Nutjob Alert: Brenda Dickson

Note: All images on this blog entry are public domain, and belong
to media affiliates, they are not owned by Brenda Dickson.

Brenda Dickson, born February 3rd, 1949. She is most memorable for her role in the hit daytime soap opera "The Young & The Restless". She was fired from the show and replaced in 1987, because according to Brenda, CBS would not take into consideration medical conditions and ailments she was suffering from at the present time. In 1987 she made the cult hit home vanity video titled "Welcome To My Home", a flashy and poppy video purely filled with 80s pop culture.

This past month, she has re-released this cult hit on DVD, and some people who have ordered the DVDs aren't very happy, because frankly, they are claiming that the quality of the feature on the DVD isn't any better than it was on YouTube, and it doesn't deliver what it promises. Unfortunately for Brenda, people have been flocking to her blog saying they aren't very pleased with the quality or the features provided with the DVD. Instead of facing the criticisms directly, responding to them, or respecting them, she is deleting the comments and she is not listening to her most important audience, that being the viewer. She is charging $20 a copy for the DVD, and I went to her blog and asked her a few questions about the DVD before she started distributing it over her website.

"20 Bucks? Really? I would MAYBE consider it if it were 15 bucks, I'm not saying the content within the product is crap, but "Welcome To My Home" is really only about 20 minutes long, then with added out-takes and other stuff, it might be a half-hour.

Don't get me wrong, this is the 80s at its best, but the price-tag is too much. Any chance that it will ever come down?

Maybe you can include an individualized autographed photo with each copy signed to the person who is buying the video? Now that would make it worth the price-tag.

Or maybe you can put in a frame or strip from the negative (obviously not the original, that would be crazy to cut that up). I've seen directors do that, and I think it's pretty cool.

Also a booklet with production notes and stuff inside of the DVD case would be real nice too, I usually like to read those."

Nonetheless, Brenda's really huge fans came in and told me that my comment was disrespectful. I came back a day later to find out Brenda had removed my comment from the website and left the other person's comment on. I felt just a little insulted. So after seeing this, I posted another comment. It was with the upmost respect, and I was being very nice to her.

"Wow Brenda, did you really delete my post? Are you really that sensitive to respectful criticism?

I can understand the feeling, but if you are going to borderline insult someone who is being respectful to you, then you are not going to like the results.

I can also sense you only deleted both aero's and my comments because the DVD might be getting some bad words about it, but a respectable Hollywood actress would not dismiss these criticisms, they would accept it, respect the opinions, and put these opinions to good use so you could make whatever you are going to do next even better.

Ignoring it and being rude to your critics isn't going to make things any better, trust me. I also know this first hand. I released a film on the internet in 2005, and people would comment on it thinking it was awful, but in the end, I got a cult following, and it sounds like we both have that in common, we made a video that some people didn't like, but others absolutely adored.

But we both dismissed the people who criticized it, whether they did so negatively or positively, and it scared them away. I regret doing this, even to the person who told me that my mother probably smoked crack while she was pregnant with me.

If you are to succeed in life, you MUST be level-headed, STRONG, and determined. I've had to learn this the hard way. You still might have the choice of not having to learn the hard way.

I've also been around the internet, and it turns out that Deven Green (you know, the woman who made parodies of your video), she has a legion of followers who also like you as well, but they are starting to like you less because you won't laugh with them at the parodies, and you won't understand that they are not laughing at you, they are just laughing at something that they know you are not saying, because if you really were saying that in the voiceovers, well then, I don't think I would be on the right planet!

You should take Deven Green's parodies as an extreme form of flattery, and don't take it personally. You also need to know that if your video wasn't as good as it was, it never would have been parodied in the first place. You should take that as a compliment.

You should also take this comment as advice with the upmost respect intended toward you. I mean no harm, neither does Aero, Deven, Deven's fans, or the majority of your critics.

I also would like to add I really do look forward to some of your future work, because you are a very interesting person, and so are the characters you portray.

With Much Love,
Mr. Congeniality"

I only came back the next day to find that comment deleted as well. So apparently, what I didn't want to believe is most likely true: Brenda Dickson is an over-sensitive, hell-bent drama queen. I really hate to come to this conclusion, but I feel that Deven Green, the woman who made parody videos of her cult hit, is her most important critic, and instead of respecting Deven Green like a true lady, and laughing with us at these parodies, Brenda went off the tracks and got revenge on Deven Green.

She then started going after Deven's videos on YouTube, and then she went after videos that featured content that didn't belong to her, namely this animation, and this one as well, both of which I understand were first on Newgrounds and moved over to YouTube. After Deven removed the videos, Brenda still got Deven's YouTube account permanently deactivated from the website. I was very angry.

The rule of copyright claiming is, if the content doesn't belong to you, then you can't claim it as your own. She is copyright claiming material that does not belong to her, and she should know that by doing so, it is breaking the law.

I also question that her reason for being fired from "The Young & The Restless" could possibly be true. Right now I think she was just making up excuses to protect her image and make CBS look bad. You can't make CBS look bad, hell, they still canceled Jericho even after that giant peanut campaign, and they still rake in more viewers than anyone, especially on Friday nights.

So here you have it, Brenda Dickson is a complete nutjob. It wasn't something I wanted to believe, I believed she was a better person and she would respect me if I was to be a fan of hers, but no, she just shot me in the back. Ladies and gentlemen, Brenda Dickson is NOT a respectable Hollywood actress, nor is she a human being, and she should not be treated as such.

And I hope this really burns Brenda: you should of died with the 80s.

"Nurse Jackie" Review

I have a complaint. It's called censorship. It causes some television shows from truly expressing themselves, and sometimes when situations hit the extremes in a certain plot, a network television series isn't allowed to go farther than a certain point. However, pay-cable television series do not suffer from this, which is what made "The Sopranos", "Queer As Folk", and "Entourage" so much fun to watch.

"Nurse Jackie" isn't really a show that needs to be on premium pay networks, but yet it is. What I haven't realized until now, is that even shows as tame as "Nurse Jackie" can not be as real unless it is actually on pay-cable television. Drug use, language, and adulterous sex, they are all a part of normal network television series these days. But "Nurse Jackie" is just a step over the line of what is acceptable as a network or cable television program, maybe even two steps. It has a few F-words here and there, some rather suggestive sexual content (none of which have included nudity so far by my recollection), and the most violence I've seen so far is a taxi-driver having a heart attack, or Jackie's boss accidentally shooting herself with a taser gun (which was hysterical, I might add), or a reference to a cat taking its claws to a man's scrotum (which is not seen, but honestly I've heard worse on ER). It makes me think, maybe if the censors for the land of America would just lighten up a bit, we could have this amazing series on network television.

So yes, after two paragraphs, you have my ironic decision--Even though "Nurse Jackie" is a series that should belong on network television, it still has the ridiculous high standards of nearly every Showtime original series aired so far: It's funny, serious, touching, entertaining, and wonderfully well-made. Many people are complaining about how boring and weird it is, but I assure you, those people who tell you this are using less than 1% of their brain while watching this show. You need intelligence to watch it. If you don't have the said intelligence, it will insult you and spit right in your face, and frankly, you deserve it.

Edie Falco totally embodies the role of Jackie Peyton. In fact, I had no idea who she was when I started watching the show, until I had looked her up on the internet and found out she had guest starred in one of my favorite TV shows, "30 Rock", in a rather memorable role. The two characters she plays on these two series are just so different from each other. The physiques (while still both very attractive), the attitudes, the overall feel of the, they are just so different, you will just be blown away. Frankly, that's not is what is important, it's how the characters are portrayed that is important. Edie Falco was born for this role. She has created a character that is extremely flawed, but very lovable, a person who is a sinner, but undoubtedly a saint. Jackie Peyton is a character that is very realistic and believable.

Also, others in this series showing their amazing acting potential is Paul Schulze, who I haven't seen since he was dramatically killed off on "24" in 2004. He plays "Eddie Walzer", Jackie's adulterous lover, who doesn't even have a clue that he's even being an accessory to adultery. Eddie is a man who cares, is loving, and isn't tight-assed about everything, which is completely different from what I'm used to from Paul Schulze. He pulls it off too, which is great.

The comedic execution for the show is spot on as well. It doesn't create jokes for us to laugh at, it creates situations that make us laugh because we can relate to it, much like what "The Office" and "30 Rock" does. It doesn't push us or force us to laugh either, which makes it very pleasing and very satisfying.

Another great thing about this show, is that the world it creates isn't a perfect one. And we should all know by now that a perfect world in a TV series does not create a good program, and thankfully "Nurse Jackie" strays away from being anywhere near even the idea of a perfect world. Instead, it surrounds us in a realistic and believable one, and a very entertaining one, a one I can't stop watching.

Like a good book, Nurse Jackie is something you can't put down.

Grade: A | 9.5/10
"Nurse Jackie" airs Monday nights on Showtime 10:30 ET/PT.

"Knowing" - The Pwn3d Blog Review

I just got back from seeing "Knowing" tonight, and I have wanted to see it for more than half a year now after first seeing the trailer on Quicktime's website. I found the concept intriguing, mystifying, and cool. It was also directed by Alex Proyas, the director of "Dark City", which was a rare breed of film that had science fiction and smarts.

I loved "Knowing" for it's genius and convincing special effects. It's definitely academy award worthy, for it produces 3 of the most absolutely unforgettable special effects sequences ever created. I also liked the dark elements surrounding the movie, especially the way Alex Proyas directed it, he has such a unique way of doing it, it reminded me of "Dark City".

Now for why I hated but liked it at the same time. One of the endings is exactly what I have nightmares about. Without giving it away of course, I will just say that I will not be able to sleep for days, maybe even weeks. While the ending will most likely never happen, it's never impossible. It could happen tomorrow. It could happen right now. That's what scared the living crap out of me. But the particularly ending I'm talking about is a pretty neat one, even though I won't sleep for a while.

Now, for what I absolutely hated. The resolution involving the "mysterious creatures" was WAY out there. It was too unbelievable, in fact there were people laughing in the theater I was in when the resolution took place. Also, the performance Rose Byrne turned in was comparable to a chick freaking out from an alien invasion in a 50s "B" movie. Don't get me wrong, I love Rose Bryne, but the only direction she had from Alex Proyas was to be a screaming looney, and that is such a shame for such a gifted and promising actress. Yes, the situation she was in was really intense and and mind-blowing, but her reaction to what was happening was over the top, even for something so extreme. I could hear people giggling in the theater from it.

Finally, the elements in the film that I think should have been removed. The children's fate, along with Rose Byrne's character's fate, should have been the same as "everyone else". The "mysterious people" should have never existed. The ending with Nic Cage's character was ok, but his change in beliefs at the very end, although it's moving to some, was a little ridiculous, and felt a bit rushed. But of course, in the situation he was in, who wouldn't of been rushed? Also, an entire sequence involving Rose Byrne and the children near the end of the movie should have been removed as well. If those elements I have just mentioned were corrected in the movie, "Knowing" would have been a complete masterpiece. Instead, it's just a 2 star movie, on a star rating scale of 4.

I loved the science fiction element of this movie, but it's too outlandish while being realistic, it's silly while being sensible, and finally, it's too terrifying, scary, and nightmarish. I can't in my right mind recommend this movie to anybody. It's just too much. But I should of expected that, because Alex Proyas creates really complex films. Too bad this film had too much of that.

Old Grade: C | 5/10

Note: I recently saw this movie again for a third time, and I have to say that this is one of those movies you have to watch multiple times to appreciate. It is a rather good movie, and I regret underestimating it. I'm leaving the original review up with the old raing, but the rating below this note is what I am truly rating the movie now, and I do recommend that people see it. It's quite good.

Final Grade: B+ | 8.5/10

Goodbye Redbox

I planned on my friend coming up tonight to watch a movie with me, so I went out and rented something me and him hadn't seen yet. I went to a Redbox only a few blocks away from me and rented "W.", the George W. Bush biopic directed by Oliver Stone, which I was going to see back when it was first released, but if you can recall a previous blog where I ran into problems with Lionsgate for participating in their "W." contest, Lionsgate scared me away from seeing the movie in theaters (and rightfully so).

So I went out, and I rented it from the Redbox just a few blocks away. My friend didn't end up coming over because he was really tired from work (working more than 50 hours a week can do that to you). So I watched the movie by myself, whatever. It was OK, nothing really special, I guess. I'll probably need to see it again because I wasn't really 100% focused.

I had rented the DVD at about 8:40P.M., and sat around waiting for my friend for about an hour, and then he tells me he's not coming up, so I wait another half hour or more, and I just go ahead and start it. At around 12:45AM or so (or 2 hours later), I finish the film, and shut off my entire home theater system, and I feel like calling a night. But first...

Now a personal note about me. I have severe anxiety and OCD, both of which cause me to have paranoia. So, I don't want to keep the DVD any longer, and I just want to return the thing, rather than wait 20 more hours to return it. It feels like a burden. Plus, I worry that I just might forget about it, and my already low-on-money debit card will be charged, and I'll get a fee from the bank or something. So at about 1:15, after chitchatting on the net with my friends for a bit, I get my car keys and head down to the Redbox I rented it from, just a few blocks away.

I pull up to the Redbox, and I hit "Return DVD". An error message comes up saying "We're sorry, but the Red Box you are trying to return to is complete full. Please come back another time, or try another location." Lovely! That's just absolutely great, you know. I can't return a movie to a Rexbox that I it rented from. Plus, the nearest Redbox I can return to at this hour is almost 10 miles away, and I'm not in the mood to waste a gallon of gasoline over a fucking movie. So now, I have two choices. Either I don't return the movie to the Redbox 10 miles away, it bothers the living shit of me all night, and I don't sleep as a result, or I waste a gallon of my gas I can hardly afford, and go into town to return some stupid movie rental.

So, in the end, after getting back into my car and driving a few blocks down the street, I decided to waste my gas driving into town, just to return one damn movie. Plus, people got to see me in my bed attire! Isn't it fashion? I also feared the entire way to town that the only Redbox left to return it to would be full as well. But it wasn't, thankfully.

I would really hate for something like this to happen to me again. Especially if I try to return to a movie to the only few locations in town and find out they are all full. Then, I would have to drive like 40 miles just to return a movie. A waste of my time. Also a waste of my money, a luxury no one has in today's world. So, I have a simple solution to this problem: I'm not renting from Redbox anymore.

Am I overreacting? Probably. Am I paranoid? Well, absolutely. But that's the kind of person I am. I think it's bullshit that when I rent a movie and finish watching it, that I can't return it. Then they'll just keep charging me until my bank charges me fees for overcharging my debit card. The last thing I want is trouble in any way, shape, or form, especially from my bank. And sadly, Redbox has being nothing but trouble for me as of lately.

So goodbye Redbox, thanks for your crappy service!