WELCOME

Welcome to the blender where I, John Sturgeon will discuss anything in the entertainment world that prompts me to share some thoughts on it. I had a blast writing my column this past year for the Villanovan and look forward to providing you some fun stuff to read. Here are some random thoughts I have currently.

- Breaking Bad Season 2 concluded its epic run last weekend with a stunning conclusion as Skyler finally confronted Walt on his lies and told him to get out of the house immediately. Aaron Paul especially shined in his grief scenes both by the body of his dead girlfriend Jane and when Walt comes to take him to a rehab facility. The chemistry between him and Cranston continues to be magnetic and both men should be in line for plenty of emmy love this fall. Next season should up the ante with Walt now having to make sure his brother-in-law does not get suspicious and if he should tell his wife the entire truth about his meth business.
The pink teddy bear and body bag teasers we saw this season had everybody looking forward to a major catastrophe to close the season. While the plane exploding above Walt's house was random and kind of a let down, what they did with Skyler will significantly alter the show next season as they achieved the game changing ender of sorts by having her throw Walt out of the house.

- I ventured to Las Vegas with three of my best friends last weekend as a graduation present and we had one hell of a time. As a big fan of great food and entertainment, Vegas was like heaven on Earth. The trip started with a dinner at Emeril's New Orleans Fish House at the MGM Grand. We all loved our meals, but I was the only one who tried the six-course tasting menu which delivered in a big way. For $85, I got to sample some of the best dishes of the house(Scottish Barbeque Salmon, Filet, Sea Bass, Lobster salad) and was treated like royalty as each dish was explained in detail to me by one of the servers there. After the meal concluded with Emeril's magnificent banana cream pie, I told my friends it was one of the best meals I ever had.
The other major dining highlight on the trip was NOVE Italiano at the Palms Resort and Casino. Set 50 floors up in the Palms' Fantasy tower, the restaurant offers unparalleled views of the Las Vegas Strip and surrounding area. We shared a buffalo mozzarella pizza and two ceasar salads for appetizers before indulging in some of NOVE's specialty pastas. My dish was the Nove Pasta, a delectable combination of various pastas, fresh seafood, and spicy tomato sauce that combined to create something truely special. The service was incredible as they allowed our party of four to sit in the green room, where the best views are and were helpful with everything we needed from picture taking to menu advice. Servando Daniels, the manager there, gave us free club passes for all four clubs in the Palm after the meal. NOVE is a can't miss dining experience in Las Vegas.
I will share some more on the Vegas dining experience this week.

- Television has pretty much died for the past couple of weeks after Lost, American Idol, Grey's, and Breaking Bad concluded their seasons. I cannot wait until the new seasons of Weeds and True Blood start up as I will be doing some thoughts on them in the coming weeks. Other shows of note starting later this summmer include Entourage and Mad Men.

- Blockbuster season got started off with a bang due to J. J. Abrams sensational reboot of Star Trek. Get out there and see that film in theaters as it will satisfy any person that enjoys a good film. I watched The Hangover last night and felt that it was crazily enjoyable comedy with surprises around every corner and the emergence of both Bradley Cooper and Zach Galafianakis as big stars with Ed Helm continuing to add strong stuff to his resume. There was so much laughing in the theater that I will definitely have to see the film again at some point to make sure I didn't miss anything. This afternoon I saw Up, the latest cinema greatness served up by Pixar. A touching and thrilling adventure story, UP is sure take you through a variety of emotions as we follow 78-year old Carl on the adventure of a lifetime to Paradise Falls. The laughs are fast and furious while the story delivers a powerful message that will be felt by all who see it. I will have more on this film in the coming days along with a look at what Pixar can do with Toy Story 3 next year.

- Have a good weekend and I will be back soon.