The Fireside

The GAME OF THRONES panel in Hall H at 1:40 p.m. will be moderated by Craig Ferguson . The panel will include: David Benioff and D.B. Weiss , executive producers, writers and showrunners of GAME OF THRONES , and George R.R. Martin , co-executive producer and author of the bestselling fantasy book series “ A Song of Ice and Fire ,” on which the HBO drama is based. Cast members scheduled to attend (in alphabetical order): John Bradley (Samwell Tarly), Gwendoline Christie (Brienne of Tarth), Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister), Natalie Dormer (Margaery Tyrell), Kit Harington (Jon Snow), Rose Leslie (Ygritte), Rory McCann (Sandor “The Hound” Clegane), Pedro Pascal (Oberyn Martell), Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark) and Maisie Williams (Arya Stark). Autograph signing is at the WB booth at 3:30 p.m. See that? George R.R. Martin...wonder if he will announce the next book [crosses fingers]. If you do meet and talk with George, please be nice. I just mean bear in mind t...

From amc: Relive the addiction from the beginning. The #BreakingBadBinge begins August 10 on AMC and will include never-before-seen bonus content and cast interviews. That's all and well, but seeing as I don't own cable or sat, etc, I will be watching my complete series blu-ray box set. I hadn't watched it since I gotten it, so August 10 (a year after the final set of episodes began airing?) seems like a great opportunity to do so.  Anyone wishing to participate to in the Breaking Bad rewatch, fire up your discs, que up Netflix or itunes, or tune in to amc for hopefully a giant re-watch.  Or if you never watched the series, start then.  

The Emmy nominations have been announced, and here they are, with my thoughts: Drama series Breaking Bad , AMC Downton Abbey , PBS Game of Thrones , HBO House of Cards , Netflix Mad Men , AMC True Detective , HBO All of these are great choices!! Comedy series The Big Bang Theory , CBS Louie , FX Modern Family , ABC Orange Is the New Black , Netflix Silicon Valley , HBO Veep , HBO I think Orange is the New Black will take it. Actor, drama series Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad (AMC) Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom (HBO) Jon Hamm, Mad Men (AMC) Woody Harrelson, True Detective (HBO) Matthew McConaughey, True Detective (HBO) Kevin Spacey, House of Cards (Netflix) Oooh tough call..... Bryan Cranston, either of the Detectives , or Kevin Spacey will win.  Actress, drama series Lizzy Caplan, Masters of Sex (Showtime) Claire Danes, Homeland (Showtime) Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey (PBS) Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife (CBS) Kerry Washington, Scandal (ABC) Robin W...

Wow. This is it.  Today, I've turned 30 years old. I don't feel any older, but I remember when my Dad turned 30, and when you remember yours parents the same age as you, THEN it makes you feel a bit older.  So tonight I'm gathering my closest and bestest and heading out for drinks and supper at a pub. We're going to celebrate the occasion, but nothing too fancy or eventful. Perhaps my 40th will have a bit 'more' to it. Then again, in a few months I am going to the UK. My sister is also getting married, so there's causes for celebration throughout the year.  When I was younger I was hoping to have more accomplished by this milestone. This is by no means a bad thing. This was before I even started college, and before the recession etc. Also, before I decided to write.  I am thankful for being to make it to this milestone. I have been in one or two car accidents (not of my causing, nor was I driving, one was a really close call), and then there...

For the first time in a while, A Wheel of Time was genuinely a good book. I know I've given them each high scores, but this one is definitely a solid work. There is some great resolution happening here (about time, this is book 12 of 14!) and it was good to see so many things happen in this book. I didn't notice the hand-over from Jordan to Sanderson too much. You can pick up bits here and there, but this definitely feels like a Wheel of Time book...just one of the better ones. Also, I like that 'Gathering Storm' to me, has two meanings. This is a good, strong wheel of Time book, and is one of the series' strongest, and the strongest in years.   Onward! I give this one .... 4/5

I'm a newcomer to the Elder Scrolls series. I've tried Morrowind way back in the day (my introduction to the series) but never got around to getting my own copy, or playing too far into it.  I did manage to get the Game of the Year Edition for Oblivion, The Elder Scrolls IV .  Due to the openess of the world, it was hard to determine how far into it my first time playing. Also, I was learning to play as I went, so my gaming approach was quite sparodic in regards to quests etc.  Lately though, I've fired the game up again. Now that I know how to play, I have a better handle and tighter focus on the game. Rather than going too open and crazy, I'm 'loosely' following the main quest.  I am playing as a Breton 'adventurer' (spellsword, battlemage..) basically, using magic for attack and healing (attack as opposed to bows, and for my ranged attacks) but using light / leather armour, and a one-handed melee weapon and no shield. I'm also seeking...

The second season of Hell on Wheels was quite good, and a worthy follow up to the episodes of the first season. This season felt more whole and complete, as the main characters interacted with each other a lot more often, and each episode felt like a part of a greater, in a novelistic sense, rather than, well, episodic.  The acting, writing, and production continues to be in top-form.  There are some dramatic moments, but not quite as dramatic or slow paced as the first season. There are also some moments of suspense and action which are quite good. and entertaining. The star of the show continues to be Anson Mount, while the other actors have improved over the first season. Perhaps it could be the writing or direction, as well. I admit, this isn't the best show on TV, but it is definitely one of the most underrated shows. It continues to grow and improve, and bring something new yet familiar to the western genre. I'm looking forward to more episodes, and hope tha...