The days are growning shorter, which is always rather sad to me. I love the long days of summer. This particular summer flew by and without a lot of hoopla. There have been a couple of quick, day trips close to home and that's about it. Otherwise, it's been the same old same slog through the months. That said, this summer has had one dynamic aspect to it....there was actually some fantastic summer tv. It's been since Einstein was a boy that we've had really "unplug the phone, put out the dog" tv. This year had it in spades. There were a couple of returning summer programs that rarely disappoint, but the real kicker this year were all the new and exciting summer shows. My particular favorites this summer have been Saving Grace, Hotel Babylon, Mad Men, Burn Notice, Top Gear, Torchwood, and Damages. If there are that half that many shows during the fall/spring season that I wait for breathlessly, I feel fortunate. These have all been this summer! Incredible!

What's so encouraging about most of the dramas listed here, is just how original they are and how they push the envelope of what we're used to seeing on most dramas. It's such a treat to watch a show where you hear people saying things you don't usually hear on network tv. Original, entertaining and edgy conversations and stories. What a concept!!!

The comedy or comedy/drama shows have been cleverly written and seem brighter and more engaging than the usual, too.

All in all, even though I barely moved outside my house this summer, I feel like I had a great vacation sitting in the living room with some fabulous and compelling tv.

I've been thinking a lot lately about service and "the public". This came after a number of particularly odd occurances. Recently I saw a sign on an establishment, "starting next week we'll be closed on Saturdays - to serve you better." I remember having one of those "huh?" moments. They're closing on Saturdays to serve you better. How exactly does that work?? There was no notice of staying open later to make up the difference, nor was there any indication anything was changing except they had another day off from work. Now, far be it for me to mind anyone time off from work, but in what way is this serving "me" better?? Were they promising to work ever harder once they are there?? Are they promising to be nicer, more efficient, or are they intending to lower their prices??? Not that I saw. Just makes you wonder sometimes. It harkens back to one of my favorite moments from the movie, "Back to the Future". The movie was shot in 1985, and by then we were smack in the "self service" craze of all things. In the film, Marty is in the past and sees a car pull into a filling station. Close to 3, emaculately dressed attendants rush out (wearing clean white uniforms with little bow ties firmly in place), to give this car the once over. One was checking tires, one filling the gas and the other was checking under the hood. Even then, this caused the audience I was with to gasp and laugh in unison. It was as foreign to all of us, as if they'd been in walking upside down. The idea of that kind of service is just a long memory away.

Now, to the public.....whoever said they loved working with the public, was either kidding themselves or they were filling out a job application. I can say this, because I've done it for many years. Don't get me wrong.....I like the public, the public are great....but they can be a royal pain in the b***, too. Somewhere (I think it harkens back to the 80's again), people started "looking out for Numero Uno", and it stuck. Boy, did it stick! Now, everyone has road rage, taps their foot in irritation if they have to wait, cut in line, grab, crab and jab! The amount of irritation in the most minor inconvenience and you'd think they had to cross the Grand Canyon down one side and up the other dragging a canoe behind them. Enough with the complaining when you happen to be 3rd in line. Just get over yourself!

I feel better already, thank you very much.

Just when I thought this would be a total wash-out of a weekend. When I was parched, hot, and angry at the world in general.....I stopped into my neighborhood Starbucks and two miracles occurred. One, was that the new McCartney cd Starbucks is pushing was not playing in the store, and two.....they have a new Raspberry Mocha Frappaccino. That has got to be one of the closest moments to heaven before I depart this world!

Ahhh.....things seem much better with a high count of butter fat.

We've come to the end of another season of tv, and this year was rather disheartening. By the end of this season, not only had some favorites really disappointed me, but a few newcomers were falling by the wayside. We can never hope that our opinions of any show or actor/actress will translate into the national psyche. However, it is really disappointing when a show that is original and interesting isn't picked up for any of a million reasons....none of them we're really privy to.

The year started out with a bang with all my favorites and a few of the newbies. Here is an overview of what I saw last season.

A new fall entry, Smith, played almost like a feature film. It was classy and daring, and gone in three weeks. Apparently, we really don't like to root for the "bad guys."

Justice, was one of the few shows that featured defense attorneys. It had a great cast, and we got to see (regardless of who won the case), how the murder actually occured. It was clever, and it gave the audience a sense of closure that we don't always see.

Raines was just a royal hoot! Jeff Goldblum was mesmerizing in the role and had just the right sense of integrity and intellect to solve the case. His hallucinations of the victims was a brilliant idea of the screenwriters.

3 lbs. had the makings of an intriguing new medical drama. You can't go too wrong with Stanley Tucci, IMO. I rather liked his colleagues, too. Again, a few weeks and it was gone. One bright spot here is Tucci went on to join ER in it's final few episodes this year and was fabulous. Men in Trees was a light, frothy treat. I was sure they wouldn't return this show, but I'm awfully glad they are. Hopefully, to a better night and hour.

Ugly Betty turned out to be one of the few new shows that I followed throughout the season. One late addition to NBC, was Thank God You're Here, and I found that to be a funny and original improv sketch show. I'm not sure if it's returning, but if I liked it....it probably won't. Now, for the disappointments...

House jumped the shark this season. I was sorrier than I can say to see it, but at one point I was watching it and thought...I just can't take this anymore....and stopped watching. I never really looked back, except for possibly wanting a Foreman spin-off....I'd be there in a hurry.

ER had a few ups and downs this year, but it seemed to have it's usual shining moments. Shawn Hatosy's guest starring role this year was the highlight for me, not to mention the pleasure of watching Forest Whitaker. The writing was a bit off occasionally, some characters were pretty flat, the hiatus much too long, but IMO by the end of the year it also had the signs of promise for the 14th season.

24, my favorite, was the most difficult to watch this year. It started out so strong and limped to it's conclusion. The cast and guest stars were brilliant, as usual. 24 has the best cast on tv, IMO, year after year. I admired that this year the writers decided to give some development to some of the characters, but it seemed to be too much....too often. We had several office romances, only one of which was truly interesting. There were too many questions left unanswered, too many repetitions of earlier seasons, not enough Jack for weeks on end....and then a natural ending that came weeks before the show actually ended. We were left with a story that didn't make a lot of sense, and the bounce just went out of it's bungee. Please let Season 7 have us terrified and leave us breathless!

As for hits....I found a few on other networks. Clatterford (Jams & Jerusalem to most of the world) was a particular favorite. SciFi channel's Dresden Files was a show that was good from the get-go. Also, a funny thing happened on the way to the remote....I re-discovered (and in some cases discovered) the CSI franchise. Thanks to A&E and CBS, I've found myself wiling away the hours solving crimes with the gang in Las Vegas, NY and Miami.

It's been days and I've yet to come to grips with the death of Steve Irwin. Someone so alive and so dedicated just gone in a moment. I can't say that I always loved his over the top approach, or that I even thought it was a good idea to give kids the idea to pick up snakes and bugs. That said, the guy was genuine and deeply passionate about conservation. A good guy through and through from all I've heard and seen. The world needs more Steve Irwins. People who think that even the spiney, ugly, uncuddly animals in the world are worth saving and loving. I'm struck by his good will and the force for change he was trying to bring to a new generation of kids that will carry on his message. Hopefully.

So, my heartfelt thanks for the work he and his family have done and will continue to do. Crikey, he'll be missed!