to hear your take. On them, on the article, or ... on anything really.

(I'm also still writing at MWoP, especially at this blog.

Before I write up a post I'm planning about what you should be watching this summer (for now, set your DVRs for The Mole, which starts Monday), I wanted to let you know that I saw the Sex and the City movie, and I reviewed it. Go ahead and read my review and let me know what you think. I will say that I think people who didn't love the show might like it more than I did, because they will go in with lower expectations.

I'm interested in what everyone else thinks of it once they see it, too, especially if you were a fan of the series. So, come back and let me know if you loved it.

Thanks, Jay, for sending that my way.

Anyway, enjoy and happy Friday!

Yeah, that's what I thought until ABC totally made my day with this crazy press release about the craziest show ever, I Survived a Japanese Game Show:

May 15, 2008

“I SURVIVED A JAPANESE GAME SHOW” HAS BEGUN SHOOTING FOR A HYSTERICAL PREMIERE, JUNE 24 ON ABC

“I Survived a Japanese Game Show” has begun shooting in Japan and will premiere TUESDAY, JUNE 24 (9:00-10:00 p.m., ET) on ABC. This unscripted reality/game show takes an eye-opening, behind-the-scenes look at 10 Americans – many of whom have never traveled outside the United States -- who are whisked away to Japan and compete in the ultimate Japanese game show… with hilarious results. The final winner will take home $250,000.

Guiding the American players through their stay in Japan will be host/interpreter Tony Sano (“Touch Wood,” “Beating Vegas”), an American actor fluent in Japanese; a house mother and resident pot-stirrer, Mamasan; and the witty game show host Rome Kanda (“Pink Panther,” “Saturday Night Live”), who leads the contestants through all of the zany challenges.

Some of the games/challenges will include:

WHY IS THIS FOOD SO HARD TO EAT? -- Why? Because the food is attached to the head of a teammate who must run in place on a fast-moving treadmill, while the first teammate leans over a platform and tries to eat from the moving dish.

CRAZY CRANE FINDS FLUFFY BEAR -- This takes the American arcade game to the next level, as blindfolded teammates must operate a moving crane while another teammate precariously dangles trying to collect as many stuffed animals as he/she can.

CHICKEN BUTT SCRAMBLE -- The contestants create their own version of Japanese scrambled eggs as they attempt to smash goo-filled oversized eggs with only their butts… while wearing chicken suits.

The executive producers are Arthur Smith and Kent Weed (A. Smith & Co., “Kitchen Nightmares,” “Hell’s Kitchen”), David Sidebotham, Karsten Bartholin and Tim Crescenti, from a concept by Babyfoot APS Denmark.

OK, seriously? Those games sound so ridiculously delightful and hilarious. Is it wrong that I sort of can't wait for this? Can you?

I guess four posts in one day is probably enough, since lately I've only been posting that often in a month. Anyway, enjoy my day of crazy stalking of The Amazing Race 13. I promise I won't reveal any big spoilers or even try to find them, though.

One last thing, they're casting for season 14 now, for those interested.

The things I do to track down more information about this obsession of mine baffles even me -- at least it did today.

Anyway, here are the photos I took with my cameraphone. I took three exactly like this one, but they really are all the same. Just a bunch of minivans and caution tape and signs saying "Tow Zone," "Lot Closed" and "Reserved Parking."

Next, this is an Xterra that had a sheet of paper on the dash that said "WRP," which I took to mean "World Race Productions," the production company of The Amazing Race.

Here is the "WRP" sign, or my attempt at taking a photo of it while the lady guarding the lot in the car next to it kept glaring and turning her car around to glare at me. I was too chicken to get too close. I think you can see there is a sheet of paper here, but probably not that it says "WRP." You're going to have to trust me on this.

Larger versions start here in my Flickr account.

Also, there's a full account of all of this from a colleague. She and I are big fans and worked to track this together.

It's seeming that the show is definitely here, although I'm not sure why yet. But I want to stalk them and find Phil.

That also means, Phil Keoghan (that's him, right over there to the left), best reality show host ever, would be here.

I am so torn between my desire to find him and my desire to remain unspoiled on the outcome (because this might be the end, and I would not want to see who crossed the finish line for TAR 13.

So, tell me: What's a crazy, obsessed fan to do? I have two options:

I can keep hunting this down, by going to the underpants store mentioned in the story and asking about this leak. Looking into the parking blocked off in that area, since he said it's blocked off.

Or, I can CALM down and just watch past seasons again -- which I've been doing anyway. I'm on season 5 now. If you don't remember, it has all of the awesome that is Colin, including this:

and this:

So ... any advice on how I can stalk find them other than the options mentioned above? And, yes, you guessed right: I'm going with option No. 1.

Okay, so no, Smallville isn't really over, but with Lex leaving -- and Lana. Which ... really, no, let's not mention Lana. That way will lead me to teeth-gnashing and screaming, and none of us want that, do we?

I will admit that I haven't kept up on the show as well as I used to (I actually stopped watching out of anger after Spirit, when Chloe was again treated like she was second fiddle to Princess Lana. Anyway, I heard it got good again and continued watching.

I'm still behind by about a season, but planned to keep watching. Here's the thing, though. Without Michael Rosenbaum, there's very little of what made this show so damn compelling in season 1. Remember? No? Well, watch this:

That gives you an idea how awesome Michael Rosenbaum made this show. I think he made the character of Lex Luthor more compelling than he otherwise could be. You rooted for him. I mean, I rooted for him all the time. I wanted him to be good. I wanted him to win. I wanted him to be the star. The show without him is hard to imagine. He started out at its center. Season 1 was so much about the Clex.

Losing that is hard enough. But to lose Allison Mack too? Not even possible. There is no show without Chloe and Lex. There just isn't. A commenter called Informant on the Ausiello post that broke the story said:

I don't care if they need to give her half of the show's overall budget, they need her. A show with Clark and Chloe simply talking about the big bad villains that they've been fighting would be acceptable if it meant keeping her on board. She is a Smallville creation and that has made her a large part of the show's spirit. Possibly more than Clark himself. ...

Simply put, Chloe is needed. More than Lois. More than Jimmy. WAY more than Kara (who is just stepping on Clark's toes anyway). I'd like to see Martha come back and maybe Perry for a few episodes, but above all of them, we need Chloe.

I could have said it better, honestly. Chloe is Smallville because she's the character created for this show, and a fan favorite to boot. And, besides, check out that chemistry. It's undeniable.

Thoughts?

Anyway, TV details:

First, This American Life returned on Sunday. I loved season 1, but I think season 2 is better in almost every way so far. That first episode left me speechless. And madly madly in love with Johnny Depp. I literally started crying when he started speaking for Mike. Because, I mean, that's pretty life-changing stuff right there for Mike (or anyone). Awesome. The episode was just so good. And the good news? You can get it on iTunes if you don't have Showtime. But don't take my word for it: Read this review, which sort of blew me away even before I'd seen the episode. I also went to the live event mentioned in the story, which was all kinds of awesome.

Next up: the aforementioned Gossip Girl. I really don't know whether to love this show for how far it goes or be annoyed. It's hard to find it remotely relatable, but for some reason, I can't peel myself away once I get started. And when I reach the end of a mini-marathon (which is how I always watch it), I'm annoyed that I didn't wait for more episodes because, without fail, it leaves me wanting more. As far as the current story arc with Serena ... it mostly just has me hating Michelle Trachtenberg (and I was one of the few Dawn defenders). Also, SHE KILLED SOMEONE?! Wha.... ? Yes, and that's the episode I decided to end my mini-marathon on, which means I won't even be able to let episodes build up for another mini-marathon, because Monday's episode will be watched immediately. Despite the crazy, I really can't wait to see how this plays out.

I'm behind on almost everything else, except How I Met Your Mother -- Britney's back this week! -- and Thursday night's comedies on NBC (except Earl; I'm behind on that, because I don't find it funny anymore).

And, obviously, I finished out the season of Big Brother. I rooted hard for James to win, and thought I'd stop watching when he left. But then I sort of started liking ... anyone who was not named Natalie Cunial. HATE. The final two were mostly meh, but I was fine with Adam winning.

What's your TV life been like lately?

1. Watching Big Brother. Obviously. Finale's on Sunday! Also: Bye, bye stupid Natalie:

2. Writing lots of stuff over at Movies Without Pity. Particularly, writing this blog and stuff for this blog and this blog.

3. Working at my regular job, which recently included editing this very cool interview with Bruce Campbell. Read it. It's awesome.

4. Planning my wedding. Which is sooner than I like to think about.

While you're at it, read Jake's article about Battlestar Galactica, which premieres tonight!