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I bought the seasons for my girlfriend for valentines day and she loved them! It turned out to be a perfect gift at a pretty good price.

Keira Hour Long Biography Channel Documentary I was left wanting more of the scandals regarding the series! Everyone wants the good "dirt" on their favorite showsAnd actors and I feel they left a lot of this out!

Gina Biography: Beverly Hills 90210 90210 Biography - Excellent product and service. I enjoyed watching this tape. It was interesting to hear what the players had to say about the series and themselves.

I have a 3 year old boy who loves all types of vehicles, he loves, loves, loves, this DVD. It arrived fast, plays great. As long as my son is happy I'm happy. thank you seller.

Dave-GRMI Chuck and Friends - No Commercials My son loves Chuck and friends. We hate that the televised episodes have sooo many commercials. Being that my son is under 3, commercials are terrible and ruin his viewing experience. These dvds are wonderful, teach great lessons and of course have lots of trucks!

bernie Great Purchase The service was fast and accurate. item packaged securely..great price for number of items received. Definitely would recommend for the Grey's Anatomy fan! My daughter called it her best surprised Christmas Gift ever!

L. Rollins "bwbelle" My daughter loves Dora My daughter loves to watch Dora. With instant video, we can choose which episode we want to watch, and can pause it if we need to. The streaming quality is great - no skips or pauses.

michellem Great educational program My almost 2 year old loves Dora and Boots. She loves telling Swiper, no swiping. I would recommend this show

Duane C. Time capsule captures Lester and Earl at their best This series of releases of the "Flatt & Scruggs" TV show is outstanding as it captures Lester, Earl and the Foggy Mountain Boys at the peak of their performances, and at the best mix of members of their band. The programs are complete, including the Martha White and Pet milk commercials that were done right there on stage. I plan to get the entire series.

Matteo Ringressi Absolute MAGIC! What can I say...one of the best bands of all times. It doesn't get much better. In this volume you get a 7-years-old Ricky Skaggs playing mandolin and singing with the Foggy Mountain Boys...here's a song list:1st Show - December 1961- Opening- Twinkle Little Star- Crying My Heart Over You- Commercial- I Ain't Gonna Work Tomorrow- Home Sweet Home- Lord I'm Coming Home- Commercial- Wildwood Flower- A World All Your Own- On My Way To Caanan's Land- Commercial- If I Should Wander Back Tonight- Sally Johnson2nd Show: January 1962- Opening- Cacklin' Hen- I Wonder How The Old Folks Are At Home- Commercial- I Don't Care Anymore- Cumberland Gap- Foggy Mountain Special (with Ricky Skaggs)- Commercial- You Took My Sunshine- Feast Here Tonight- Comedy- Go Home- Commercial- Ruby (with Ricky Skaggs)- Dance All Night With a Bottle In My HandIf this is "below your expectations"...nothing well be above 'em :-)

Joshua Glowzinski "Gman" This was one of the best movies I have ever seen. One day my mom said she wanted to see this. So we went and saw it. It starts out with some mystery. A girl seems to be hiding. From what or whom you are unsure. Then, she finds a place to feel safe and starts to enjoy her new dwellings. Throughout the movie you will learn about what she is afraid of and what happened to finally free her and make her run. Then, there may just be something in the movie that will happen that makes you have this weird feeling in your gut. I will not say anything though.The chemistry between the actor that plays the father and the actress that plays the girl is amazing. They are so good at playing nervous, anxious people who are falling for one another. You will come to like both of them and hope for good things to happen. There is someone else in the movie as well. A detective/cop. His role in the movie is important.The kids that play the mans kids are great. They are such good actors. I am proud of them. They never get in the way of anything that is going on. You see them for the perfect amount of time. In the time you see them you will understand their pain and their reasons for doing what they do.Another thing that I liked about this movie is the location. It seems to have a small town feeling. Some movies go all over the place. But this movies was really in one place. It let you feel safe. Like you were at home and nothing could happen. Very well done.This is a great movie for a man, women, or both to watch. It really makes you thankful for those you have that you can love and who love you. As soon as this comes out, I am buying it. One of those movies that is great to watch on a rainy night. A great movie!!!!Oh, and if you were wondering I am a 28 year old guy. I have had a lot of pain in my life. I enjoy love stories. Just makes you feel good.

Counter-Intuitive "OpineTree" Chick Flick??? with an Element of Suspense I'm not so sure you should classify this as a chick flick, even though there seemed to be a lot more females than males at the screening I attended. For me there were enough non-romance scenes to make it a more of a mystery. I can't say a lot about the plot without spoiling it for those who haven't seen it.The movie runs the course of your basic romance with an unlikely couple who meet and fall for each other in spite of their problems until their relationship takes a major hit due to revelations about a secret past. In fact, threaded throughout the story are short scenes involving a Boston cop obsessed with finding a suspect in an attempted murder. There are a few tense moments of violence and absolute terror, but it's not gratuitous or over done, only enough to reveal the mystery and lead to a satisfying conclusion, (or not). What I liked the most was that, just when I thought the plot had taken its final twist, a letter is opened and read which surprised me all over again.I enjoyed this movie much more than The Notebook, another movie based on a novel by the same author, Nicholas Sparks. I felt this was more action packed, exciting and optimistic that The Notebook. I also felt the cast was strong, from the leading characters to the supporting actors. All in all, an entertaining movie that I would recommend.

stewart L A STUNNING PERFORMACE OF ALL HIS TOP 40 VIDEOS AND MORE WHAT CAN I SAY. THE LOVE SONGS,AAA+ SPEND A ROMANTIC EVENING,LISTENING TO SOME OF THE MOST SOULFUL SONGS AROUND.ALL OF THESE SONGS ARE THE ORIGINAL VIDEOS...THE PICTURE AND SOUND IS STUNNING.A PERFECT WAY TO SPEND AN EVENING,ROMANTICALLY,OR TO JUST CHILL OUT... A MUST FOR YOUR VIDEO COLLECTION.

yygsgsdrassil "yygsgsdrassil" Befitting of The Crooner...Crank It Up on 'Superstar' ...I've written of Luther for years in this Amazon Customer Review forum. And always those reviews have been some kind of praise to his approach to R and Bee ballardry. The tunes starting from the 80s' Never Too Much to his most recent grammy winner Dance with My Father all reflected the singer's overall approach to love, life and even the blues. That approach was positive. The glass was half full rather than half empty even when he was telling his no good, man chasin' woman, it's over now...(but be on the lowdown cuz my nosy neighbors are lookin'). His approach was talking about love in all that satiny vocalisation. That means a lot to people even if--especially if--all the other singers of the time are talking the gutter and whatever backwards type attention getting effluvia.This presentation shows the videos telling the listener what's he's about. They show his various incarnations and size fluctuations, his ongoing love/hate affair with visually stunning Lisa Fischer ('Va-va voom' Luther and I both have said about her), his forages in spirituality and philosophy...even when gas was under a dollar a gallon.In the extras on the DVD is the David Ritz (of Marvin Gaye's biographical "Divided Soul") biographical Luther piece. Take time to go thru it. It is superb. Then there are interviews with his partners in crime these many years--bassist Marcus Miller tells of years with the Roberta Flack entourage, how Luther songs are made and his fond memories. Engineer Ray Bardani relates how Luther was more interested some days in how people liked his hair than putting the tracks down and composer/arranger Nate Adderly Jr. talks about working with Luther.The best tribute is the hidden bonus feature--Luther doing his signature version of A House is Not a Home to one of his idols Dionne Warrick, who, of course sang one of the original versions. In retrospect, now, that was a historic performance. In another bonus feature Luther sings The Impossible Dream reminding us listeners that it sadly, simply all must've been an impossible dream in one sense or another. And all that greatness to come from Luther can never be....So, if you love Luther, this would be the product to get in my opinion. And when you *do* get it, do me a favor. Turn it up on maximum volume when you get to Superstar.

Susan Mayer Hello Harkness My Old Friend From his first appearance on Dr. Who, Captain Jack Harkness (played with dashing bravado, humour and the eternal twinkle in his eye and irresistible smile) has been one of my favourite Sci-Fi characters ever, and when he was spun off into his own series, Torchwood, I was overjoyed. Mysterious, quirky, immortal, handsome, omnisexual (which overqualifies him for the title of Sexiest Man on Earth) and highly intelligent, he took on a crew of equally interesting investigators of the paranormal and alien activites near The Rift, that mysterious interdimensional crack which has opened between dimensions and sits beneath Cardiff, Wales.And just when I was rollicking along with this wonderful show it mysteriously vanished after a race called the 456 tried to wipe out humanity, and nearly succeeded. But fear not! Althhough he is gone from the BBC, Captain Jack is on DVD and Blu-ray to keep us all safe for the 3 seasons (well, 2 1/2 seasons really) until they crop up again next year in a new place, on STARZ with new adventures. If you haven't seen these and might be interested in the new season of Torchwood to come, you might want to dig into the background for it by watching what has gone on in this previous incarnation of the series.Can't wait!

K. Harris "Film aficionado" Aliens In Our Midst--A BBC Series That Gets Progressively Darker And More Affecting Note: DVD includes Season One, Season Two, and Children of Earth MiniseriesIn Captain Jack Harkness, creator Russell T. Davies and actor John Barrowman created a truly unique warrior for the science fiction and paranormal set. The dashing bi-sexual hero was first introduced on Davies' "Dr. Who" reinvention and quickly became a fan favorite. So, it was with some amount of excitement that I followed Barrowman to his own show expecting some variation of the "Dr. Who" narrative. But no, the show is stylized in a very different way. The "Torchwood" spin-off plays like a high octane and oftentimes quite amusing cousin to "X-files." There is a fair amount of sexual content, of all varieties, within the new series that might frighten some of the purists--but, as a whole, the show exceeds as adult escapism at every level. Set ostensibly in contemporary Cardiff, Torchwood is a covert governmental agency designed to investigate and control unexplainable phenomenon. With a state of the art facility buried deep underground, on a rift in time and space no less, the team of specialists deal largely with an alien menace in its many variations.The core team, aside from the invaluable and riotous Barrowman, includes awkward Owen (a winning Burn Gorman), industrious Toshiko (Naoki Mori), and guy Friday Ianto (Gareth David-Lloyd). In the first episode, a position on the team opens up and Barrowman courts a local policewoman (Eve Myles) to fill the slot. Many of the early episodes deal with Myles' orientation and initial disbelief at the wonders confronted by Torchwood. Most of Season One is highlighted by stand alone and self contained episodes--kind of a beast of the week theme. As such, the show can be a bit inconsistent depending on how involving the particular case may be. But the humor and quirkiness of the team and their interrelations are always an appealing selling point. The creature effects and the show's look are top notch, but it is the irreverent and fast paced dialogue that further distinguishes this from the sci-fi pack. The show gets progressively tidier (although a late episode Random Shoes was the only episode I found actually painful). The 13 episodes of Season One are spry and entertaining, if not perfect.Season Two, also comprised of 13 episodes, starts to really put all the great components of the show together into fascinating ways. A stronger mythology and a more continuing story line only amp up the dramatic elements of the show and give all of its actors real opportunities to shine. Whereas the primary relationship explored in Season One was the platonic bond between Barrowman and Myles--here, everyone gets a chance to play and to be developed in new and intriguing ways. While the team are still battling strange beasts, there is an unexpected gravitas to the proceedings that have long range repercussions to major characters (both good and bad). Appearances by James Marsters (Buffy's Spike) as a man from Barrowman's past and Freema Agyeman as her Dr. Who character Martha Jones add memorable dimension and even heartbreak. Everything is heightened for Season Two--where life and death is really on the line."Children of Earth," a five part miniseries, really redefines everything in the Torchwood universe. Still reeling from the aftermath of Season Two, the team must respond to an unknown threat that has Earth's children chanting forebodingly in unison. An alien force demands to be given ten percent of the children or they will destroy the planet. Not for the feint of heart, this is the darkest and scariest incarnation of the Torchwood mythology. With top echelon acting and huge dramatic moments, this was one of my three favorite programs of 2009. Telling this one harrowing tale over five episodes, the show reaches new heights in complex and emotional story telling. An absolute game changer, alternately loved and hated by series' fans, this miniseries is an absolutely incredible and unmissable event in my opinion--but it's not always pleasant!"Torchwood" is not a perfect show, but it is a favorite of mine. Simple reasons: Barrowman's Harkness is an awesome character, loads of humor and incredibly smart banter, characters that develop, the show gets progressively deeper and more emotional, production values are terrific for a TV show. It can still be viewed as somewhat of a controversial show, however, especially for its open attitude about sexual pairings--I personally, however, found that aspect refreshing. Season One ranks about 4 stars, Season Two about 4 1/2 stars, and Children of Earth is easily 5 stars--but I'm rounding up overall for my personal passion. Next up: Starz has "Torchwood: Miracle Day," a new series with Barrowman and Myles premiering in July. I have my doubts, but my fingers are crossed! KGHarris, 5/11.

Lindsey Peterson "starving scholar" Clarification: ALL seasons included. Contrary to some confused reviewers, all six seasons will be included in this collection. Since the newest season is not yet complete, they can not list a synopsis in the product description. That being said, Lost is the most original and creative television series of all time, and I'm sure this collection will be bursting with easter eggs and plenty of behind the scenes info for die hard fans.Also, the extra features are A-MAZING! There are so many easter eggs and fun mysteries to discover in the package itself! Really a fabulous Lost set, perfect for any fan of the show. I enjoyed this collection so much, don't miss out on a great piece of television history.

V. Toivonen You never know what you'll find on the island Received mine in the mail today. Incredible! There are a few surprises (which I will not spoil). There is one in particular that when you find it you won't be able to help but say to yourself (or to anyone else in the room at the time) "Oh, cool!" I make a humble plea to other reviewers to please, please keep those surprises intact for everyone else (shhhhh!). The island has its way of showing us things we do not expect.Lost is one of the most profound, rich, and esoteric series to be unleashed on network television since the Twilight Zone. If you are into the deeper questions of existence, existentialism, and the great mystery of good and evil you will not get answers here; but you will get fodder for the questions, and endless material for speculation. I think you have to be willing to leave some things to mystery in order to be satisfied. If you want quick, easy answers, and neat tidy endings - STAY AWAY!Lost is a journey that does not end with episode 16 of season six. Hey, I've seen every episode and I'm still on the journey. It is the series that will never end - for any of us who let it flow through our veins.The packaging is fantastic (one of the finest, most creative packages I have seen for complete TV series - and I own a lot of them. This beats my Complete Seinfeld Refrigerator all to hell.). The set is housed inside of a corrugated box inside of another outer display box, so it ships well. The only "flaw" I could find is that 2 or 3 disc in each season had a little glue on the edges. I have seen this in other complete season packages. What I do is pull the stuck discs firmly out of their slot and apply some lighter fluid to a soft cloth. Hold the saturated area of the cloth on the gluey edge for a few seconds, then wipe gently. The glue will slide right off.Ankh you very much to the creators of Lost, ABC studios, and everyone who had a hand in designing this set. - job well done. It was made to last a lifetime...perhaps many lifetimes.

Adam Sharples Cash cow and flogging a dead horse This DVD is a bit of a rip of to be honest. Many times I've read online forums and read copious preview blurbs stating that there was going to be a directors cut of this movie, restoring 40 minutes of blah...blah....blah...Yawn.You get 2 DVDs. The first disc is where you will find the ORIGINAL THEATRICAL VERSION. Yes you heard it right...THE ORIGINAL THEATRICAL VERSION. Gasp, how can this be, what about the deleted scenes....etc. Well, there are deleted scenes but they have not been put back into the movie, something which will be explained later on.I already had bought the first DVD release and was looking forward to seeing deleted scenes put back into the movie. This release IS better though as you get a very nice looking anamorphic version and you get DTS which sounds sweet. But this still is the original.The second disk contains a good making of documentary and some other supplemental behind the scenes stuff however the best part of this disk is the deleted scenes and after listening to the commentary it soon becomes apparent why there wont be a directors cut. Also the quality of these deleted scenes are terrible. The print is covered with pen markers and edit markers and looks like its been made by a first year film student.You find out that a lot of the "CUT" stuff was actually from different versions of the movie that was used during screenings to help gauge reactions from the audience and could no way be re-integrated into the film.Also, because this movie was made in the pre-DVD era the studio dumped a lot of the deleted stuff away as it was envisaged that none of this would ever see the light of day again. One example is the deleted crew torture sequence which was to be part of when weir was showing hell to fishburn. However this no longer exists on film and is only on poor quality video.So, to sum it up what you have here is this.1. A better looking and sounding version of the movie previously released (Nice DTS track!!!)2. An interesting commentary3. Some nice extras that put the rumours to bed about a directors cut.If you dont have the movie already then I would recommend you getting this one as this is probably the best version you will see until paramount release it in HD.

Stephanie Sandlin Much better than the previous spotlight reviews credit it for. Update: 1/23/06Some comments edited due to this writing being included in the spotlight reviews section.-end update-Event Horizon.First of all this isn't a perfect film. It is, however very good and worthy of purchase.Many other reviewers have savaged the film for being too slasher, too weak or open to intrepretation. I would offer many of them were expecting general science fiction not a bloodbath in space. The gore is what makes them take a step a back. The gore serves the story very well. Hell isn't a primrose path.Many other reviewers have covered the plot in detail. So I'll avoid being redundant in that aspect.What makes the movie good is that its a taunt piece of space horror. You hit the ground running almost immediately. Pacing and storyline are well done (amazing some people don't get the story details - made perfect sense to me). The set design and visuals are simply sublime. There is good character development. Sam Neill plays Dr. Weir to creepy perfection. The Event Horizon calling to him in his dreams by using his deceased wife is disturbing.Lawerence Fishborne as Miller delivers a good performance with edge.The other actors hold the story up well too.One of the other elements that makes the movie enjoyable is that it doesn't lay it all out for you. Sure, we see the hell the Event Horizon crew endured in limited blips. The movie lets your imagination run wild just how bad things got. I kept wondering to myself - ok its bad, but just *HOW* bad is it? Not until almost 3/4 of the way through do we get some answers as to the fate of the original crew.The ending also is open to intrepretation - makes you think. The short latin message recieved also built the story nicely too. "Liberate Tutame Ix Inferis..."In the end analysis, this movie is a combination of science fiction and horror. Its a uneasy marriage, as the combination isn't done very often (vs. regular sci-fi). To that end, many of the people who wanted to see science fiction got the unpleasant surprise that this was more of a hellraiser in space than a 'star trek.'It also didn't help with cinematic audiences that the cliched "good guy saves the day and himself" doesn't fly here. Good guy does save the day, but gets dragged into hell with Wier. Not a pleasant end for Miller.If you are a fan of both genres (scifi/horror) you'll enjoy this like I did. If you are more inclined towards sci-fi only this one probably isn't for you.Falls just short of brilliant in my opinion. The bashers need to be honest with thier tastes instead of bashing for gore. Event Horizon isn't Star Wars. EH accomplishes what is sought to do quite effectively.There are rumors of an extended edition with deleted scenes being re-edited in. Length is said to be over 2 hours. Lets get this out on the market!Not recommended of course for the kiddies either.****

L. R. Dana-kirby "Leslie Dana Kirby" Truly amazing! I've seen every episode of this series and think this is one of the rare reality shows with true value.The thing I love most about the show are the locations. It is the next best thing to traveling the world myself. Not only do I get to see multiple and varied locales, including many that I will likely never get to travel to myself, but the show producers also do a great job of finding the most unique adventures to complete in each area. I've learned more about world geography and different cultures than I ever learned in any classroom.It's also interesting to watch the interpersonal dynamics between teammates and between teams. I'd be lying if I didn't admit to finding the conflicts entertaining . . . and the stress of travel and competition does bring it out. But I always root for the teams that are nicest to each other.And it's rewarding to see how the intensity of the race truly brings teammates closer together by forcing them to work together and rely on one another.

JandM One of the Best One of the best seasons of The Amazing Race of all time. The players are interesting and since they've been here once, they get to apply what they learned to make the race more competitive. It is surprising the number of players that came from season 14 which is, IMO, the best season of The Amazing Race. However, be aware that this is one of the seasons where a team gets eliminated simply because all the teams share the answer to a road block without actually completing the task properly. I always hate that.I believe teams should be judged on what they do, not what other teams tell them, so I find it a blight on any season when teams gets to carry on without completing a task as designed.

This recording is worth buying if only to hear "Yes," a song wildly popular in Brazil, because it was featured in a well-known soap opera there. It is a true gem of a pop song. However, it is not even the best this album has to offer. "Body and Soul" boasts the soulful and unforgettable tunesmithing Tim Moore could probably do in his sleep. It is arguably the highlight of this polished pop-rock offering. One of Tim Moore's most covered songs, "Rock n Roll Loveletter" is redone here (it can also be found on "Behind The Eyes"). "Loveletter" should be the envy of pretty much every songwriter. Great lyrics, music, pacing and passion abound. If you get this CD, I guarantee you will find yourself listening to it often, and some of these catchy songs will be hard to forget.

The first one is more my pace, the second one is more modern and for the younger crowd I think.

John Robie Very addicting I started watching this great suspense action series in the middle of the second season. JJ Abrams continues to bring fresh stories with great plots and excellent cast especially Sarah Shahi as Samantha Shaw and Amy Acker as Root. I am really looking forward to watching the rest of the episodes. Meanwhile I have rewatched each episode I've seen at least 3-5 times. I am sooo addicted to this great series. Thanks Mr. Abrams for bringing this fantastic series to life.

Pie Grrrl You'll never find us, but victim or perpetrator, if your number's up... we'll find you". Many new concept shows capture the public's interest and develop quite a fan base their Freshman Year. But, if you have ANY decent experience with Sci-Fi or Dystopian series, you know that the vast majority of them fall flat on their Sophomore Faces! From Terra Nova, Heroes, Falling Skies, etc., some end at the 1st year, some limp along into the 2nd before cancellation, and then the unfathomable few struggle with the die-hard fans until the plug is pulled. (I've been one of those fans of all three examples.)So, when a series like PERSON OF INTEREST, which is described by some as a "Cop Procedural Show" can not only make it past the first year but into a second one, there's cause to celebrate! Yes, this IS a Cop Procedural Show but with so many subtle twists and turns to it. The first year was pretty basic: it introduced the viewers to the Core Four: Finch; Reese; Carter and Fusco. (no need to write about them if you're reading a 2nd season review). Each week there was a person of interest with a couple of over-lapping stories (Elias and HR); we learned some tiny nuggets about Reese's background, even less about Finc;, and the 1st season ended with both Carter and Fusco willingly wanting to help Reese/Finch...and The Machine (although they know nothing about it...yet!) A tense cliff-hanger, introducing Root, wrapped up the first year.Now, on it's 2nd Season, this show is even more spell-binding and captivating! I'll admit it: there are some shows so extraordinary in plot or subtle humour, that I've rewatched them over and over again, especially since CBS (the network that HATES their shows!) is pre-empting everything once again, for Sports or Award Shows.Unlike series such as MONK or THE MENTALIST (both of which I enjoy), not every.single.episode. is about "Trudy's Killer" or "Red John", which can just wear a viewer out. ~sigh~ Yes, Root is back, but in limited amounts. Same goes for Ellias, HR, Snow, and Kara, with some of the Big Bads actually being caught/found/killed or being incarcerated. It's GREAT to wrap up some of these loose threads; it bothers me to no end when there's just one GIANT loop that a show is based upon!Unlike Season One, which was incredible, Finch is loosening the Inner Secret Circle of Trust about just "what" Reese and he do, in regards to saving people. With the inclusion of Carter and Fusco full-time (actually added to the Season 2 cover!!!), this season also includes Leon, Zoe, and Shaw helping the Dynamic Duo out in many of their cases.And....(drum roll PLEASE!)...let us NOT forget the inimitable BEAR!!!! Originally rescued from some Aryan Brotherhood thugs, the introduction and retention of Bear just makes me love this show EVEN more! From Finch's initial grudging acceptance toward the dog, who held a rare first edition in his mouth upon initial meeting, Bear has become the

Herbert Nap "Herb" Best thing going on tv! I heard this show was for teeny boppers but took a chance and purchased season 1I am a recently retired Marine and after watching the first 5 minutes I was hooked!This show has drama,action,and great acting! This series is for adults and kids.Can't wait for season 2 to be released!

Julie Schmidt Best Show On TV this Season! I love this show. I have pre-ordered the season on Amazon, thus avoiding the computer generated blurbs, and commercials. The characters are wonderful, even though they are all gorgeous and money never seems to be a problem, and neither is curfew. College would have been a more realistic setting for the characters. Then again, its a series about vampires, werewolves, and witches, so a little more suspension of disbelief is not all that hard. This season starts right as the first ended, at the carnival. I anticipate each episode being better than the previous. I love re-watching the first season, you discover new details each time you watch them. Sit back and enjoy! If you live Twilight you will love this.

Sunny Dae The Devil Does Nothing No one would ever mistake "The Devil Wears Prada" for fine literature, but it was entertaining. Spoiled, entitled twenty something discovers that it's necessary to work hard to get what you want, while spoiled, entitled rich boss woman sees to it that she does work hard carrying out over the top ridiculous tasks. Whining ensues. The whining was kind of hard to take, but it was still fun to watch Andrea constantly have to jump through hoops to please Miranda, figuring that a year of this would be enough paying of dues to get her the prestigious editorial job she thought she deserved. The first book was such a success that I was kind of expecting a rehash of it for the sequel - but an entertaining rehash! That's not what I got.First of all, unlike the first-person "Devil," "Revenge" is written in third person, which is a bizarre choice that makes it seem very removed from the original book. I never quite felt as if I was reading about the same characters. The story itself is... well, not much. Really. I mean, NOTHING happens. It's ten years later and Andrea (now known as "Andy"), who spent the entirety of "Devil" looking down her nose at anything having to do with fashion is now the proud editor and co-founder of... a bridal magazine. Yeah. She still giggles adorably about how clueless she is about fashion, but just as in the first book, not a single character enters a scene without a lengthy description of their wardrobe - complete with the appropriate contempt directed at anyone who dares wear clogs or pantsuits. And she also manages to create and run an utterly too-too high fashion magazine.Andrea gets married in the first chapter to a wealthy society boy, and after making a few half-hearted attempts to look down her nose at the country club set, eagerly embraces her new lifestyle of weekends in the Hamptons and a ginormous NYC apartment. The "crushing secret" the book jacket promises is revealed within the first five pages. Max's mother has conveniently written her son a Jane Austen-esque letter in which she "beseeches" him not to marry Andrea, reminding him of what a great time he had when he (unbeknownst to Andrea) ran into his far more suitable, rich country club snob ex a few months ago, and which Max conveniently brings along to the wedding suite for Andrea to find. Andrea spends about half the book thinking Max has been cheating on her, and then that particular plot line disappears without a whimper.Andrea has stopped whining about work, but that's probably because she doesn't DO any. Apparently her job at the magazine is to fly to exotic locales on the dime of celebrity brides to be where she stays in luxury hotels, interviews the celebs for 15 minutes, and then gets a massage. Back home, she gets to the office two hours before anyone else, but no mention is made of what she actually does. At one point she does spend "hours" (really? Hours?) writing a press statement, but other than that her official job title appears to be Lady of Leisure.Most of the rest of the book is centered on Andrea's pregnancy, and the tacky maternity clothes she has to wear even after she gives birth, since she can no longer fit into the little black dress in a size 4. SIZE FOUR! Remember in "Devil" when she was a size 10? And she was 5'10 tall! How much does this woman weigh now? And yes, I said "woman", though the author continually refers to the now thirty-something Andrea and Emily as "girls." We skip randomly ahead a few months at a time until BOOM, Andrea is the devoted mother of a precious baby girl, who comes fully equipped with the perfect nanny.Emily (my favorite character in "Devil", seriously) is back, but has undergone a personality transplant. Alas, the haughty, brown-nosing ice princess is no more. She has morphed into a tough talking, chain-smoking business woman who replaces the conveniently displaced-to-Colorado Lily as Andrea's new BFF, as well as co-founder of the bridal magazine. Andrea's social circle also includes the women in her new-moms group, headed by the "hippie dippie" counselor that Andrea delights in leading the other moms in ignoring and mocking, in true Mean Girls style. Oh, and of course, her clothes suck, too. The group also includes a nanny who - say it with me - conveniently turns out to be the current girlfriend of Alex, Andrea's bland boyfriend from the first book for whom she has been pining away all these years.But what of Miranda Priestly, the titular "Devil" of the first book, and her "revenge"? You got me. The woman appears about three times, the first being halfway through the book. Out of the blue, she makes a multi-million dollar offer to acquire Andrea and Emily's magazine, since it's just that awesome. Emily is all over the idea, as is Andrea's husband, but a clause in the contract states that the full staff must stay on board for a year, which means they would be working for Miranda again. The idea...

S. McGee For die-hard fans of the original novel only was a delightful guilty pleasure and the perfect airplane/beach read: lightweight, fun and frothy, but still tightly structured and reasonably well written, so that it raced along and I followed eagerly. This sequel is, well, underwhelming, and perhaps inevitably so.When the novel opens, it has been ten years since Andy Sachs dumped her job and told the ultimate boss from hell, fashion editor Miranda Priestly, precisely what she could do with said job -- in the midst of the Paris fashion shows. But if you were expecting she'd go on to write thoughtful and analytical articles for the New Yorker, well, think again. Oddly enough, she has teamed up with her former nemesis, Emily Charlton, to launch a bridal magazine that is now two or three years old (there is some confusion with time at various points in the book: Andy's age is confused at least twice, while at an anniversary party for the magazine, attendees can't seem to agree on whether it's three or four years old...) One of the big splashy weddings the magazine is set to cover is Andy's own, to publishing company heir Max Harrison. But on the eve of the wedding, Andy makes what is to her a chilling discovery (to the reader, it's odd: a letter she broods over yet never discusses with her husband?) that signals there just might be trouble in paradise.This sequel is amusing fluff, but it's too rambling to have as much charm as the original: the author can't seem to decide whether she is writing about Andy's relationship with Max, with Emily, or about Miranda -- and so she tackles all three simultaneously. Some of the twists and turns are improbable -- why does Max take the stance that he does about the fate of "The Plunge", knowing full well what the wife he claims to adore feels? We never really learn. And that is just one example of spots where the author seems to have done a hasty job with this sequel. There is still plenty of voyeuristic glee at Miranda's behavior to be had here -- but it's not really all that different from what we saw in the first book. And while there is plenty of snark about celebrity weddings, the fashion biz and the excesses of hedge fund gazillionaires, the sequel offers relatively little in the way of compelling material or fresh satire. Andy really doesn't seem to have altered that much: she hasn't lived up to our expectations and still is vulnerable to criticism about her wardrobe and terrorized by Miranda; Emily, as the reader sees clearly from page one, is still the same fashion-obsessed woman with odd priorities as before; Max is sweet but a cardboard cutout of a character; when he acts, it's unexpected as he has become such a bland/generic kind of individual. It almost as if the author has to have some of her characters do certain things in order to get Andy to where she wants her to be by the end of the novel, however improbable the actions or coincidences that lead her there.If you're a fan of the original, by all means read this to see what happens next to those characters. Just don't expect it to be nearly as satisfying or laugh-out-loud-oh-my-god funny.Full disclosure: I received a promotional copy of the book from the publishers at BEA/BookExpo.

Wendy A. Bowers "Tumbleweeds87124" I'M IN LOVE WITH THIS SERIES Prior to purchasing the first four seasons of Desperate Housewives I had never watched any of the episodes on TV. By the commercials I had seen though I had a feeling it would be something I'd like. Recently I've taken the time to watch all four seasons and I'm chomping at the bit now waiting for Season five. I don't know how I'll make it all the way to September!!!This show is different than most, at least to me. I thought it was going to be more of a "Soap Opera" type but it's more of a drama with comic undertones. It'll make you laugh mostly, make you cry sometimes and make you sit there with your mouth hanging open thinking "I can't believe she did that!".I find this series thoroughly enjoyable and addictive!!

Housewives Connoisseur How is this season so low-rated? I'm having a difficult time understanding why this season is rated so much lower than all the rest. First of all, Desperate Housewives is one of the most consistently good shows on TV and every season is solid. However, season five is special in that it revamped and refreshed the series by beginning five years ahead of where season four left off. This technique provides the viewer with a slew of new storylines:Susan: In season five, we find Susan and Mike divorced after a terrible incident tears them apart. Connected through their five year old son, Susan and Mike struggle with old feelings while beginning new relationships, Susan with her much younger house painter and Mike with Katherine Mayfair.Lynette: Tom and Lynette continue to struggle raising their four children, specifically their teenaged twins Porter and Preston. On top of that, Tom finds himself in a midlife crisis and Lynette discovers the woes of returning to the world of advertising at age 50.Bree: No longer a mere housewife, Bree is now an established cookbook author and businesswoman, owning her own catering company with Andrew and Katherine by her side. However, success comes with a price as she struggles to maintain her marriage to Orson, now a former convict.Gabby: The beginning of season five finds Gabby as a harried mother of two young girls; now a house frow, she is far from the glamorous fashion model she once was. When Carlos regains his sight, Gabby and Carlos find themselves at a crossroads as they begin to simultaneously adopt and question their former lifestyle.Edie: After being banished from Wisteria Lane five years prior, Edie returns with a new husband in tow. This husband is at the center of season five's mystery, as he has manipulated Edie into moving back to the lane so he can exact revenge on several main characters.In all honesty, the only critique I have of this season is the mystery. In fact, I didn't find it to be all that mysterious, as I figured pretty much the entire thing out the night the premiere aired. It still remains, however, an interesting storyline to watch unfold.There you have it. If you enjoyed seasons 1-4 of Housewives, you should definitely enjoy this. It's my second favorite season after season two, which interestingly enough was also unpopular among many fans. Negative reviews aside, this is an extremely solid season with captivating storylines and the same mix of comedy and drama we have come to expect from the show. To avoid spoilers for those of you who haven't seen the season yet, I'll just say that the finale gives us many things to look forward to in the fall, as each housewife's life takes an interesting turn.Hope this helps,Justin M. Green

Cletus R. Petus Just music, nothing more . . . No heroin habit, no personal inconsistencies to make his life overly complicated and dramatic, no expatriation to Paris or religious fads to sell, no distinguishing anything. Johnny Smith lets his playing do the talking. No one ever played the guitar better. No album has ever been more about the music, and less about peripheral things. Now you know who Johnny Smith is, listen to him and hear the truth behind the myth which says "It's all about the music."

Clayton Chan Pure, clean, unadulterated artistry In modern times, Johnny Smith has become unappreciated and forgotten for the superb artistry he displayed as a jazz guitarist-maestro. Listen to Moonlight in Vermont. It is unique for its combination of pithy feeling and technical virtuosity. Technically, Smith burns on single-note leads and soothes with inventive chord melody playing. Perhaps his style sometimes borders on being too precious and precise, but this is trifling criticism. His style comes from the "cool" school of jazz (Lennie Tristano, et al.), but he imbues his music with too much controlled emotion to be called purely "cool." Also, fine tenor sax work from Stan Getz and Zoot Sims serve as excellent complements to Smith's fretboard excursions. A must have CD for any fan of true, original jazz guitar (eg, fans of Jimmy Raney, Wes Montgomery, Tal Farlow, Joe Pass, Kenny Burrell, Barney Kessel, Herb Ellis, etc.).