Barack Obama
Gil Grissom
July 28, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
Two days after Barack Obama took the Oath of Office and became the 44th President of the United States on January 20, 2009, another transfer of power took place.
Laurence Fishburne took over the lead role on CSI after a story arc introducing his character -- Dr. Raymond Langston, a former pathologist turned professor.
Las Vegas CSI team leader Gil Grissom met Dr. Langston when he audited one of the professor's classes where a serial killer is interviewed via satellite by students. William Petersen plays Grissom who also has a Ph.D.
Grissom's quest, as always, is to find information that will help him in a current case.
His cover is blown after he shouts a question that Langston immediately recognizes as one that would only be asked by a cop.
During his tenure on CSI, Petersen's depiction of Grissom showed a multi-layered character. Fascinated by people and their motives, psychology, and behavior, Grissom took a pure observer's role in his investigations.
One CSI episode dealt with furry fandom, a lifestyle where people dress up in full-body animal costumes and sometimes engage in sexual behavior.
While team member Catherine Willows thought the lifestyle was disgusting, Grissom looked at it as a scientist observing a subculture.
Grissom also became entranced with Lady Heather, a dominatrix played expertly by Melinda Clarke.
Clarke made several appearances on CSI that led to an ambiguous relationship between the Ph.D. entymologist turned crime solver and the dominatrix.
When Grissom walked through the CSI offices for the last time, he looked at the members of his team doing their jobs. And a smile crossed his face, telling the audience that he'll miss his co-workers but he knows they can move forward without him.
Perhaps the greatest expression of the love the team had for its leader took place as Grissom looked at Catherine Willows and Jim Brass through a window as they discussed a case in a conference room. Paul Guilfoyle plays Brass and Marg Helgenberger plays Catherine.
Played by the ageless, beautiful, and deeply talented Helgenberger, Catherine looks up and sees Grissom. She slowly winks at him and they share a smile that reveals the tremendous love, respect, and friendship linking the two veteran CSI investigators.
In the last scene, we see Grissom's destiny. He's walking through a jungle in Costa Rica with a GPS guiding him.
Grissom finds his way to a camp where he sees his former love and CSI subordinate Sara Sidle, played by Jorja Fox. Their romance initially took place in seasons past.
Fox left the show and returned for a short stint only to leave again.
Grissom and Sara embrace, thereby satisfying fans who wanted this particular case of television romance closed.
david@davidkrell.com
Two days after Barack Obama took the Oath of Office and became the 44th President of the United States on January 20, 2009, another transfer of power took place.
Laurence Fishburne took over the lead role on CSI after a story arc introducing his character -- Dr. Raymond Langston, a former pathologist turned professor.
Las Vegas CSI team leader Gil Grissom met Dr. Langston when he audited one of the professor's classes where a serial killer is interviewed via satellite by students. William Petersen plays Grissom who also has a Ph.D.
Grissom's quest, as always, is to find information that will help him in a current case.
His cover is blown after he shouts a question that Langston immediately recognizes as one that would only be asked by a cop.
During his tenure on CSI, Petersen's depiction of Grissom showed a multi-layered character. Fascinated by people and their motives, psychology, and behavior, Grissom took a pure observer's role in his investigations.
One CSI episode dealt with furry fandom, a lifestyle where people dress up in full-body animal costumes and sometimes engage in sexual behavior.
While team member Catherine Willows thought the lifestyle was disgusting, Grissom looked at it as a scientist observing a subculture.
Grissom also became entranced with Lady Heather, a dominatrix played expertly by Melinda Clarke.
Clarke made several appearances on CSI that led to an ambiguous relationship between the Ph.D. entymologist turned crime solver and the dominatrix.
When Grissom walked through the CSI offices for the last time, he looked at the members of his team doing their jobs. And a smile crossed his face, telling the audience that he'll miss his co-workers but he knows they can move forward without him.
Perhaps the greatest expression of the love the team had for its leader took place as Grissom looked at Catherine Willows and Jim Brass through a window as they discussed a case in a conference room. Paul Guilfoyle plays Brass and Marg Helgenberger plays Catherine.
Played by the ageless, beautiful, and deeply talented Helgenberger, Catherine looks up and sees Grissom. She slowly winks at him and they share a smile that reveals the tremendous love, respect, and friendship linking the two veteran CSI investigators.
In the last scene, we see Grissom's destiny. He's walking through a jungle in Costa Rica with a GPS guiding him.
Grissom finds his way to a camp where he sees his former love and CSI subordinate Sara Sidle, played by Jorja Fox. Their romance initially took place in seasons past.
Fox left the show and returned for a short stint only to leave again.
Grissom and Sara embrace, thereby satisfying fans who wanted this particular case of television romance closed.
The West Wing
June 25, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
Two presidential candidates.
A moderate, republican United States senator from a western state in his golden years with decades of political experience.
A fortysomething, ethnic, democratic congressman with just a few years on his national political resume.
John McCain and Barack Obama?
No.
Arnold Vinick and Matthew Santos.
The last years of The West Wing gave us a fictional presidential race featuring two television heavyweights. Senator Arnold Vinick from Santa Paula, California, played by Alan Alda. Congressman Matthew Santos from Houston, Texas, played by Jimmy Smits.
In this parallel political universe, Vinick and Santos want to succeed President Jed Bartlet, the liberal, Nobel Prize winning economist from New Hampshire who built a political life -- congressman, governor, President of the United States. Martin Sheen plays Bartlet.
Santos' team enjoyed the leadership of Bartlet's former Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman, played by Bradley Whitford. Josh sees the congressman's incredible political intuition and convinces him not to retire from politics as originally planned.
A novice at presidential campaigns, Santos proves himself to be a quick learner.
But Vinick throws fear into the democratic side, particularly Bartlet's Chief of Staff Leo McGarry, played by John Spencer.
He knows that Vinick has the invaluable ability to connect with voters at the grass-roots level.
Combined with years of political experience, his brand-name quality in politics, and savvy campaign skills, Vinick will be a tough competitor.
For his running mate, Vinick chooses the conservative governor of West Virginia to shore up the conservative base -- Ray Sullivan, played by Brett Cullen.
Santos stays close to home and selects Leo McGarry, a terrific administrator with unparalleled political knowledge, wisdom, and instinct.
The presidential campaign arc of The West Wing features a live debate and a Democratic National Convention with ballots, unlike the scripted infomercials with which we've become familiar.
Santos wins the nomination of his party after a rousing, inspiring, and honest speech to the delegates encouraging them to vote for who the believe will do the best job as president.
John Spencer's death in December of 2005 left a void in The West Wing. The writers constructed a plot line where Leo McGarry dies of a heart attack on Election Night. The device is not a terrific stretch as McGarry had major heart problems in a previous story line.
Santos wins the election. Dialogue indicates the president-elect will replace McGarry with Pennsylvania Governor Eric Baker, a candidate during the democratic presidential primaries, because of Baker's executive experience.
In a show of bipartisan unity, Santos asks Vinick to be Secretary of State because of his strategic thinking and strong relationships with the democratic corps.
The last episode of The West Wing takes place on Inauguration Day. Appropriately, Martin Sheen has the last word in the series. When his wife asks him what he's thinking about, he replies, Tomorrow.
david@davidkrell.com
Two presidential candidates.
A moderate, republican United States senator from a western state in his golden years with decades of political experience.
A fortysomething, ethnic, democratic congressman with just a few years on his national political resume.
John McCain and Barack Obama?
No.
Arnold Vinick and Matthew Santos.
The last years of The West Wing gave us a fictional presidential race featuring two television heavyweights. Senator Arnold Vinick from Santa Paula, California, played by Alan Alda. Congressman Matthew Santos from Houston, Texas, played by Jimmy Smits.
In this parallel political universe, Vinick and Santos want to succeed President Jed Bartlet, the liberal, Nobel Prize winning economist from New Hampshire who built a political life -- congressman, governor, President of the United States. Martin Sheen plays Bartlet.
Santos' team enjoyed the leadership of Bartlet's former Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman, played by Bradley Whitford. Josh sees the congressman's incredible political intuition and convinces him not to retire from politics as originally planned.
A novice at presidential campaigns, Santos proves himself to be a quick learner.
But Vinick throws fear into the democratic side, particularly Bartlet's Chief of Staff Leo McGarry, played by John Spencer.
He knows that Vinick has the invaluable ability to connect with voters at the grass-roots level.
Combined with years of political experience, his brand-name quality in politics, and savvy campaign skills, Vinick will be a tough competitor.
For his running mate, Vinick chooses the conservative governor of West Virginia to shore up the conservative base -- Ray Sullivan, played by Brett Cullen.
Santos stays close to home and selects Leo McGarry, a terrific administrator with unparalleled political knowledge, wisdom, and instinct.
The presidential campaign arc of The West Wing features a live debate and a Democratic National Convention with ballots, unlike the scripted infomercials with which we've become familiar.
Santos wins the nomination of his party after a rousing, inspiring, and honest speech to the delegates encouraging them to vote for who the believe will do the best job as president.
John Spencer's death in December of 2005 left a void in The West Wing. The writers constructed a plot line where Leo McGarry dies of a heart attack on Election Night. The device is not a terrific stretch as McGarry had major heart problems in a previous story line.
Santos wins the election. Dialogue indicates the president-elect will replace McGarry with Pennsylvania Governor Eric Baker, a candidate during the democratic presidential primaries, because of Baker's executive experience.
In a show of bipartisan unity, Santos asks Vinick to be Secretary of State because of his strategic thinking and strong relationships with the democratic corps.
The last episode of The West Wing takes place on Inauguration Day. Appropriately, Martin Sheen has the last word in the series. When his wife asks him what he's thinking about, he replies, Tomorrow.
Swine Flu - Deja Vu
April 30, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
A former athlete from the Midwest succeeds a scandal-ridden president, faces the challenge of turning around a recessionary economy, and confronts the fears associated with a swine flu outbreak.
Barack Obama?
No.
Gerald Ford.
In 1976, the United States Public Health Service produced public service announcements for television commercials complete with everyday people, announcer with baritone voice, and ominous music to warn the public about swine flu.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASibLqwVbsk
david@davidkrell.com
A former athlete from the Midwest succeeds a scandal-ridden president, faces the challenge of turning around a recessionary economy, and confronts the fears associated with a swine flu outbreak.
Barack Obama?
No.
Gerald Ford.
In 1976, the United States Public Health Service produced public service announcements for television commercials complete with everyday people, announcer with baritone voice, and ominous music to warn the public about swine flu.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASibLqwVbsk