Steven Helmer Publications

  We are expecting a snowstorm tomorrow, so I went to the grocery store for some necessities (AKA cat food) just in case we got snowed in. While there, I figured I'd pick up something for lunch so we could save Thanksgiving leftovers for dinner and decided to finally give Ragu Frozen Pizza a try since it was on sale for $5.99. Overall, I'd say the pizza exceeded my expectations, though it did fall a bit short of being one of my favorite frozen pizza choices. We made it this afternoon as planned, and my wife and I were both impressed with the taste. The sauce had a good flavor while the pepperoni and sausage added a bit of spice without being too spicy.  I also liked the crust, which was the perfect balance of not being too thin while also not being too thick. This resulted in it having just the right amount of crispiness when making it with our pizza oven. My only real complaint about the pizza was the lack of toppings, both quantity and variety. Normally, if I hear the descri...

Synopsis: Lincoln Six Echo and Jordan Two Delta live in a complex with others they believe to be survivors of a global viral pandemic waiting their turn to go to "the island," the last region of the world that is not infected. When Jordan has her name chosen in the lottery, she thinks her dream of going to the island has finally come true. However, an unusually curious Lincoln discovers the truth - there was no pandemic and the lottery "winners" are instead being chosen to have their organs harvested. Who's in it? The movie stars Scarlett Johansson , Ewan McGregor ,  Djimon Hounsou , Sean Bean , Michael Clarke Duncan and Steve Buscemi . Review: I was in the mood to watch a movie yesterday evening and looked for one while my wife took a shower. I was undecided about some of the newer movies so decided to keep things simple and pick out an old favorite, The Island . It had been a while since I last watched this movie, and I was surprised by a few things I had f...

People who know me know I'm really not that big on nostalgia. However, there are exceptions to that, including my tendency to re-watch some of my favorite shows from when I was a kid (and some from before I was a kid). This includes Night Court, which I've watched in re-runs more times than I can count, including as recent as this morning. One thing I've noticed as I once again rewatched the series that ran from 1984 until 1992 is, while the outstanding ensemble of main characters is obviously what people remember, the show also got a nice boost from what I like to refer to as part-time employees. These are characters that were only on the show for a short time, either for certain storylines as a fill in for when one of the main cast members was absent or left the series. They may not have been there long or received top billing, but they kept Night Court rolling. Here are my five favorites:  Court Clerk Mavis Tuttle (Alice Drummond) - I won't go into details about the...

As much time as I spend watching old movies and nearly as old television series, I probably shouldn't be surprised when I receive ads for hearing aids and retirement homes. However, while most of those movies and shows were before my time, I will be the first to argue many are better than what you can see at theaters and on TV today. In fact, Hollywood seems to agree with me, both because of the numerous movie remakes and films based on classic television series. While the latter is a bit hit or miss, with some of those movies being not-so-great, there are a few that do work. Here are four I personally enjoyed. Just a note: The Simpsons Movie would have made this list too, if the show wasn't still on the air. Sgt. Bilko (1996) I haven't seen more than a few episodes of The Phil Silvers Show but did see enough to get the gist of that series, which ran from 1955-1959, and while there are those who disagree, this movie version of Silvers ' military character, Sgt. Ernest...

Synopsis: After Louie's window is once again broken by a stray baseball, Slip Mahoney and Sach travel to Dr. David Gravesend's home to convince him to let the neighborhood kids use one of his Bowery commercial properties as a baseball diamond. When they arrive, they discover a home filled with eccentric relatives, an ape, a man-eating plant and vampires. They also discover Gravesend plans to use Slip's head for a robot he and his relative, Anton, are building. Who's in it? The movie stars Leo Gorcey , Huntz Hall , Bernard Gorcey , Lloyd Corrigan and John Dehner. Review: I hadn't planned on watching a movie this morning because it was foggy outside and I figured I should leave for the office a bit earlier as a result. However, when I came across The Bowery Boys Meet the Monsters , I decided to give it a try. I am happy to report I still made it to the office safely. My opinion about the movie, however, was a bit mixed. I'll start by saying, even though it isn...

Synopsis: Seeking to earn a partnership in her father’s company, Sam agrees to oversee the demolition of a remote apartment building designed by a notorious the architect known for murdering people and entombing his victims within its walls. Shortly after learning more about the hotel’s history, Sam also learns her life is in danger. Who's in it?  The movie stars Mischa Barton , Deborah Kara Unger, Cameron Bright, Eugene Clark and Pascal Greggory. Review: I came across this movie earlier this week and, mostly because it had been a while since I last watched it, I decided to give it a try again while I had the house to myself. My opinion remains mixed. There were some good things about the movie. The nearly empty apartment building, for example, had a creepy vibe to it even before its history was revealed and the few people that still lived in it only helped to add to that creepiness. This included the Norman Bates-like Jimmy (Bright). He seemed friendly but it was also obvious th...