What’s on Your Fall Watch List?

Fall is (finally) here.

Around here, it felt like fall would never get here. In fact, it’s still in the low 80s. *grumble grumble*

But anyway.

The best thing fall is…the new tv shows.

Okay, maybe it’s a toss-up between the new shows and Thanksgiving dinner.  But, while Turkey Day only lasts until all the leftovers run out (or you get sick of them), there are at least a few shows to keep your mental belly full all season long.

Here’s what’s on my list:

The Blacklist

James Spader strikes a Hannibal Lecteresque pose with his own fascinating twist and everyone has a secret agenda. Good stuff so far.

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Sleepy Hollow

Apocalypse. American history. Mythology. A classic American scary story and an anachronistic hero. What isn’t there to love?

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The Walking Dead

This is one of those shows I hate to love. It just gets more and more intense every season and there’s no guarantee your most loved characters will survive (or stay sane).

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And one that’s premiering Friday:

Dracula

Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Oh my. It has to be good.

I see all the shows on my list are pretty dark. Apparently, I have to branch out a little. Guess I better go research some comedies.

Right after I watch the last episode of The Walking Dead again.

What’s on your watch list this fall?

Team Bela: Dracula (1931)

Yesterday morning, my grandmother passed away. She was a remarkable, strong and complicated woman. We weren’t always close but I’ll miss her.

For the next week or so, it’s likely I’ll be rerunning past posts. There will also be no Friday Stumble this week but I will announce the Life List Club Milestone winner. 

Before Edward and Jacob, before Angel and Spike, there was the Count. He was, perhaps a little bit campy but no one else has ever been quite the vampire icon that Bela Lugosi became when he starred in the 1931 film, Dracula…

*originally posted July 1, 2011*
As Bela Lugosi is Dracula in my mind’s eye, I was surprised to realize that I had never actually watched the original movie. Clearly, Lugosi’s portrayal set the standard for the character of Dracula and for our popular notions of vampires in general. Bela Lugosi’s Dracula is the image of the sexy, gentleman vampire. Those burning eyes, that ever-so-slightly lifted eyebrow, the elegant hands reaching for a pale throat, and the sweep of his glorious cape.

Fear Friday Feature 1: Dracula (1931 film)

First up for the Fear Friday Feature is the 1931 Dracula starring Bela Lugosi.

As Bela Lugosi is Dracula in my mind’s eye, I was surprised to realize that I had never actually watched the original movie. Clearly, Lugosi’s portrayal set the standard for the character of Dracula and for our popular notions of vampires in general. Bela Lugosi’s Dracula is the image of the sexy, gentleman vampire. Those burning eyes, that ever-so-slightly lifted eyebrow, the elegant hands reaching for a pale throat, and the sweep of his glorious cape.

The other delight of this film was Dwight Frye‘s Renfield. He starts out as a