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TV Corner: 'Incorporated' on Syfy
Science-fiction would probably not be a genre if the future held promise for a world in which everything is beautiful, people are friendly, freedom reigns, and cats and dog live together in peaceful co-existence.
The Syfy cable channel’s “Incorporated” sticks to the formula of a dystopian future in the year 2074 where the land has been ravaged, coastal cities have vanished and multinational corporations have replaced the government.
What might attract an audience for this show is the highly publicized involvement of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck as the producers. And maybe you will fall for the thriller elements, even though we’ve seen many of them before.
Seemingly taking a page from “Blade Runner,” the future is bleak in an America where the remaining population is located in heart of the Midwest and is divided between haves and have-nots.
If you are not working for the big corporate power Spiga in the safe, secure Green Zone, you would be relegated to a harsh and brutal life in the lawless Red Zone, where junior executives go slumming on a Friday night to score drugs and watch brutal cage fights.
All nations are under the control of large corporations, and there is a nicely humorous TV news bulletin about Canada building a wall to keep out more Americans from joining the 12 million already illegally residing in the Great White North.
The central character is Ben Larson (Sean Teale), an ambitious young man moving up the corporate ladder by devious means. He’s also married to Laura (Allison Miller), the daughter of the cagey, controlling Spiga CEO (Julia Ormond).
Competing with other junior executives all dressed in dark suits without ties, Ben’s true background is unknown not only to his superiors, but also to his wife. His primary mission, other than climbing the ladder at work, is to find a long-lost love left behind in the Red Zone.
To be sure, Ben won’t want to get on the wrong side of Spiga, because those who fail the company are sent to the “Quiet Room,” a chamber of horrors where Spiga enforcer Julian (Dennis Haysbert) proves to be sadistically frightening.
Spiga’s control even extends to family planning. Ben’s wife Laura may harbor her own secrets, but she surprises her husband with the news that the couple has been granted a “permit” to have a child.
When one of the executives is caught trying to leave for home with contraband electronic files, he’s dealt with harshly. Operating like the Stasi or KGB, Spiga tolerates no deviation from the corporate culture.
In a chilling talk with employees, the CEO intones that “Spiga is a generous mother” and that it “only asks for hard work and loyalty.” The alternative is for a fate that should be evident.
“Incorporated” has some interesting elements about the fate of humanity. When the CEO says that promotions require a vetting process, it’s clear that Ben may have something to fear because he has plenty to hide.
The question now is whether the Orwellian science-fiction thriller of “Incorporated” will deliver the promise of providing satisfying answers.
TV Corner: 'Hairspray Live!' on NBC network
The NBC network had such great success with a live theatrical performance for the Broadway musical “The Wiz” that the decision to do the same for the long-running musical “Hairspray” seemed like a wise programming move.
Since the film “Hairspray Live!” will be delivered as the title implies in a live telecast, there’s not much to go on for a review in advance other than a few clips made available and knowledge of the Broadway show.
To be more accurate, “Hairspray Live!” is also advertised as being based on the theatrical version, though I am not sure if it would be the 1988 film written and directed by John Waters or the 2007 edition that starred John Travolta as the iconic Edna Turnblad.
In all likelihood, “Hairspray Live!,” given the constraints of staging a live performance, should be much more similar to the Broadway production that starred Harvey Fierstein as Edna Turnblad, mother to a dance show hopeful.
NBC made the smart choice of bringing Fierstein into the program to reprise his Broadway role. He’s the perfect fit to encourage his chubby, sweet-natured daughter Tracy (Maddie Baillio) as the dance-loving teen who auditions for and wins a spot on “The Corny Collins Show.”
The setting is 1962 Baltimore where racial integration has yet to penetrate all segments of society. On the all-white TV show, Tracy becomes an overnight sensation and her newfound status as a celebrity brings societal changes in the vanguard of the civil rights era.
In the midst of charming the public with her winning persona, Tracy’s dream to dance results in her meeting a colorful array of characters including the resident dreamboat Link Larkin (Garrett Clayton) and the requisite mean girl Amber Von Tussle (Dove Cameron).
Another key character is Motormouth Maybelle, a role portrayed by Jennifer Hudson, the Grammy Award-winning recording artist who may be best known for her part as a member of a trio of soul singers in “Dreamgirls.”
If by chance you miss the telecast of “Hairspray Live!,” there is an unconfirmed report that the TV film will be released on DVD in time for the holidays.
Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – A monthly community social will be presented on Monday, Dec. 19, from 5 to 7 p.m. by the Lake Family Resource Center at the Middletown Methodist Church in Middletown.
Located at 15833 Armstrong St., this free family activity is sponsored by the Lake Area Rotary Club and Lake County Rising.
Dinner and fun activities for children is planned. All are welcome.
Middletown High student Elijah Canchola will provide instrumental guitar music for the evening. It is hoped some pianists also may contribute their talents.
These socials have continued monthly since April of this year in Middletown, Cobb and Lower Lake.
Their purpose is to give community members a chance to relax together during the long term recovery effort to restore their neighborhoods after this last year’s Lake County fires.
The president-elect recently announced his nomination of General James Mattis as secretary of defense in violation of federal law.
The law prohibits retired military personnel from severing as the civilian head of the Defense Department for seven years following separation from the military. The general retired from duty in May of 2013.
The response from the Republican-controlled Congress was not to advise the president-elect to follow the law but rather to insert a change to that law in an appropriations bill.
This change is a special exemption that applies only to General Mattis – not to any other potential nominee that might be proposed for this position in the future.
The original prohibition was passed for a solid reason. The military of the United States of America, unlike many non-democratic countries, is under the control of our civilian government. That prohibition was intended to help protect that principle.
Is this the type of governance we can expect from the president-elect and the Republican Party?
Dennis A. Rollins lives in Lakeport, Calif.
NORTH COAST, Calif. – Caltrans reports that the following road projects will be taking place around Lake County and the North Coast during the coming week.
Included are Mendocino County projects that may impact Lake County commuters.
LAKE COUNTY
Highway 20
– Pavement repairs from Sayre Avenue to Glenhaven Drive will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 5-minute delays. LC#C20CA
Highway 29
– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance 1.6 miles south of Konocti Forestry Camp on Monday, Dec. 12. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
MENDOCINO COUNTY
Highway 1
– PG&E has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility repairs near Fish Rock Road beginning Thursday, Dec. 15. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
– Bridge deck repairs at the Brush Creek will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
Highway 20
– Pavement repairs from the North Calpella Overcrossing to Cold Creek Bridge #3 will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect overnight from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 20-minute delays.
Highway 101
– Routine maintenance near Frog Woman Rock will continue. Northbound traffic will be restricted to one lane 25 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Reeves Canyon Road to Black Bart Drive beginning Monday, Dec. 12. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in both directions from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
– PG&E has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility repairs near Steele Lane on Tuesday, Dec. 13. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
– Emergency slide repairs just south of Standish-Hickey State Park will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
– PG&E has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility repairs near the Elizabeth Jane Rosewarne Memorial Bridge on Monday, Dec. 12. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to noon. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
Highway 162
– Geotechnical studies near the Middle Fork Eel River Bridge will begin Tuesday, Dec. 13. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
The Caltrans Traffic Operations Office has reviewed each project and determined that individual project delays are expected to be less than the statewide policy maximum of 30 minutes, unless noted otherwise above.
For information pertaining to emergency roadwork or for updates to scheduled roadwork, please contact the California Highway Information Network (CHIN) at 1-800-GAS-ROAD (1-800-427-7623).
LUCERNE, Calif. – California Water Service has made a $2,000 donation to benefit the Northshore Community Center.
Darin McCosker, local area manager for Cal Water's Redwood Valley District, presented the check to Nathan Maxman, the center's executive director, on Friday afternoon.
The funds will be used for the center's general operations, Maxman said.
The center is located at 10th and Country Club in Lucerne.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
The quagga mussel is a small, non-native freshwater mollusk that the Department of Water Resources had successfully prevented from infesting the State Water Project since the species was first discovered in California in 2007.
However, on Dec. 8, six adult quagga mussels were found in the Angeles Tunnel, which serves as a connector between Pyramid Lake and Elderberry Forebay, two State Water Project components north of Los Angeles.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife, or CDFW, has concluded that Pyramid Lake must be considered infested with the invasive species, and Elderberry Forebay and Castaic Lake, both downstream from Pyramid Lake, are presumed infested with the mussels.
The Department of Water Resources, or DWR, discovered the mussels during a scheduled inspection of Angeles Tunnel. Six adult quagga mussels were found in the tunnel.
DWR said there is no evidence of mussel reproduction, and no larval or “veliger” stage mussels have been found in Pyramid Lake during DWR’s routine monthly veliger detection monitoring.
No young sub-adult mussels were found in the tunnel, and no mussels have been found in Castaic Lake. Both lakes are actively monitored each month.
The “infested” determination for Pyramid Lake means boats must be inspected and thoroughly washed upon leaving the lake.
It also means those boats will not be granted a “clean boat” tag that normally is given to boats when they leave water bodies that do not contain quagga mussels. The tag is a visual sign that the boat does not require inspection prior to entering other bodies of water.
DWR currently is implementing the steps outlined in its rapid response plan. Notifications have been sent to CDFW, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the Los Angeles County Parks Department, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and SWP contractors affected by this discovery.
DWR’s response team is preparing to mobilize and delineate the extent of the mussel population. These efforts are being coordinated with CDFW, the State’s lead agency in invasive mussel management.
Quagga mussels can clog water systems, alter food webs in ecosystems and damage boat engines.
Concerns about the spread of the mussels across California has led to a Lake County Mussel Program, which requires screenings and stickers to help prevent the mussels' arrival, which can devastate a local ecosystem.