!I just don't get to YouTube often enough. But checking in this morning, I saw a great rant about Pachelbel's "Canon in D" (and I say that as someone who has an old record of "Canon in D" somewhere in the collection. Anyway, go here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdxkVQy7QLM

Make sure to wait for the medley near the end. And, as long as you're there, take a look at this blend of "The 10 Commandments" and a high-school movie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffOGibLrSsY

If nothing else, they'll give you a change of pace from "SNL's" "in a box" song. (A friend of mine now greets me on the phone with, "One, cut a hole in a box …") Not that I'm tired of it yet. But every  even great videos may call for a palate cleanser now and then.

As I mentioned in the post below, I am not keen on the idea of "The Prisoner" being made. And this weekend, my younger son watched the updating of "Miami Vice" and pronounced it bad; I can't remember if he ever saw the original but that and the "Prisoner" situation have me asking this question:

Has there ever been a remake as good or better than the original?

I'm going to try to think of one. Feel free to offer your own suggestions.

More of today's mail:

Nielsen Media Research released findings today from its 3^rd Quarter Home Technology Report which show that more U.S. households now own DVD players (81.2% of all households) than VCRs (79.2% of households).   Findings from this quarterly study also show ownership of most media technology trending up from previous years, which could continue to climb as the upcoming Christmas season approaches.   

As of third quarter 2006, DVD penetration in the U.S. is up 6% from the previous year and continues to grow, while VCR penetration has started a decline.   In 1999 when Nielsen first started tracking DVD ownership in its Home Tech Report, DVD penetration was only 6.7% and was dwarfed by VCR ownership at 88.6%. 

Nielsen’s latest report also found that DVD households now rent DVDs about twice per month, compared to VCR homes renting VHS tapes only about once per month.  The frequency with which households rent video tapes has leveled off during the past six months.

“This study shows the culmination of a long battle for share of consumers,” said Paul Lindstrom, senior vice president of custom research for Nielsen Media Research.  “Nielsen clients have used information from our Home Tech Report for the past decade to trend the changes in penetration and report use of new devices as they infiltrate the marketplace, and we now see that the popularity of DVDs has finally surpassed that of VCRs.”

This arrived in e-mail today:

In an effort to further develop and define its distinct cinematic blueprint for bold original television programming, AMC announced today that it will remake the 1960s groundbreaking television classic, The Prisoner.  The project will provide the network with its first original Sci-Fi series in its 20 year history and expand its efforts to deliver a diverse range of genre based high quality originals.  …

In the 1960s The Prisoner helped permanently alter the scope of the Sci-Fi genre.  Through the work of Patrick McGoohan, who created, produced, wrote, directed and starred in the title role, the series became one of television’s most acclaimed and influential programs. … The new series will be written by Bill Gallagher (Conviction, Clocking Off ) and will showcase the same key elements of paranoia, tense action and socio-political commentary seen in McGoohan’s enigmatic original.  Production is scheduled to begin in spring 2007.  …

The Prisoner will tell a story similar to the original series, as it follows a man who finds himself inexplicably trapped in The Village, with no memory of how he arrived.  As he frantically explores his environment, he discovers that its inhabitants are identified by number instead of by name, have no memory of a prior existence or outside civilization, and are under constant surveillance by a repressive authority.   Not knowing who to trust, Number Six is driven by the desperate need to discover the truth behind The Village, the reason for his being there, and most importantly, how he can survive and escape to his previous life. (end release)

I know that the original "Prisoner" does not look all that great when you consider the leaps in technology since it first aired. I also know that it was a landmark series, a unique piece and therefore not something I want to see reinvented.

Earlier today I deleted a comment about a "Little People Big World" post because it included an e-mail address and a phone number for the commenter. Please do not put that information in your comments, since anyone trolling the Internet can see it and may take bad advantage of it.

In fact, keep in mind that I read the comments and am not shy about deleting ones containing material that  I deem inappropriate.

Not sure how deeply I care about the finish, but I'm watching. Am tired of the parade of fallen contestants — still standard in each series — and the big final immunity challenge was another endurance test involving standing on a post, which just isn't all that dramatic.

Anyway, Adam went out at the first tribal council of the night, leaving the alliance as the final four. Ozzy won the final immunity challenge, and Yul still has the necklace, so they're guaranteed a spot in the final three. (They're sending three contestants to the jury instead of two this time.)

And it's amazing how nicely these folks try to play. Discussion even of setting up a two-two vote in tribal, with Becky and Sundra, so they get to settle it themselves on a tie-breaker. But Yul seems to be turning soft-headed tactically, contemplating giving Becky the idol and risking the vote…

Nope. They go to the tie-breaker. How nice. Of course, we're getting the making-fire tiebreaker AGAIN…

Oh, my, they've been trying to make fire for an hour and nothing. Hilarity!

Probst gives up and gives them matches! The bride notes that this proves Sundra and Becky really have been along for the ride if they can't do this.

Even with matches they can't keep the fire going. OMG! Probst says, "After 38 days out here, you should both know how to make fire."

And Sundra runs out of matches before she can make fire. Becky makes it to the final three. Sundra to the jury.

In a series where diversity has been an issue, Ozzy paints his situation as a surfer against two lawyers.

Yul talks leadership and teamwork. Becky promotes her ''social game." Ozzy proclaims himself the underdog early on who provided for others — embracing "every aspect of this game wholeheartedly."

Jury: Nate calls Yul "a big gangster boss," Ozzy as "the warrior" and wants to know how Ozzy played strategy better than Yul. Ozzy says he was the "Yul of my tribe" and brings up throwing the challenge. (Ick.) Nate then asks Becky why she deserves the millon over the other two. She undercuts Yul. "Are you saying you ran it?" Nate presses. Becky says there wasn't a boss and says she rejected the idol the night before when Yul offered it — very bad for Yul in getting Sundra's vote.

And on it goes… Parvati revisits the idol rejection… Later, Yul argues that he will use a win to help improve minority images, Ozzy follows with the same argument… Adam declares them boring, asks for some trash talk; Ozzy sort of obliges… Candice demands to know — yes or no — whether Yul has been shamelessly working the jury. Yul pauses, says yes. She replies. He begins to question her use of ''shamelessly" and the jurors seize on that as an error — which sure suggests they're looking for a reason not to vote for Yul. … Ozzy cries! That could be the lock for him. … Jonathan reams Yul over half-truths being half-lies; Yul says " 'Survivor' is a game obviously … I would never do this to unsuspecting people (in the world)." Jonathan then jabs Ozzy for "issues of entitlement." Ozzy sounds Miss America-ish in reply…

Now we go to the vote. Well, after the commercial and the expected spill-over of results into the 10 p.m. hour.Just saw the umpteenth promo for "Armed & Famous." Reminds me that in the great scheme of things, "Survivor" is pretty good. And that my professional obligations should not include any show with LaToya Jackson.

Vote teases: Jonathan votes for Yul. Parvati votes for Ozzy.

The tally. Probst calls it one of the most enjoyable seasons in a while. Close vote. (None for Becky.) It's Yul on a 5-4 vote.

Pretty suspenseful finish, between two guys who had each made a good case for winning. I'll save the aftermath show for another time.

Here's a link to my second annual collection of oddball Christmas songs — including some audio samples with my spoken introduction. Today's Beacon Journal also has my long rumination on "Rocky." (I'll have a review of the movie on Wednesday.)

After seeing last night's "Saturday Night Live," I wish I had waited just a little longer to write the songs story. Then I might have included both "Santa Is My Boyfriend" and what discretion forces me to call "The Box Song." You can find the latter video, with explicit audio, here. I was slightly surprised at the uncensored version because I expected the bleeped word to be one that rhymed more closely with "box." Nevertheless, hysterical stuff.

"Everybody Loves Raymond" was a golden part for Peter Boyle, who has died, and he filled it ably. In his book "You're Lucky You're Funny," "Raymond" mastermind Phil Rosenthal says that there was concern at first about "Raymond" being "too ethnic" — a fear about TV shows that goes back to the 1950s, when TV began breaking out of the urban areas that embraced ethnicity into so-called Middle America, where homogenization was the dream. Or so TV executives thought.

Anyway, Rosenthal says Boyle was "the perfect example of the nonethnic ethnic. … Peter Boyle says New York ethnic without saying Italian or Jewish."

But that's not why he got the part. He got it because he showed up angry at the audition. "At that moment, he wasn't just a movie star to me, he was a big, angry movie star," Rosenthal wrote. The show made ample use of Boyle's anger over the years — as well as letting him be very, very funny.

Unfortunately, once I pulled Rosenthal's book off the shelf, I digressed from a point I wanted to make here. Which is that Boyle was an actor worth noticing even if "Raymond" had never come his way. On the comedy side, for instance, there's "Young Frankenstein." "Putting on the Ritz," for crying out loud. The scene with the hermit — and the panic on Boyle's face. Then, after the brain change, the way he plays a smartened up monster and makes you accept that as absolutely as you accepted him before the change.

But there are all these other movies where Boyle is simply dangerous to the other actors. Go rent "The Candidate" and look at how he takes over scenes with Redford. Or his time in "Taxi Driver." Or with Connery in "Outland." I don't think it was only Rosenthal that he scared. Anyone acting with Boyle had to know how to play.

About half an hour into a screening of "Dreamgirls" tonight, I was wondering when I would get to see it again. The Oscar hype is fully justified, up to and including a best picture nomination.

Jennifer Hudson is phenomenal — although, given the size-ism in Hollywood, I worry about how difficult it may be for her to get another role this good. For additional evidence see this profile of Jennifer Holliday, who starred in "Dreamgirls" on Broadway. I remember watching Holliday performing "And I Am Telling You" on TV when "Dreamgirls" was hot and she was transcendent. Hudson comes very close to matching her.

While this is fundamentally Hudson's movie,  I can easily see nominations for Jamie Foxx and Eddie Murphy. Until it has to serve the plot in the second half of the movie, it moves relentlessly. I expect to write a very favorable review.

Qualms: Some of this territory was covered in Robert Townsend's largely overlooked "The Five Heartbeats." Beyonce is appealing but probably too good a singer for her role; the movie makes more sense if her character is really mediocre, but Beyonce's not going to risk her future earnings that way. And the whole this-is-sort-of-but-not-really-the-Supremes really gets pushed to the limit — there are photos of Beyonce that are pure Diana, and at least one Dreams album cover that pretty much replicates one of the Supremes.

But a terrific movie overall. Really can't wait to see it again.

       You should be able to find my reviews of "Apocalypto" and "Blood Diamond" on ohio.com. The "Apocalypto" review came out all right, I thought, although some readers didn't appreciate one example of my sense of humor. I wish I had another crack at the "Blood Diamond" piece; I had to write it on the run because I had forgotten when it was opening, and the review could have used a little more work. I'm still not hugely enthused about the movie, but I probably could have explained myself better.

       Another reason for rushing "Blood Diamond" was that I had to get to a screening of "Rocky Balboa." I will admit here and now that I am stuck on "Rocky" movies. I am aware of their many flaws, but I have watched every one many times, even the bad ones. (My ranking of the first five, in descending order: I, 3, 2, 5, 4.) I am also aware of flaws in "Rocky Balboa," including a somewhat flabby midsection, but I still had a terrific time. Stallone has finally gotten back to what made the first "Rocky" so good — as well as offering a rumination on his own later career.

      The movie screenings, the keeping up of the HeldenFiles, some personal business and the onset of the holiday season have all kept me from watching a lot of TV.

     Caught last week's "Nip/Tuck" and realized why I had drifted away in the middle of the current season; too often, it just isn't that interesting, especially when it keeps going over the same emotional ground with Sean, Christian or both. And, even on a show this wildly melodramatic, the surprise appearance at the end of the episode was more of an "Oh, come on!" than an "Oh!"

    Kept up with "Survivor," without much enthusiasm. Wasn't it long past time for Jonathan to go? Enjoyed "30 Rock" and that may have been a good episode for wooing new viewers; heard from some friends who hadn't watched the show before, and who liked the episode. Of course, the best moment — Alec Baldwin's explaining his tuxedo — was spoiled by the promos.

  "Gilmore Girls" is still a habit. Sometimes I wonder why, especially when I am watching it, but later on, something will stick to the ribs. Loved Emily's speech to Lorelai about marriage. Loved Lorelai's struggle with compromise, which makes perfect sense in that relationship, although I wish Christopher did more than get pouty about it. Am not thrilled with the Luke-Anna-April story, partly because I hate Anna (whose shrilless is tiresome), partly because Luke has been such a lox about the whole thing.

   "Amazing Race" had to wait until we got back from a Christmas concert at church tonight. Missed a chunk of it because the DVR malfunctioned (again). But what I saw was enjoyable enough. Best line: "I'm giving them dodge."