Spartacus: Blood and Sand (Starz, Netflix)

DISCLAIMER: Adult content, explicit sex, explicit language, nudity, exaggerated violence (not gratuitous)

Starz Cable site for Spartacus:

Betrayed by the Romans. Forced into slavery. Reborn as a Gladiator. The classic tale of the Republic’s most infamous rebel comes alive in the graphic and visceral new series. Torn from his homeland and the woman he loves, Spartacus is condemned to the brutal world of the arena where blood and death are primetime entertainment. But not all battles are fought upon the sands. Treachery, corruption, and the allure of sensual pleasures will constantly test Spartacus. To survive, he must become more than a man. More than a gladiator. He must become a legend. 

Starring Australian actor, Andy Whitfield (McLeod’s Daughters) as Spartacus, Lucy Lawless (“Xena: Warrior Princess”) as Lucretia, John Hannah (The Mummy, Four Weddings and A Funeral) as Batiatus and Peter Mensah (300, The Incredible Hulk) as Doctore, this unique mix of live action, graphic novel effects and brutal battle sequences is set to make this an epic television event. 

A unique aspect of this series is the content arrangement between Starz and Netflix, seen here at “Starz Play” — making the episodes available immediately on Netflix Watch Instantly.

Netflix Watch Instantly: Spartacus Blood and Sand

Tragically, the star of the show, Andy Whitfield, was recently diagnosed with early-stage Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It is hoped that he can make a full recovery and continue with the already-renewed second season. 

Wikipedia: Spartacus Blood and Sand

On December 22, 2009, it was announced that the show was renewed for a second season before even premiering.^[2] However, on March 9, 2010, IGN.com reported that the production of Season 2 has been delayed due to star Andy Whitfield being diagnosed with early-stage Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.^[3] According to the weekly New York magazine, due to the delay, Starz is developing a six-episode prequel to Spartacus: Blood and Sand.^[4]

• Friday April 16, 2010, the first series concludes with episode 13 titled “Kill Them All”
• IMDB.com: Andy Whitfield
• IESB.net: Interview: Andy Whitfield Talks
• EW.com: This Just In: ‘Spartacus’ delayed as star Andy Whitfield undergoes cancer treatment
• Prnewswire.com: ‘Spartacus: Blood and Sand’ Takes Battle Worldwide in Time for MIP-TV

“Spartacus: Blood and Sand,” a ratings over-achiever on Starz in the U.S., the Movie Network and Movie Central in Canada and RTL5 in the Netherlands since it premiered earlier this year, the 13-episode program has just launched or is launching soon on:

• Bravo TV in the UK, premiering May 25;
• LAPTV’s MovieCity Pack in Latin America;
• OCN in South Korea, where it premiered April 9;
• HBO Central Europe in 14 territories across the region;
• And on Star Channel in Japan.

Spartacus: Blood and Sand - Official Trailer

White Teeth - book adaptation by Channel 4 & WGBH on Hulu

 

White Teeth on Hulu

Four episodes, just under one hour each. A collaboration between Channel Four and WGBH. 

A sparkling, epic comedy adapted by Simon Burke (Tom Jones) from the award-winning debut novel by Zadie Smith. White Teeth tells the story of three families living in Willesden, northwest London. Their lives, present and past, entertwine comically and explosively over three decades in the melting pot of modern Britain.

It is Channel Four content available for free in the U.S., which is unusual. Also it lacks an expiration date, and is apparently unavailable on DVD anywhere. Watch it, and thank me later.

Ronald Helfrich reviewed this show.  It’s here!!!!!

White Teeth, Channel 4’s excellent adaptation of Zadie Smith’s prize winning novel, is television at its absolute best. What a pity that Channel 4 doesn’t make em like this and Tales of the City any more. And what a pity that White Teeth is not available on DVD in the UK or in the USA while tons of shows and movies that are no where near as good are. Come on Channel 4 and PBS.

Richard Walker commented on the review “It’s here!!!!!”

I wish there were more people here like you. I didn’t realize Channel 4 has changed… It’s odd that the DVDs aren’t available — but I’m sure the legal issues are enormous, being an adaptation and a Channel 4 & WGBH collaboration. It’s been available since it appeared here…. no apparent “expire” date. Curiouser and curiouser… .

Had trouble embedding 3 & 4 — but they are available at the link at top, and by browsing “more episodes” after the above finish playing.

Da Capo al Fine v3 - Wise Guy Mix (homage to Godfather & Sopranos)

This sort of “sound track remix” is quite illegal technically but when approached correctly is unlikely to be a subject of legal proceedings. For example, under the last half of the Sopranos theme an original track was added to the mix. The title is a play on the musical direction “from the head to the end” - which you can also take to mean “from the Mafia Boss to the gunshot.”

Instrument doubling for the Godfather waltz is accomplished by carefully editing together sections of two separate recordings. There is a side-trip to Chicago included in the Godfather section. One can’t omit the Tarantella - but where to put it? Knitting together the two broad sections required a transition to the natural key of the Sopranos theme. I’m very careful to preserve original pitch and meter, which stems from the overall mandate to retain the “audio fidelity” of the sources.

It is quite unfortunate that content owners consider the musical themes to such classics as these ongoing profit vehicles. In my perfect world, the composers would be well-paid, up front, and ongoing royalties would come from film and television broadcasts. The theme music itself can be considered an advertisement for that content, and could be released into the wild, for “fair use” by musicians, producers, DJs and other culture jammers and trouble makers.

Da Capo al Fine v3 (wise guy mix) 
Henri Mancini Ennio Morricone Nino Rota Alabama 3 

ca·po ²   (kä’pō, kāp’ō) 
n.   pl. ca·pos
The head of a branch of an organized crime syndicate.

Da Capo al Fine v3 (Wise Guy Mix).mp3 (11:21 15.21M)

Wire in the Blood (Hulu, Netflix)

Brilliant, passionate and eccentric, clinical psychologist Dr. Tony Hill (Robson Green) has an extraordinary understanding of the criminal mind. It enables him to empathize with both victim and murderer- and even visualize the crimes. Working alongside the Bradfield Police Department and its Detective Inspector (Hermoine Norris, Simone Lahbi), Dr. Hill helps the police profile and track down vicious killers in northern England.

Extreme Fishing with Robson Green

I’ve been a fan of Robson Green’s since his lead role in the series “Touching Evil.”

“Wire in in the Blood” is generally more graphic, violent and disturbing than I will usually watch, but the series is so well-made an exception had to be made.

• The series just arrived on Hulu.
• It is also available on Netflix Watch Instantly.

Apologies to my readers outside the U.S. — I hate geo-limited content, and I’m unaware of a way to intelligently (conditionally) embed content based on the reader’s location.

Mature audiences only. Here is the first episode of season one, until it expires anyway.

Anthony Bourdain likes S.F. in spite of Alice Waters

Bourdain seems to thoroughly enjoy his 2009 visit to San Francisco, in spite of his disdain for political correctness, vegans, locavor-ianism, fruitarian-ism, organic, crunchiness, and Alice Waters. I’m certain some are offended by his opinions, but not I. I’ve heard that Waters is a food extremist, as evidenced by her suggestions for school lunch reform. She did not offer up a budget, was unprepared to prioritize her demands and ended up looking like an impractical food snob. Which of these would she sacrifice first, I wonder? Organic, locally grown, free range, prepared on-site, fresh, and so on. Meanwhile, many kids are actually getting worse than prison food, at pennies a serving, prepared off-site. There’s a universe of options between reality and Waters’ ideal world.

PART 1

Pirate Cat Radio - Bourdain drops by to give an interview and drink a unique coffee drink — with bacon?

Tadich Grill - I’ll have to try the Hangtown Fry. Website coming soon, although I’m not sure they need one.

PART 2 

Aub Zam Zam Room - Yelp review

It’s kind of unfair for me to rate this place, since I haven’t lived in SF since the mid-80s, so I’ve never had a drink there that wasn’t poured by Bruno. I was, however delighted to see Tony pimp for this place.

Yes, I witnessed the abuse, and mentally recorded some of the greatest put-downs every uttered… “those people, they must be from FREMONT, I’ll bet they drink BUD, from CANS” etc” (after tossing some people out who tried to sit in “that awful little room”).

“Jack Daniels? That’s a Madison Avenue drink… you want this…”

If it’s half the bar it was, it’s not to be missed.

Oh, and Bruno told me the bar was built by his dad, and the mural was painted by a friend of his dad’s. Dunno if that’s true, but that differs from another story on here.

House of Prime Rib - beware the website is “classic flash” all the way.

Ferry Building Market - Even Slow Fooder Carla Petrini found much to dislike here. Bourdain enjoys himself in spite of the reputation.  

Tip for Bourdain: Dude. Go to the Alemany Market some Saturday morning.

Oakland Taco Trucks - Chowhound Map - Bourdain’s antidote to the Ferry Building.

Sebo - Michael Black and Daniel Dunham’s sushi place at Hayes near Octavia

PART 3

That’s It - Mission street liquor store and torta shop. Bourdain tackles the Cubana - it’s bigger than his head.

Not enough Lipitor in the world…

R & G Lounge - 631 Kearny in Chinatown - Yelp review - classic flash auto-play website - salt & pepper crab, leechee martini.

Incanto Italian restaurant & wine bar - Bourdain & other chefs have the special 5 course all-gut menu.

A station of the cross for offal. A high priest of guts.

PART 4

Red’s Java house - Pier 30 - Yelp review - double cheeseburger and a beer, chile cheese fries. Not organic.

The antidote to Alice Waters. Tastes like it died screaming.

PART 5

As the locals endure my merciless poking fun at them, with regularity.

CODA

We love you long time, Bourdain. Y’all come back now, hear?

I’m sure Bourdain would approve of Hubert Keller’s burger.