Elliot Allagash

Simon Rich has finally landed on arrival with a fresh new novel.

Now remember, don't go thinking he's the new J.D. Salinger. He is however a very young writer for Saturday Night Live and he's already won us over with essays in his humorous collections of Free-Range Chickens and Ant Farm.

Here we have a novel about the most unpopular boy at school, Seymour  who's just been dubbed "chunk-style" at the private middle school he goes to in Manhattan. All is a slow boat to China of Seymour's existence until he meets transfer student Elliot Allagash. As it is Elliot is delinquent most days and has high hopes of being kicked out. Only his dad has donated too much money to the school. So he's stuck. And out of amusement, Seymour becomes his project to make Seymour the most popular boy at school.

Its a playful story that's wickedly funny, Elliot Allagash is a tale about all the incredible things that money can buy and some things it can't.

The Gates - a review

Its like Desperate Housewives has gone vamps.

True, its summer, and possibly the series won't last long. And if you think this is campy, well, you are wrong. You've got some hearty acting going on. Especially, when it comes to Rhona Mitra, who you may remember from Boston Legal. She's perfect as Claire Radcliff, the vampire who's married to a vampire, Luke Mably as Dylan Radcliff. Both have come to the Gates to raise their daughter. Of course, one might wonder if she's really their daughter.

There are lots of mysteries in THE GATES. As in werewolves running amuck and a witch or two just might be at your beckoning call if you need something to help your worries.

Thus you have the Mahon family move in from Chicago. Nick Mahon who is the new police chief (Frank Grillo) as if they'd need one in that community.

Enter Travis Caldwell, as the police chief's son Charlie. As it is, Travis has been a bit player until now on most shows. An episode here and there from Zoey 101 to most recently as Colin on Parenthood. His character is quite interesting as he comes between two werewolves with raging hormones.

Granted, the show is of the supernatural. Its about time Dark Shadows moved to the burbs.  And this show just might be worth watching. I really liked the character development after the first episode. The show is written by Richard Hatem who was the co-executive producer of Supernatural along with Grant Scharbo who wrote for the series The Moutain.