superdadTV

Reports have been coming up everywhere that Time Warner owned by Viacom, a really big dawg in entertainment, is threatening to cut off customer programming in several states. The programming media giant could and will actually cut up to 18 networks from their conglomerate by January 1st 2009. Some of the networks included are MTV, VHI, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, SpikeTV to name a few along with their subsidiaries.

If you are living in these areas and want to speak your case for these quality networks, then here are two numbers where you can voice your opinion especially if you are a carrier of these cable networks. One is for Time Warner Cable customers and the other is Brighton House Networks. TWC is 1-800-762-3786 & BHNC is 1-866-309-3279. Demand they keep these channels!

Once again this a is a money matter of course in these bad financial times that is being reported and that Time Warner and Viacom want more money from their programming shares on these channels. Fight for the producers, writers, animators, actors, even the millions of viewers that watch these shows and everyone that will be affected by this change. Make your voice count and get this mess to stop if you care for any of these channels and networks, that have been around for a full generation’s time.

Better get your long johns on for this one!The Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers game tonight will be a preview of the upcoming New Years Day hockey game at Wrigley Field. If you love cold winter football games this may be the coldest in regular season history. The three in the booth tonight for MNF might need to cuddle a little closer to stay warm. The oldest rivalry in football might have to add this one to a another big game in both of these teams’ rich history

The Packers might be ready for this more than the Bears because about a year ago as most of these Packers players played in one of the coldest playoff games in NFL history in the NFC Championship game. The edge may lean on them a little but the wind chill will definitely make it feel colder than perhaps that game. Yet, the Bears are playing for their playoff lives after the Minnesota Vikings failed to win the NFC North division yesterday.

I will be watching for Devon Hester to break this one open as this guy is due for a big game. Even with Daniel Manning, playing like a super hero lately, watch for Hester to take over in “Prime Time.” You know Deon Sanders is calling Hester about this game and he could be a difference maker in this one.

This game would be fun to go to, however I happily will be staying nice and warm under my blanket sipping on some hot chocolate with marshmallows, oh yeah.! Hold on a sec, I think Lance Briggs is knocking on my door and says he will kick my ass for saying that statement. Go, Bears and payback will be sweet as the Bears look for revenge after a 37 to 3 loss just over a month ago.

Tired of Reality TV. Tired of watching the same thing on every network. The you need to check out the Office on NBC. This has been one of my favorite shows since the begining and have seen every episode since it’s inception. I just cannot get enough of this show.

Steve Carrel is the king of comedy and his golden globe nomination is well deserved as the king pin at Dunder Mifflin. I love the inner office realtionships and tension some of those relationships create within the show. If you just saw the Christmass episode you will now what I am talking about poor, Andy. Phyllis and Angela might have to throw down after the secret of all secret’s has now been exposed, while Dwight is not surprised.

Tonight on the Office you can catch a peek at the episode that helped earn the Office a Golden Globe nomination for Best Comedy.

On another note about this great show is that the website for the Office, might be the best site ever created for a television show. Everyone on this show chips in on this great site and so the laughter does not have to end at the end of every show on Thursday nights, as well as Tuesday nights on TBS.

If you are stuck in the rut and need some laughs the Office will surely deliver. If you are new to the show then it may take a few episodes to get the crazy concept. However anyone whoever worked in a office like this can relate to the now stop humor the show deleivers.

Lastly, I belevie this show will be the next Friends the next Seinfeld and next big hit for NBC. 30 Rock is great as well and Tina Fey is on fire lately but I beleive the Office will remain NBC’s best show on Thursday night.

“That’s what she said!” LOL.

These days it seems there are cartoons for every age. If your lucky enough to have BabyTV for your newborn that stuff is great, but that might not be an option for you and your family.

First and for most you got to get your kids going with PBSKIDs. I know you have been aware of this programming all of your life but it still sets the standard for quality children’s programming. Seseme Street is better than ever dealing with subjects like bringing in new babies to your life, too learning how to share. Then on PBS there are new shows as well with shows like Super Why, Word World and Curious George, one of my favorites, which are great for boys. I could of used SuperWhy when I was a kid myself. For girls, there is Word Girl as well.

Once your kids get a little older and more curious and if you are fortunate that you have cable or satellite television then you get into a lot more stations and shows to deal with. Most important thing to remember out of all of this is you are in control of the remote as the parent. If you do not like a show then just stop watching before you think your boys or girls are hooked.

In my opinion, I am not a big fan of shows like Power Rangers because one, there is a lot of fighting which can sometimes send a wrong message saying its okay to hit you brother or sister. For older kids it’s a little better for promoting good fitness but for the younger ones I am not sure what it teaches. Children love animation with super heroes and weird pika-choos but when they see actual kids fighting it almost promotes the act. The last thing you need as a parent is taking your child to the doctor becuase your toddler got hurt playing too rough.

In my mind Nickelodeon and Cartoon network are better than what we used to have back in the day. Nick Jr has shows like Go Diego Go for the boys and Dora the Explorer for the girls but if they are young enough like say 2 to 4 it really makes no differnce what thye watch. I try to stay with my boy cartoons but do not be surprised if your boys start watching shows like My Life As a Teenage Robot. Which is a cartoon on Nick Toons where the main character is girl robot but since it is a robot the boys like the show and that might be alright for a little while. However the best show for kids right now on Nick Jr and Noggin is Yo Gabba Gabba.

Yo Gabba Gabba is a mix between Sesame Street, Soul Train, and Picture Pages with Bill Cosby. It is a newer show that came out about a year ago and if your kids love to move to music, like watching other kids do weird stuff and just enjoy DJ Lance’s batch of odd furry creatures. This show is an example of the future of children’s television and they really got a hit on there hands at Nick Jr.

Now you know, I cannot talk children’s TV without mentioning SpongeBob SquarePaints. Yes, I know for the little ones some shows are little too much however, it is hard to stay away when this show is on so much. There is a cleverness behind the show that just brings more and more fans all the time. Mostly because adults like the show as well as myself. Plus I just love the characters which many of us can relate to in our real world. Do not tell me that there are no one in your life that resemble Mr Krabs, Squidward or Patrick Star. You are lying if said “no.”

Cartoon Network was small compared to what it is today. This network can be misleading because at times the shows are for older kids and even adults. At night time this becomes Adult Swim and you know what I am talking about when I mention that series of shows.  For example “Robot Chicken.” “No” I do not let my kids watch Family Guy or even the Simpsons for that matter just because they are intended for teenagers and adults and you can debate me all you want on that one. I am a fan of those shows its just too much for the little ones.

Moreover Cartoon Network still has quality programming for kids. Shows like Chowder is great and is different in there attempt to get kids excited about different foods. Foster’s House of Imaginary Friends is very funny and makes you think back when you were imagining all of the time as a child. The Adventure of Billy Mandy and Grim is a little more scary but with kids these days they are not scared by much and in actuality they get excited more than they get scared. Monsters are always a big hit for kids in my opinion.

All of these shows I mentioned are not exactly the best for everyone, however you be the judge and let your kids explore a little. I know we all just want to put on Sesame Street every day but even kids need a break form that sometimes. It is alright to have a little more fun and live a little from time to time. Why you say? Kids have a lot more to worry about than watching bad cartoons and you know as a kids you loved to watch shows that were not exactly for your age as well. I am not push over parent I just beleave in the fact that you can teach your child and be more involved with them with their television as long as you explain what they are watching. Most of the time with young children they are just excited to see than to understand what they are seeing. Just be more involved is what I am saying and they will be fine.

Who would of thought that watching six to seven smelly guys at a poker table is any fun. Well I am first tell you that it really is not that bad and not what you think.

In actuality the many games of poker has blown up in popularity in this country by increase participation, especially with the younger generations and females as well.

With new technology sites like FullTilt Poker.com and Poker Stars.net anyone can really learn the many games of poker. Online poker has been a huge hit and continues to grow everday. Plus with actual payouts with no added fees to your account you are almost foolish not to at least try and learn.

It seems with the way the times are everyone is looking for the quick fix for cash and what better way by playing Texas Hold’em Poker or Omaha Hi/Lo. The one thing that worries me is maybe to many of us are trying to get that quick fix and not really learning the games as what they are intended for the player.

Poker is a game and just like any game people can and will manipulate or use their own rules to try to make an advantage for themselves. It seems sometimes I am playing online texas holdem and some people just use stupid but sometime a smart way of playing. For example that one player at your table that plays every hand and raises every time he or she bets. These people are most likely novices to the game or perhaps scams because they believe most of the time they will just push people off the table because they just bully pots every chance they get. This maybe a smart idea for someone trying to scam a game online but for the real poker player we all know this is not the right gamesmanship you should show at any poker table. I guarantee that many of these players would not last ten minutes at an actual poker table, where you may get your legs broken afterwards, if you decided to bully the pot on every hand. Remember this, the house or dealer will not tolerate it as well as Poker does have rules that everyone should learn to keep the game at its highest purity.

So in summary what does this have to do with TV? Right now many channels are airing actual poker tournaments and you can learn a lot just watching a few hands. ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Classic, to name a few, all show many hours of the most popular tournaments around the world including events like the Main Event World Sereis of Poker. That is maybe the most popular among the newer faces of poker because it almost works like a US OPEN Golf Tournament where any amateur can get in and play for the grand prize of millions of dollars. So the next time you are watching poker on TV make sure you say to yourself that could be me one day all you got to do is play. Lastly, Danny Negraneau you are my favorite, you are the man when it comes to poker and the reason why I learned to play.

Wednesday night TV is not one of the best night’s for TV in my opinion, but do not let that stop you trying some new shows. Starting at 7:30 after the Adventures of Old Christine on CBS, which is pretty good as well, is the show Gary Unmarried.

Jay Mohr is a recent divorce and new bachelor who might be able to shake his wife for a more masculine like stance on life but not his whole family. This comedy is a change of pace from all of the Reality TV. Jay Mohr is a funny guy in a role that fits him well. Try it out I know I will give it a peek myself. Tonight Gary helps his family with some first experiences that every family goes through in their daily lives.

However, if you are just craving more reality, which I know many are, as always, a new show on FOX is different, called Secret Millionaire at 7 central. This is where millionaires disguise themselves as poor people and try living as if they were poor. They trick everyone as the new people on the block and experience a little more of how it is to be poor which many of these millionaires have never been accustomed to in the real world. The show may seem a little staged but in the end the secret millionaires pay the sum of a 100,000 dollars to each of those living in these poor communities. Tonight a millionaire couple goes to the city of Watts in California to surprise another community with their giving . Should be good!

My last suggestion would be the Snoop Dog’s Fatherhood on E. They are showing two episodes starting at nine central of the new season that just started. It may be like a lot of the other celebrity family shows, which have gotten a little out of hand lately. We can all thank the Osbournes for that, but this is Snoop Dog. No he is not smoking pot the whole time, he actually has a family that he tries to do good for and keep them in the right direction. Snoop Dog might not be your typical Bill Cosby but he does try to be a good father, at least on camera. Off camera that might be another topic for another day. If you enjoy shows like Run’s House and Coolio’s Rules you should like this one as well.

If you do not like any of these picks then go back to you Private Practice, your Bones, CSINY because I know that there are many out there asking, “what about those shows.” I am not telling you to stray away from your crime dramas and love drams, but come on, you know those shows are not like real life. Either is reality TV for that fact as well but as least you are trying new things. In these tough times sometimes you just got to laugh away or feel good to get away from that hard day you just had and realize that life does not have to be so serious.

“Christmas Vacation”-The one movie that still has a certain glow to it. Chevy Chase is at his best and this may be a close second behind “Vacation” as his best ever. Cousin Eddie, I think everyone can relate to someone like this in your family. You will think twice about hosting your family at Christmas after this movie.

“Planes Trains and Automobiles” The best Thanksgiving movie by far. John Hughes was a master of his domain in the 1980’s and this one is a classic. One of my favorite John Candy movies of all time.

“Home Alone” None of the sequels or any of the spin offs can even come close to the original. The other day we watched and my two kids could not get enough. Yes, McCully Culken may be grown now and far from the little boy we saw in this movie, but this is a money maker for him, for generations to come.

“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” Either the original cartoon or the full movie by Ron Howard. Both are instant classics and you better get it, the kids will love it. Jim Carrey is a perfect Grinch in the movie and the Anthony Hopkins voice over fits perfectly. Do not miss this one.

“Family Man” Nicholas Cage is more known for his big action and his other wacky roles however this story is very original and good. It is more for the adults but, has it’s own kid moments. Jack may be found in many of us when, we forget about the good things that we sometimes take for granted.

“ELF” Will Farrel is the perfect elf in this Jon Favreau classic. If you are tired of the basic Christmas premise then this one will make you laugh and cry a little too. “Elf” is great if you need a good laugh around the Holidays. James Caan as the Elf’s real dad, that was some good casting, and a great match.

“The Santa Claus” I don’t know about you but Tim Allen in the first “Santa Claus” was really good. The rest of the movies can take a seat as the first was by far the best. The story is great for fathers and sons whose family might not be as close as they once were.

“GREMLINS”It might be a little scary for the little ones but if they can handle watching many of the other scary movies out there today then “Gremlins” is a breeze. This is a funny original movie made a little worse when the second one came out. Gizmo and Stripe rock the holiday house every year.

“The Ref” If you love comedy then Denis Leary will make you laugh in this one. Think he is bad in the “Rescue Me” show on FX, then you have never seen him in the “Ref.”. The movie is only good for the adults as there is a lot of adult oriented humor. When you try to kidnap an already disturbed family let the fireworks fly.

“Fred Claus” I have not seen this yet, but it is on my Christmas list. Big fan of Vince Vaughn and Paul Giamoti and Paul is one of the most under rated actors in the business today. He always plays’ the right character for the movie he is in.