Winter is here ... and the geeks couldn't be happier

OK, to start with, I realize that my last blog post announced I would finally post the last few vampire cage matches in three days time. Did I say three days? I, um, meant three months.

Fine, fine ... my bad. In my defense, I have had one of the busiest and otherwise crappiest terms of my academic career, for reasons mostly not to do with school (though a full course load this term didn't help). To any students reading this post: it wasn't you. I had great classes. Just ... you know, a lot of them.

ANYWAY. I throw myself back into blogging now just as the dust settles and I get ready to shift into research/writing mode ... and the event kick-starting my newfound blogging resolve? Well, what do you think?

That's right, sports fans! On Sunday last, the event we've all been waiting for happened -- HBO premiered its first episode of Game of Thrones, the series based on George R. R. Martin's epic fantasy series. And it was AMAZING. So much so, and so enthusiastic was the response, that they've already announced Season Two.

And I'd love to tell you in detail what I thought about it, but that will have to wait until tomorrow. Why, you ask? Because my most excellent friend and far superior blogger Nikki Stafford, TV commentator and critic extraordinaire was blown away by the first few episodes (in her role as TV commentator and critic extraordinaire, she was given the first few episodes on DVD ahead of time to review ... yeah, yeah, I know, but we forgive her), but has not herself read the novels. So she has suggested that we co-blog the first season together -- her from the perspective of a GRRM newbie, me from the perspective of a guy who bought the first novel in hardcover. In 1996. (These books have been a long time in the writing).

So tomorrow, our respective responses to episode one will go live on both her blog and my own humble piece of the webz here. And since I can't very well leave Nikki out to dry here, there will be no promising of posts and then buggering off for two and a half months. Promise.

Our simul-posts will go up every Wednesday. Stay tuned!

The Great Buffy Rewatch and the imminent return of the vampire cage matches

My friend Nikki has been doing "The Great Buffy Rewatch" over at her excellent blog dedicated to all things teevee, NIk at Night, and invited friends and colleagues of hers who write about television in some capacity to take part. And this week it was yours truly's turn ... so click on over to Nikki's blog to see my thoughts on episodes 2.04, 2.05, and 2.06 ("Inca Mummy Girl," "Reptile Boy," and "Halloween" respectively). Nikki posts twice, first with spoilers, and second with spoilers whited out for the newbies.

Anyway, as I mentioned before, I've been meaning to get back to the vampire cage matches that I have let languish for an unconscionably long time. Hopefully the somewhat more substantial readership Nikki boasts will help kickstart them. For thus I say unto you, lo, the cage matches shall recommence! In three days time! Come out, read my summary of the fight, and vote for which vamp you think should reign supreme! We are now at the semifinals, with two spectacular matches coming up: Blade vs. Eric Northman of True Blood, and the one the Whedon fans have been waiting for: Angel vs. Spike.

Three days: