Give It New Life

We've been working to organize the basement. I work down there most of the day (Bridget mainly works upstairs). I have been trying to make it nicer so the space will be more conducive to productivity.

My goal is to try and make the dark, cool space more enjoyable.

The basement was finished in the 1970s -- and, as you can imagine, it is a mix of cinderblock walls and wood paneling (that we painted an off-white color when we moved in).

After 12 years, it is a process of organizing and removing accumulated "stuff."

I added a Bose radio a year or so ago, and my niece Julia helped me create this homage to a 1999 computer store. 

I've wanted to add a TV to the space, but would rather not invest in a new set until this whole 4K UHD thing is figured out.

My first LCD flat panel was a Vizio VX37L HDTV I purchased in 2007. We used it until 2012 -- when the digital tuner went bad.

It is a fairly common issue with Vizio's of that era. It wouldn't be an issue if we had cable, we could hook up a box to one of the HDMI ports.

But since we use antennas to pick up over-the-air digital broadcasts, I couldn't pick up anything with the TV.

We've discussed getting rid of the old Vizio for the last few years, but hadn't yet bid the TV farewell.

So, I decided to give the set some new life.

Various companies sell "digital tuner" boxes to pick up OTA signals. They are largely used with old analog sets, early HDTVs without digital tuners, and projectors. 

Some of the models offer the ability to output in HD via an HDMI port on the back.

I picked up a tuner at the store, along with a new HDMI cord. I have several antennas, and placed the TV on a table along the south wall of my work area so I could place the antenna in a small window in the foundation. 

I hooked up the antenna to the tuner, ran the HDMI to the appropriate port on the HDTV, and followed the onscreen instructions to scan the channels. 

I was able to pick up 21 digital channels (which is typical for our house with the small indoor antennas), and includes all the locals. 

By default, the box output to 1080i on my TV (the OTA signals are broadcast in 1080i), but allows you to set various resolutions including 1080p, 720p, and 480p. 

It has a program guide, and gives you DVR abilities if you hook up an external USB memory stick or hard drive. 

(I didn't have a drive available, but might try it at some point down the road). 

The picture looks nice (the TV had a good looking picture for its day), and I used an RCA cable to run the sound from the box to the Bose radio (the TV speakers are fine, but it sounds better via the stereo).

So there ya go. I have a "new" HDTV in my workspace and it cost me ~$50 in supplies.

What Is A Pinning Ceremony?

Tonight my niece Lauren -- and the 24 other International Baccalaureate students at Omaha's Central High School -- took part in the annual "IB Pinning Ceremony" at the Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center on the University of Nebraska at Omaha campus. 

Here are tidbits about International Baccalaureate:

-- The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (it's spelled that way on the official website) is offered at only three (3) high schools in Nebraska: Omaha Central, Millard North, and Lincoln High.

--  The DP is an academically challenging and balanced programme of education.

-- It addresses the intellectual, social, emotional and physical well-being of students, and is respected by universities across the globe.

-- Each of the IB’s programmes, including the DP, is committed to the development of students according to the attributes shown in the IB learner profile.

More information can be found at http://www.ibo.org/

In a nutshell, it is a special curriculum program for students. It is relatively new.

At some schools, the "pinning ceremony" involves junior diploma candidates in IB getting a pin from seniors. 

Tonight's ceremony didn't involve that practice. The event only included seniors.

Each student came up to receive his or her pin. The principal of the school read information on the research paper each student is working on. 

Photo courtesy of Danielle Rowe

The papers (no longer than 4,000 words) focus on varied topics like "To What Extent are Patients Harmed By Favoring Either Biomedical or Psychotherapy Treatments for Depression?" and "The Expansion of Drones Through Businesses" (which Bridget enjoyed reading).

My niece is doing her paper on "An Analysis of the Impact of History on Charles Dicken's Novels."

Each student received a purple gerbera daisy to give to their project supervisor.

Afterward, there were cakes and refreshments. 

This was the first time I had been in UNO's Weitz Community Engagement Center. It is a terrific facility (which UNO administrators have suggested might be the only facility of its kind on a college campus in the U.S.), and was a nice locale for this evening's festivities.

Congratulations, Lauren.

Read my latest blog post: Say Hello to "Planet Earth II"

Say Hello to "Planet Earth II"

Adding a little serenity to your Sunday, I present the extended trailer for BBC Earth's upcoming series "Planet Earth II": 

This sequel to 2006's "Planet Earth" boasts it will offer the latest advances in filmmaking technology, and present a fresh perspective on the natural world.

Sir David Attenborough will once again handle narration duties (no word on whether his narration will be replaced for U.S. broadcasts, as was the case on the Discovery Channel for "Planet Earth").

"Planet Earth" introduced a generation to the benefits of HD technology when it debuted (at a time when HDTV adoption was still in its growth phase). It became a bestseller on Blu-Ray (and Microsoft's now-defunct HD DVD format), and quickly became reference material for video enthusiasts across the globe.

It ushered in a slate of follow-up series including "Life" and "Frozen Planet," along with various theatrical releases using edited footage from the series.

But none ever matched the scope and grandeur of “Planet Earth."

The premiere date for "Planet Earth II" is yet to be announced. It will air on BBC One in the UK, and should arrive in the U.S. shortly thereafter.

If you haven't had a chance to see "Planet Earth," be sure to check it out. It is currently available to stream on Netflix, and also available for purchase from various video retailers (try to avoid the standard-definition DVDs -- they simply don't do the series justice). 

Read my recent blog post: British TV Envy

It's…Peculiar

There is this new movie about an awkward teenager who finds "belonging" among a bunch of kids with unusual powers and abilities.

No, he isn't a wizard with a lightning bolt-shaped scar. 

This teenager lives in balmy Florida, and works at a grocery store. His name is Jacob (Jake for short). 

He is close to his grandfather Abe. During Jake's formative years, Abe enchants him with all sorts of fantastical stories -- illustrated by old black-and-white photos of creepy gothic characters with special abilities Abe met during his younger years.

The beings in the pics didn't live at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, or even Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. 

They lived at "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children." 

This is the latest effort from light goth filmmaking master Tim Burton. Back in the day, his movies "Beetlejuice" and "Edward Scissorhands" fascinated viewers with eye-popping visuals, ironic humor, endearing characters, and hummable scores by Danny Elfman. 

The movie is based on the popular children's book series by Ransom Riggs, who started his eclectic career as a filmmaker and blogger (there is hope for me yet). 

When Abe mysteriously dies -- and leaves Jake with a clue-filled volume of Ralph Waldo Emerson writings -- the "hero's journey" is sparked, and Jake sets forth on a trip to Wales to investigate the cause of his grandfather's death.

All of this sounds like fertile (albeit familiar) territory for an intriguing tale of confounding clues, odd characters, and weird worlds. 

The main issue is that the pacing feels a bit slow (particularly early on), and the story takes a while to hit its stride. 

Jake is portrayed by actor Asa Butterfield, who has made a career in the fantasy genre (Martin Scorsese's "Hugo" ranks as a favorite of mine, and he recently starred in the movie based on "Ender's Game"). He capably plays a sullen teen, even if he is a bit "low energy" in this movie. 

The rest of the cast features the likes of Allison Janney, Rupert Everett, Chris O'Dowd, and Terrence Stamp. Dame Judi Dench even makes an appearance.

Samuel L. Jackson plays the main antagonist, Barron. He seems to be having the most fun with the material, and Barron comes across as a "Halloween version" of the pitchman Jackson plays on the "Capital One" credit card commercials. 

I don't want to give away too many of the main plot points, but Jake eventually finds Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.

Along the way we learn that there are "loops" in our world that allow characters to bend time. There are evil beings referred to as "hollows" who are attempting to thwart the peaceful existence of the "peculiars." 

Jake meets a girl named Emma -- a "peculiar" who floats like a balloon and can control air. Emma is portrayed by 16-year-old Ella Purnell, who does the best she can to harness her inner Christina Ricci/Helena Bonham Carter for the role. 

There exists all variety of weirdness throughout the tale -- characters eating wiggling eyeballs, cotton candy employed as a weapon, a boy who transplants living hearts into inanimate objects, and a child who can project his dreams using a jeweler's eye loupe. 

As a concession worker at Aksarben Cinema mentioned, "the last third of the movie was really weird." 

While I found the tale to be intriguing, I felt there were some miscues by Tim Burton.

First and foremost is a compelling musical score. Movies like this depend on musical stylings, and much of the movie lacks any sort of melodic undertone. 

Secondly, despite having a character who keeps living hearts in jars, the movie lacks a rhythmic pulse. At times it feels like a paint-by-numbers effort by Burton, where the whole isn't greater than the sum of its parts. 

My nieces Emily and Lauren have both read the Ransom Riggs novel, and both enjoyed the movie, but pointed out its drawbacks. 

If Halloween fare with a dash of "creepy" is what you're looking for, check out "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children." While it won't achieve "classic" status in the genre, it is entertaining. 

Trailer: 

Rated PG-13. Runtime: 2 hrs, 7 min

Read my recent blog post: "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" -- Trailer, Rumors and Tidbits

Twitter's NFL Stream is Pretty Nice

Follow up to my earlier post on Twitter winning the streaming rights to Thursday Night Football this season...

I typically watch these games on my HDTV using my over-the-air antenna..

But I decided to also watch Twitter's stream of tonight's Thursday Night Football game between the Denver Broncos and the San Diego Chargers. 

There is a delay with the stream (as is typical with live content), but the quality is really nice.

If you go to @NFL on Twitter, they have information on watching the stream.

The iOS Twitter app doesn't allow direct AirPlay mirroring to my 3rd generation Apple TV, but you can mirror the screen.

If you have the latest 4th generation Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV or Xbox One, you can watch via a new Twitter app for those platforms that is dedicated to video. 

Pretty cool. I still think Twitter is an unorthodox choice to stream the games. But the platform offers a clean, quality stream (a benefit to cord cutters who can't watch the broadcast over-the-air). 

Read my previous post about "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" -- Trailer, Rumors & Tidbits

"Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" -- Trailer, Rumors and Tidbits

The second (well, third if you count the terrific "teaser") trailer for "Rogue One: A Star Wars Wars Story" was unveiled this morning in the U.S. on ABC's "Good Morning America" (and on the web for fans to pour over):

I am super excited to see this movie. 

This will apparently be the final theatrical trailer, but I would expect additional content to surface leading up to the movie's Dec. 16 release.

HOW WE GOT HERE...

"Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" is the first attempt by Disney/Lucasfilm to "Marvel-ize" the "Star Wars" franchise by creating what they refer to as "anthology" movies.

This isn't part of the main "trilogy structure" of the series. "Rogue One" takes place during the period of time leading up to "Star Wars: A New Hope", and is the story of a ragtag group who unites to steal the plans to the original Death Star (led by Jyn Erso, played by Felicity Jones). 

The story is based on a concept by John Knoll, who is the Visual Effects Supervisor and Chief Creative Officer at Industrial Light & Magic.

If you are a SW fan, you might remember Knoll in the terrific documentary "The Beginning" included with the "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace" DVD. He has also appeared in other "Star Wars" docs, and various other "making ofs" focusing on ILM's work. 

This is a fun video from April showing Knoll (and the rest of the visual effects crew for "Rogue One") watching "fan reaction" videos for the movie's teaser trailer: 

For years, I saw his brother Tom Knoll's name whenever my copy of Adobe Photoshop 5.5 was opening up. That is because both Knolls created the software (thanks guys!)

Chris Weitz ("About A Boy") and Tony Gilroy ("The Bourne Identity") worked on the screenplay. The film was directed by Gareth Edwards, who directed 2014's "Godzilla."

THE SCUTTLEBUTT

There has been some interesting production news about "Rogue One" over the past few months. 

Earlier this summer, rumors were swirling about reshoots taking place, which unleashed a wave of concern among fans across the internet.

This "Entertainment Weekly" article from June talks about the reshoots (which sources at LucasFilm said had been pre-scheduled): http://www.ew.com/article/2016/06/03/rogue-one-reshoots

There were rumors suggesting over 40 percent of the movie was being reshot (false) and that Christopher McQuarrie (who wrote and directed "Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation") had been brought in to direct those reshoots (also false). 

Disney CEO Bob Iger has referred to "Rogue One" as "an experiment of sorts," and a profile of Felicity Jones in the "The Hollywood Reporter" suggests some $30 million was spent on the reshoots: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/felicity-jones-rogue-one-reshoots-937569 

In addition, composer Michael Giacchino (who has collaborated with J.J. Abrams on numerous projects) was brought in to replace Alexandre Desplat (an Oscar-winning composer who has worked on various scores -- including music in the "Harry Potter" franchise).

According to reports, the reshoots prompted the change as Desplat was unavailable to do the work: (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/star-wars-rogue-one-replaces-929387)

I loved Giacchino's work on the "Star Trek" reboot movies, and think his musical stylings are well-suited to the "Star Wars" franchise. 

But the reports -- taken in total -- have created head scratching among fanboys about this new adventure in a galaxy far, far away.

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN? 

I have no idea how the movie will compare to last year's "The Force Awakens." But the storyline sounds intriguing, and the visuals look stunning. 

Each of the trailers up until this point have presented new bits of information, and the kid in me (who grew up playing with "Star Wars" action figures) loves seeing visuals of AT-ATs surrounded by sand and palm trees (they are AT-ACTs in "Rogue One" because these models include a dedicated cargo bed for construction sites):

Tonally, the movie looks to have a far grittier and more militaristic vibe than its predecessors. But "the force" appears to provide a spiritual undertone to Jyn Erso's heroic journey, which has been key to the "Star Wars" franchise. 

The main unknown is how fans will react to a movie that doesn't feature familiar characters (although, Darth Vader is set to make an appearance). 

I'm excited to see something different, and look forward to experiencing a different take on the "Star Wars" universe. 

As is the case with any new "Star Wars" trailer, YouTube is filled with oodles of "fan reaction" videos.

One of my favorites is by self-proclaimed "Geek Priest" Father Roderick Vonhogen of the Netherlands: 

This won't be the only "anthology" movie in the "Star Wars" saga. A young Han Solo movie is set for release in 2018. 

But first things first... 

As the release date edges closer, you can count on endless buzz and a full-on marketing blitz in support of "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story".

I will be here to talk about it all... 

Dec. 16 can't come soon enough! 

Read my latest blog post: British TV Envy

British TV Envy

I've talked a bit on here about my penchant for over-the-air antennas, and digital content you can pull into your HDTV.

Outside of the main networks, channel lineups can vary greatly across the U.S.

As I've read various online forums about tuning in the free broadcast signals, I have run across posters from Great Britain talking about installing "aerials" (antennas) to pick up "Freeview." https://www.freeview.co.uk/

Curious mind that I have, I had to Google search what exactly "Freeview" was, and what it entailed.

It's kind of cool. Here is a link talking about what Brits get for free, over-the-air, with an antenna:
https://www.freeview.co.uk/why-freeview/channels

- 60+ standard-definition channels
- 15 HD channels
- 25 radio stations

They mention that Freeview allows citizens to pickup 95% of the country's most-watched programming for free.

All HDTVs sold in the UK since 2010 have Freeview built in (older TVs may need a converter box, which is similar to what you have to do with older TVs in the U.S.)

You can purchase Freeview HD DVR boxes (from companies like Panasonic) that cost around $200 U.S. dollars, and allow you to record all your programming for free, with no monthly fee. 

(One note: Any home, or business, institution, etc. watching or recording a live TV broadcast -- terrestrial, satellite, cable or internet -- has to pay an annual "television tax"...a television license - about $175 U.S. dollars per year).

In addition, they have recently introduced "Freeview Play" which is an added on-demand Internet component that allows viewers to stream content to their Freeview Play-enabled TV or DVR box (with a wifi connection).

What's nice about the setup in Great Britain is that they have a unified website, outlining exactly what people can receive (including an area where you can type in your specific location for channel lineup), and how they can receive it. 

In comparison, it seems like folks in the United States have to "hunt-and-peck" their way to figuring out how to tune in channels over-the-air (the FCC website has some resources, but it is fairly woeful for a novice).

While gear heads and geeks do their best to create cord-cutting guides online, it sometimes feels like you are an "outlier" if you don't have cable or satellite.

I know that the group which sets ATSC standards (how you tune in digital channels with an antenna on an HDTV in the U.S.) is currently working on "ATSC 3.0" which will have a 4K UHD broadcast standard, 7.1 surround sound, be Internet Protocol-based (which will mean you can access and stream on-demand content on various devices), and broadcast digital signals much more efficiently.

But we are still a few years away from that.

Was It The Best Hockey Venue in Omaha?

The laborious deconstruction of the Omaha Civic Auditorium continues. Someday, in the not-so-distant future, the property will be some sort of office/condo/lodging/retail center in downtown (like other gentrification-induced developments in urban cores).

But was it the best place to watch hockey in Omaha?

Local inhabitants have various theories on that topic.

While it lacked in various modern amenities like suites and padded seats, the venue had wicked sight angles and a flat ceiling that held in noise.

From its opening in 1954 until the opening of the Qwest Center Omaha in 2003, the Civic Auditorium was the city's largest indoor sports, convention, and entertainment venue.

I have a number of fond memories watching events there. I got to see everything from comedian Gallagher smashing watermelons with a sledgehammer, to Jim Courier and Michael Chang playing tennis in the "Healthy Choice Challenge."

My favorite memories came during the nascent years of the University of Nebraska at Omaha Hockey program as it battled in the hallowed confines.

From our perch in Section 73, Row D, seats 3 and 4, we formed a love and passion for the game that remains to this day.

I talked in depth about UNO's tenure at the Civic in a series of posts titled "Arena Origin Story" on our MavPuck blog last year (leading up to the opening of the university's new home, Baxter Arena).

When UNO left the Civic Auditorium in 2003 (for the behemoth that was the Qwest Center Omaha), there seemed to be perpetual debate as to whether or not the move was a mistake.

The subtext of the Baxter Arena project was that it would allow attendees to experience UNO Hockey in smaller quarters with better sight lines -- "not a bad seat in the house" was the term used, which evoked a popular sentiment about the Civic Auditorium during the program's first six seasons.

We can debate whether or not the new venue is a return to form. Side effects of an intimate atmosphere include tight concourses and crowded concession stands -- things that weren't an issue with hockey at the Qwest/Century Link Center.

(Personally speaking, I love Baxter Arena. But it is its own unique experience.)

As Omahans watch the long, slow deconstruction of downtown's venerable arena, we can recall a different world where patrons had different priorities.

Soon, it will become a forgotten memory and a footnote to history.

Read my previous post: When Men Were Men…

When Men Were Men…

I really got into westerns back in 1985. That year's box office saw two attempts to try and revive the genre with Clint Eastwood's "Pale Rider" and director Lawrence Kasdan's under-appreciated "Silverado."

I enjoyed both movies, and became a fan of the easy-to-follow "morality plays" -- wrapped in scenic vistas, horseplay and gunfights -- that have epitomized the genre since its heyday in the 1950s and 60s.

In addition to seeing those two movies in the theater, my parents rented a trio of John Wayne movies to watch on that Fourth of July. So we settled down with snacks, drinks, and "The Duke" to celebrate our nation's independence.

Throughout the years, it is a genre I have maintained a fondness for, even though the tales are scant seen on the Big Screen.

Remakes of classic tales are what we typically see these days -- "3:10 to Yuma" and "True Grit" being recent, high-profile examples.

I am pleased to report that director Antoine Fuqua's new remake of "The Magnificent Seven" is a fun, scenic, action-packed addition to the western genre.

The basic story is this: An evil businessman named Bogue is oppressing, killing and otherwise impeding freedom in Rose Creek -- a small town comprised of honest farmers. Emma Cullen (whose husband is gunned down in cold blood by the evil doers) sets out to hire a ragtag group of rogue gunmen to take back the town.

We all know where this is going. It doesn't matter that the movie is a remake of the 1960 Yul Brynner vehicle of the same name (which itself was a remake of the Kurosawa film "Seven Samurai").

It is a story that has been done a zillion times in multiple genres. It is an instant recipe for dramatic tension, and is employed in many terrific action films.

There are a couple of standout performances in the movie.

Denzel Washington plays Sam Chisolm, a warrant officer who is hired to put the team together. He is like a finely honed knife, and does the best he can to add depth to material that isn't exactly subtle and nuanced.

(As a side note, it is incredible how "ageless" Denzel is -- the man doesn't appear to get old).

Chisolm's first recruit is gambler/drinker/gunman Josh Faraday, who is played with whimsy by Chris Pratt. As we've seen in "Guardians of the Galaxy" and "Jurassic World," Chris Pratt basically plays Chris Pratt -- the embodiment of a good-natured fanboy portraying an amalgamation of all the charming action heroes we saw back in the 1980s. That's what audiences want, and I'm totally fine with that.

The rest of the crew is less well defined. Ethan Hawke tries to bring a quirky, intellectual, eccentric vibe to sharpshooter Goodnight Robicheaux (like Val Kilmer in 1993's "Tombstone"), but the effect is never fully realized.

The attempts to try and drill down the rest of the "Seven" feels a tad bit forced and vague.

But that's not an issue at all. We all know what these characters are here to do.

The movie was filmed in Louisiana and New Mexico (the latter for the rugged western vistas). The overall production value was handsome, if not totally epic.

I've read online that this was composer James Horner's final score. Parts were beautiful and atmospheric, but I wished they had included Elmer Bernstein's rousing anthem (from the 1960 original) in more than just the end credit title card.

If you like westerns and fun action/adventure movies, give "The Magnificent Seven" a try.

It might not be high art, but it is an entertaining ride. 

Rated PG-13. Runtime: 2 hrs, 13 min

A Wibbly Wobbly, Timey Wimey New Show

A couple days ago my brother-in-law texted me suggesting I might want to review the new NBC series "Timeless" for my blog.

I am fascinated by "time travel" movies, books and TV series. So I was happy to oblige, and watched the pilot that first aired on Oct. 3.

"Timeless" is the creation of Eric Kripke ("Supernatural") and Shawn Ryan ("The Shield"), both experienced creators in the television industry.

Kripke's "Supernatural" is a long-running sci-fi/fantasy hit for the CW. Ryan's "The Shield" was considered groundbreaking when it debuted on FX in 2012, and managed to give the fledgling cable outlet the "HBO vibe" it was looking for.

Considering the pedigree of both producers, it is interesting that the debut episode of "Timeless" felt a tad bit pedestrian, as if we'd been there before.

The episode felt like a throwback, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

The plot involves a businessman named Connor Mason, who has a "secret time machine" project (think an Elon Musk-type entrepreneur).

A time traveling criminal named Flynn ("ER's" Goran Visnjic) steals the time machine -- which looks oddly similar to the CBS "eye" logo -- and travels back to meddle with the Hindenburg airship in 1930s New Jersey.

In steps the Department of Homeland Security to recruit Lucy Preston (a history professor), Logan Wyatt (a Delta Force operative), and Rufus Carlin (a reluctant scientist/tech guy who works for Mason). The trio is tasked with using a "backup" time machine (thank goodness they had one of those) to track down Flynn and restore order to historical events.

Preston (Abigail Spencer) is a precocious historian with key knowledge of historical events.

Wyatt (Matt Lanter) is the roguishly-handsome-troubled-man-of-action.

Carlin (Malcolm Barrett) provides moments of levity as the "I don't want to be here" scientist who operates the time machine.

The problem is that none of the three leads is particularly memorable. They capably serve the roles, but none rises above the material.

Because time travel properties continue to be popular -- and have been done in a number of ways -- they each set up their own rules.

The unique hook in this show is that it is "not smart" to time travel to a place where you "are." The scientists apparently tested this, but only "parts" of the time traveler returned.

We also learn as the show progresses that even "slight" changes to history can have serious ramifications for the principal characters -- and this leads to a surprise ending in the first episode.

I did enjoy the show, but it didn't grab me the way other new fall shows like "This Is Us," "Pitch," and "Designated Survivor" did after their debut episodes.

As shows like "Doctor Who" and "Quantum Leap" have shown, time travel is fertile ground for intriguing stories and interesting characters. So the potential is there.

The show sports a handsome production value and appealing visual effects.

The main question is whether this show can rise above the routine.

Preview of "Timeless":

Where to watch?
- Wednesdays at 10/9c on NBC.
- Episodes also streaming on NBC.com, Hulu.com, and the NBC and Hulu apps (on mobile and streaming devices).

Read yesterday's blog post: Jack Bauer…President

Jack Bauer…President

The fall TV season is only a couple weeks old, but there are some promising offerings on this season's network slate.

One of the shows ABC highlighted over the summer was "Designated Survivor" starring Kiefer Sutherland.

The show centers around Sutherland's character Tom Kirkman, a low-level cabinet member (about to be axed by the president) who ascends to the presidency when an explosion rips apart the U.S. Capitol during the State of the Union address.

As the "designated survivor" for the evening, Kirkman is viewing the address from a secured, off-site location -- put there in order to maintain continuity of government (in the event disaster strikes).

Kirkman is the administration's Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. He has never been elected to office, and has little in the way of ambition.

I was a big fan of Sutherland's series "24," which saw his Jack Bauer character race against the clock to defend truth, justice and the American way for the fictional Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU).

(I talked about the cultural significance of "24" in a previous post here).

In many instances, Bauer was the reluctant hero whose noble virtue was that he'd freely give of himself to defend the United States.

In that regard, Tom Kirkman on "Designated Survivor" is an evolution of Jack Bauer -- less hard-nosed, more intellectual, pressed into service in the blink of an eye.

About a decade ago you could find merchandise touting "Jack Bauer for President" (I have such a t-shirt somewhere).

When I first saw the promos for "Designated Survivor," I said, "Finally! We get President Jack Bauer!"

That isn't to say Kiefer Sutherland's performance isn't nuanced. Rather, his previous stint as Jack Bauer creates instant credibility as viewers watch President Kirkman navigate treacherous geo-political waters.

I was thinking back to the days when techno-thriller author Tom Clancy was at the top of his game, and employed a very similar plot point to elevate Jack Ryan to the Oval Office in the book "Debt of Honor."

As the days and weeks progress, Tom Kirkman is likely to face similar issues to those that challenged Ryan in those Clancy novels.

That means heaping helpings of interesting possibilities for the character. If the first two episodes of "Designated Survivor" are any indication, we are in for global and domestic intrigue, political machinations, and a myriad of twists and turns coming to the fore.

Viewers will be fortunate to have President Kirkman at the helm during these troubled times.

"Designated Survivor" Trailer:

Where to watch?
- Wednesdays at 10/9c on ABC.
- Episodes also streaming on ABC.com, Hulu.com, and the ABC and Hulu apps (on mobile and streaming devices).

Read yesterday's blog post here: What Am I Thinking?