Random Acts

Random Acts of Ali Larter: winning an award and playing with her mum and dog

Ali Larter with her mum and dog

This week, Ali Larter won the Faggoty Ass Award for Best Actress. I think that’s an honour. I’m not sure. But have a picture of Ali playing with her mum and her dog either way (at least I think they’re her mum and her dog – they could just be a random actor and random dog, appropriately enough).

Have you seen Ali Larter acting randomly? If so, let us know and we’ll tell everyone about it in “Random Acts of Ali Larter

Thursday’s J Lo HIMYM news

Film

British TV

US TV

Question of the week: do you watch downloads?

Not so fast. It’s not what you think. I’m not asking if you might use sneaky illegal means to watch TV programmes. I want to know if you watch network TV programmes legally on the Internet, whether it’s on the iPlayer, 4oD, Hulu, the good old Apple iTunes store or some other service. if you do, how do you do it – on a computer or some other device? Do you ever buy the content or do you stick to free only? And do you splurge for high-def if it’s available?

And if you don’t watch downloads, why not?

FYI, I use both my Nintendo Wii and my iPhone to access the iPlayer and I use my Apple TV, iTunes and iPhone to purchase TV content, preferably in high def. But how about you?

As always, leave a comment with your answer or a link to your answer on your own blog.

The CarusometerA Carusometer rating of 2

Third-episode verdict: Human Target

Fox’s new action-adventure show Human Target started as something of a damp squib. The first episode aired to as much hype as humanly possible, and was bound to disappoint no matter what. With its combination of Hong Kong-style martial arts fights, zero proper characterisation, comic book plots and dialogue, and Thunderbirds scenarios, it was never going to be truly satisfying as a drama, more a way to pass time.

Since then, it’s kind of settled down and now wants to be a genre action movie of the week in a mere 40 minutes. Episode two saw our anonymous hero on board a crashing plane, trying to find who’s he supposed to protect and who’s trying to kill them, while episode three saw him mole-hunting in a Russian embassy.

It’s still very comic book – knowingly so. It’s got itself an interesting title sequence and a diabolical theme tune. Our hero is still stoic and a bit dull, despite Mark Valley’s best attempts, with most of the script flair going to Chi McBride and Jackie Earle Haley instead. There’s been the welcome arrival of CSI: NY‘s Emmanuelle Vaugler as a potential love-interest/partner/frenemy for Valley. To string us along, there’s a little bit of character background added to Valley’s character every week, although he’s not been built up so much that when we eventually find out who he actually he is, the inevitable anti-climax won’t be too great.

But it’s still really visual bubble gum: some decent fights, some bad CGI stunts and a bit of male camaraderie to appeal to a male teenage audience. It passes the time, won’t challenge you too much, will occasionally make you roll your eyes, and if you have something better to do, you’ll probably skip it in favour of something else.

It’s okay for what it does.

Carusometer rating: 2
Rob’s verdict: Might last a season or two, but will get cancelled sooner rather than later if it doesn’t up its game