Well, it was good while it lasted. Well, no, it wasn’t. Despite the inclusion of Nathan Fillion, I wasn’t interested in watching it. I watched the first two episodes and I thought “meh”. I guess Fox shared my opinion. Not that Fox is a great judge of what’s awesome. Firefly anyone? Me, on the other hand, well… I don’t know how to tell you this, but I’m kind of a big deal.

Anyway, according to Ausiello of TV Guide:

Drive has been impounded.

Multiple sources confirm that Fox has axed the Tim Minear creation after less than three weeks on the air. I’ll go out on a limb and say the show’s crappy ratings were to blame. House encores will take over its Monday/8 pm time slot.

There is one piece of good news: I’m hearing the final two unaired Drive eps may get burned off on consecutive Fridays in May.

UPDATE: Fox now says the final two Drives will air this summer, specific date TBA.

Heh. “Impounded”. Oh, I get it. ‘Cause Drive is all about cars and racing! What a riot. Five dollars says there will be also “Drive Crashes and Burns!” Bye-bye, Cap’n! See you next pilot!

Grade: B-

I really enjoyed the previous book in this series and was looking forward to this one. I was intrigued by the premise of a high-born lady falling in love with the peasant man who manages her estate and was curious as to how Ms. Hoyt would have the two leads overcome the class and societal boundaries. After I finished this book, I set it down and thought, “The heroine’s Earl brother is okay with his sister marrying a commoner? Really? And everyone’s okay with the little sister knowing that her older sister sneaks in at night to the steward’s cottage? Really?” Not that I’ve ever been a stickler for historical accuracy —hell, I don’t know any better— but what attracted me to this story in the first place is the seemingly insurmountable obstacle of societal rules. She’s nobility! He’s poor! She’s got tons of cash! He’s got one really old horse! Everyone’s okay with it? Really? Luckily, George and Harry were terrific characters and really made the book for me. I could have gone without George suddenly becoming a total idiot in the last two chapters for “conflict,” but honestly, the rest of the book was good times all around. Good times, I tell you!

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Grade: A-

[Ed. Note: Is it Dean Winchester on the cover or am I just crazy?]

Authors are either getting better at gauging what I like, or I’ve just gotten a good crop of submissions in the last few weeks. At any rate, Dirty Shame rocked. I know the conventions say not to write about people in famous professions like rock stars, actors, etc, but this story worked for me. Among other gifts, Ms. March has knack for smart banter in dialogue.

Josephine (Joey) Fiorello is a short brunette in a world of tall, leggy Barbie types. She wants to make a living as an actress, but there isn’t enough “character” work to keep her from starving and she doesn’t qualify as a leading lady. Because she doesn’t fancy being homeless, she interviews for a job as a personal assistant.
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When I’m not reading a book or banging my head against my desk ’cause I’m in the middle of a WIP and can’t find that word, I lay on the couch and watch movies. I love movies. I love horror films, comedies, foreign films, hella old films, cartoons… and damn, I love indy films. There are certain movies I can’t catch while they’re still in the theater because they’re usually limited release and only play in LA and New York (damn it!)… oh and movies I want to watch, but… uh… am embarrassed to get in line for (like some dumb Will Ferrell movie) and that’s why Netflix is… in my opinion… the best fucking thing to ever happen to me. I mean, next to Samhain buying Skin to Skin and all. Man, those guys are awesome. Anyway… here are the first 13 movies on my Netflix queue this week.

1. Curse of the Golden Flower
2. The Emperor and the Assassin
3. Solo Con Tu Pareja
4. Smokin’ Aces
5. Volver
6. Ratas Ratones Rateros
7. Penny Dreadful
8. The Hamiltons
9. Unrest
10. Unknown White Male
11. The Promise
12. Creep
13. Masters of Horror: Pelts

(Extra Bonus Round!)

What Netflix tells me I have at home:
1. The Gravedancers
2. My Brilliant Career
3. A Guide to Recognizing your Saints

P.S. Off-topic, but here is a nice little rant by Shiloh Walker on the whole Sex vs Story dealie. I’ve been wanting to write about it for some time, but I’m not eloquent enough for it. Heh. It’s a good one. Thanks, Shiloh!

I’ve never read anything by Jo Beverley. Or have I… Wait, I think I have. It had a red cover and I think it was called The Rogue. And the hero was named Dare. Or I’m getting her confused with Mary Jo Putney. Damn these series books.

For generations, the Cave family has been marked by scandal, madness, and violence. But after earning a reputation for bravery in the army, Horatio Cave, the new Viscount Darien, has come home to charm London society and restore the family name. He means to start with the lovely Lady Thea Debenham.

The magnetism between them is immediate— and enraptured Thea knows this is no innocent flirtation. But can she trust the dark, sexy “Vile Viscount”? Even if she can convince herself, she may not be able to convince her family, particularly her brother Dare—the most dashing member of the Company of Rogues— that Horatio does not deserve the cursed Cave reputation…

Man, I hope this book isn’t filled with in-jokes about the series and I’d be able to get it even though I’ve never read the preceding books. I just like the cover. It’s pretty. Sure, she looks like she’s got a really bad migraine and I’m just itching to run a brush through her hair— I bet it’d cackle like crazy with static electricity —but damn… I just really like the colors. Royal red and gold… and oh, my! Is that a hint of violet on the horizon there? Yes, it is! How exciting! Wow, I should so reduce my Benadryl intake.

P.S. I don’t think “Vile Viscount” is a good nickname, even though it alliterates and stuff. It just doesn’t go with “dark” and “sexy”. Maybe “dark”, but not so much sexy. Maybe his less than erudite friends called him “Vomitous Viscount” behind his back. Man, those guys are dicks. Or, you know, maybe he got busy and stuff with the ladies while he was out fighting wars and his nickname was the “Venereal Viscount”. Hawt.