Last week, SFist proved we aren't afraid to dig into the scarier side of San Francisco--at least when it's on TV. And this week is no different!
First off, Spike Lee's Sucker-Free City is finally hitting the air. This drama that follows the violent, intertwining lives of three San Francisco gang members from vastly different neighborhoods was originally intended to be a series, but Showtime balked and Lee was forced to limit his vision to two hours. However, judging from his last film, we think that might not have been such a bad call on their part. While Lee has made some terrific films in the past, he's also made some that are completely muddled by his message and he has yet to match, let alone top the mastery he demonstrated with Do the Right Thing. Early reports indicate that this film does not reach those heights. SFist regrets that we can not provide you with a proper review as we weren't provided with a screener copy, and we also don't have Showtime. Doh! But we are pleased to report that the film was actually shot in the City, and utilizes locations in the Mission, Chinatown, and Hunter's Point. The cast includes Ben Crowley, Ken Leung, Reynaldo Rosales, and John Savage. It premieres this Saturday at 8 p.m. on Showtime, with reruns throughout the month.
Image from Showtime.com
Last week's theme of San Francisco and dog maulings continues this week with A&E's rerun of "American Justice: The San Francisco Dog Mauling". Of course the infamous trial has been covered to death (sorry) by the media, but anyone unfamiliar with the case, or anyone simply hoping to catch images of attorney Nedra Ruiz crying or crawling on the floor of the courtroom need look no further than A&E tonight at 7 p.m. A&E also promises to run that special about the San Francisco vice squad tonight at 9, as they didn't seem to actually air it last week (at least not at the time SFist set our TiVo!)
For slightly less violent viewing (unless you find the sight of numerous fashion victims disturbing) then tune in to The Grammys this Sunday at 8 p.m. on CBS. Local boys Green Day are up for seven awards, and while we wish them all the luck in the world, we also kind of agree with the opinion expressed on a classic episode of "The Simpsons" in which Homer tries to give his Grammy away to a bellhop, who tosses it over a balcony in disgust, only to have it tossed back up in equal disgust, where it hits Homer in the head.
Not that winning won't be totally awesome, guys. We're rooting for you!
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I totally thought it was just my TiVo that had screwed up changing the channel for last week's SF Vice! (Did you see today's Onion article, "'Get TiVo' is Friend's Solution to Everything"?).
Also, I took the 33 bus last weekend and saw the house from one of the Animal Cops SF episodes where the hipsters' two pit bulls attacked the Chinese parents of their neighbor. There was a big BEWARE OF DOG sign on the building.
After watching "Animal Cops" I'm so super conscious of people and their dogs now, ("Hmmm...wonder if that dog's wearing a muzzle because he's registered as vicious?") and I'm constantly wondering if there are secret crazy cat houses somwhere in my hood. (No--not THOSE kinds of cat houses. Have to watch that vice show to learn about those.)
In defense of muzzled dogs everywhere, I'd like to point out that a lot of them might be on their way to/from MUNI, which requires all passenger dogs to be muzzled. The first time Franny had to ride the N, she was so adorably annoyed by this, scraping her muzzle along the sidewalk trying to get it off, that I almost dies of cuteness. A muzzled dauschund is quite a silly sight.
Oh, totally. I fully own up to the fact that I am now prejudging most muzzled dogs unfarely. Stupid "Animal Cops."
I'm glad you admit this, Rain, or I'd have to sic Franny on you.
Is there like a Megan's List for dogs that have been deemed vicious and unmanageable? I want to look up my block and see which dogs I should not try and pat on the way to work. Also, do you think we could get Emily to interview that police officer/judge in the dog court, Bill Herndon?
Oh..i'm going to interview him. And demand that they make a Megan's dog site.. any good idea for names?
I think the obvious choice would be to name it after Diane Whipple...
I think we should name the list after us! The SFist Vicious Dog List, that'd be great.
And... so I watched SF Vice tonight. You know, I watch San Francisco shows largely to see if my block shows up. So not only is my block on not once but twice on SF Vice -- one of the times, the drug bust is RIGHT OUTSIDE MY HOUSE!!!!! I'm kind of overwhelmed -- I mean, I only watch to see my house, so now that I've seen my house, I kind of don't know what to do next! Of course I have green-dotted this show on my TiVo and plan to show the drug bust scene to anyone who comes over to my place in the future.
ha ha ha! That's so funny! Imagine how I felt when I was watching it and saw them arrest my boyfriend for solicitation!
Just kidding.