Steven Helmer Publications

After being off the air for seven years, The Big Bang Theory will be getting a spin-off series that isn't a prequel and will be centered around characters from the original series, albeit not the main cast members. I haven't decided if I am going to watch Stuart Fails to Save the Universe because, not unlike TBBT's Sheldon Cooper ( Jim Parsons ), I do have to consider if it will be worth the time commitment. Plus, while the plot does sound intriguing, I'm not convinced it wouldn't have been better as a movie rather than a television series. One thing the new show does do for me, however, is remind me of the missed opportunity for another TBBT spinoff that probably wasn't even considered but, if done correctly, could have been a success, at least in my opinion. The spin-off series I am referring to is Professor Proton, starring Wil Wheaton . Let me give you a quick recap in case you need a refresher or haven't seen the series yet (sorry for the spoilers if i...

Synopsis: Carrie Singleton has plans to leave the small town of Clover Ridge, Connecticut until her uncle Bosco helps her land a job as the local library's head of programs and events. The money is good but Carrie's boss, Sally, clearly doesn't like her, another co-worker, Dorothy, thinks the job should have been hers and the only friend Carrie has is Evelyn, a now-deceased librarian who haunts the library and only Carrie and Carrie's young niece can see. To make matters worse, one of the first programs Carrie is in charge of turns to a disaster when a retired police detective, Al Buckley, is poisoned prior to revealing new details about one of Clover Ridge's most notorious unsolved crimes, the murder of Laura Foster. Feeling guilty, Carrie decides to help Laura's son, Jared, continue Al's work, only to find a series of dead ends, a complicated relationship with her investigative partner and her life in danger. Review: As I've mentioned, our local libr...

Synopsis: From the time he was born, Truman Burbank has had every move he makes watched by a now world-wide television audience, living his entire life in Seahaven Island, a fictional town located inside the world's largest television studio. Only the world's biggest celebrity is the one person on the planet who doesn't realize the people around him are all actors. This all changes when a stage light falls from the sky, setting off a series of events that makes Truman question everything about his life. Who's in it? The movie stars Jim Carrey, Ed Harris , Laura Linney , Noah Emmerich and Holland Taylor. Review: My daughter had theater rehearsal last night and, while killing time waiting to pick her up, I came across The Truman Show . It had been a while since I last watched this film in its entirety, so I did just that. And I wasn't disappointed by this choice. I think the thing that really makes this movie work is the plot seems so farfetched, but the story is c...

Synopsis: Theater critic Tony Woolrich is reviewing a play when an actor is murdered. Even though he is friends with the theater's owner, actor Cecil Moore, and the victim was Moore's brother, he is reluctant to investigate but does so after being chewed out by his editor. After a second murder is committed, the police believe an escape asylum inmate is to blame. However, Woolrich believes someone from Moore's past is targeting both the actor and his daughter, Claudia. Who's in it? The movie stars Dave O'Brien , Kay Aldridge, Alan Mowbray, Frank Jenks and Jack Mulhall. Review: I am gaining a whole new appreciation for just how busy actor Dave O'Brien was in the 1940s. It seems as though I can't scroll through my movie library without coming across a film he's in. This includes The Phantom of 42nd Street , which I decided to finally watch this morning. It ended up being a good choice. The movie's mystery is an interesting one. While Woolrich's (...

Synopsis: After being forced into retirement because of his age, Captain Jim Hadley is bored, depressed and angry about "outliving his usefulness." However, when his best friend is killed fighting a fire set by a serial arsonist, he gets out of his funk and helps his future son-in-law, Frank, track down the pyromaniac, an investigation that soon puts his family in danger. Who's in it? The movies stars J. Farrell MacDonald, Warren Hull , Polly Ann Young , Mary Gordon and George Pembroke . Review: After an active and exhausting weekend, I was falling asleep on the couch a bit earlier than expected and, when scouting for a movie to watch this morning, I mostly was choosing the first one that sounded halfway interesting and could be watched in the amount of time I had available. After a couple minutes, I chose The Last Alarm . For a short while, I wondered if I made a mistake with my choice. The first few scenes about Jim Hadley's (MacDonald) retirement seemed like they...

  I went to the grocery store without any idea in mind about what I wanted to make for dinner. My wife was doing some stuff at her sewing studio, and we had a small bag of ravioli that I could make for the girls so I focused on finding something I could make as a late dinner for two. I ended up purchasing Rana Chicken Alfredo Lasagna because it was on sale for a little less than $12. It was my first time trying this product and I wasn't sure what to expect but after making it last night, it is a product I wouldn't mind purchasing again. As far as meal prep goes, I couldn't ask for easier. I followed the microwave instructions, and the lasagna was ready to eat less than 10 minutes later. This was ideal because, with us already eating later than usual, I wouldn't have been a fan of anything that took a long time to make or dirtied a ton of dishes. Taste-wise, this exceeded my expectations. The sauce had a good flavor and there was quite a bit of chicken. This, in turn, al...