By HANNAH BROWNLeonard Nimoy(photo credit: PR)
Leonard Nimoy, who died last week, certainly lived long and prospered. He embodied Star Trek’s Mr. Spock, arguably the most iconic TV character of all time. In so many ways, his Mr. Spock was the ultimate Jewish geek, who argued for reason and technology during the three seasons of the original Star Trek and through many of the movie sequels.Born in the US to Jewish immigrants from the Ukraine, he said, “My folks came to the US as immigrants, aliens, and became citizens. I was born in Boston, a citizen, went to Hollywood and became an alien.”He forever identified Spock with Judaism when he used a one-handed version of the priestly Jewish blessing as the gesture Spock made when he gave his Vulcan blessing, “Live long and prosper.” His fame and the series’ enduring popularity are perhaps the ultimate revenge of the nerd.The Spock character inspired generations of fans, and the character Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) on The Big Bang Theory worships him. In one episode, Nimoy performed the voice of Spock doll that speaks to Sheldon in his dreams.The Big Bang Theory is well into its eighth season and will surely refer to the loss of Nimoy in a future episode.The original Star Trek series can be purchased on Amazon or from many other outlets.For some, the date April 5 evokes hol hamoed Pessah, but for Mad Men fans, it’s the beginning of the second half of the final season, which will be aired on HOT, starting on April 6.It’s hard to remember what television was like before Mad Men, and now that it’s almost over, it’s hard to predict how it will end. For months, since the first half of Season Seven ended last May, Mad Men devotees have flooded the Internet with theories of what might happen. AMC, the network that produces Mad Men, has released two trailers, but neither of these gives away much. The first one is a montage of scenes from previous episodes, with brief clips from the famous carousel presentation Don Draper (Jon Hamm) gave at the end of Season One, where he examines the concept of nostalgia. “It’s the end of an era,” says a narrator at the end.The second, titled “The Party’s Over,” shows characters lounging around a garden party in gorgeous outfits, while Diana Ross’s “Love Hangover” plays in the background.After all we’ve been through with these brilliantly written characters, it’s hard to believe that there are only seven hours of drama left. But now that you know, make your plans to savor what’s left.
Not much is sure in this world, but it’s a good bet that Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner will never be tempted by cash to make a Mad Men movie. And it’s to his credit that he wanted to wind things down with the series while it is still wonderful.The Good Wife is back after a brief hiatus, and the last three episodes of Season Six will be aired on YES Drama on Mondays at 10 p.m. and on YES VOD.During the hiatus, YES aired the show beginning with the first episode of Season One, and on through the second season. As enjoyable as it is to see the earlier seasons, it’s clear that the show has only become stronger with time – such a rarity in the world of television.The first part of Season Six dealt with Alicia’s run for state’s attorney, the job that used to belong to her husband, who is now the governor; and the criminal charges brought against her law-firm partner, Cary (Matt Czuchry), who was framed because of his work as a lawyer for a drug dealer. Now many other plot lines are coming to the fore, and Kalinda (Archie Panjabi), the diabolically attractive investigator for the firm, has been pressed into service by the drug kingpin to act as a bodyguard/ babysitter for his young son.The Good Wife, this story of a humiliated political wife and her eventual triumph, is the purest fun there is on television these days.
