The Click

August 9th - 15th

My younger siblings, Katherine (age 9) and Christian (age 14) are currently staying at my apartment. Rather than shelter myself away in my room and leave them to destroy or maybe steal my personal effects, I thought I'd invite them into the column-writing fold a little bit.

Katherine, what is your opinion on the inroads that streaming video sites are making towards becoming the de-facto method of viewing pre-programmed entertainment versus television, and do you believe that TV networks will still be able to turn a profit in the coming years, or are they already becoming outmoded?

Katherine: ...

Christian, what is your favorite exploding head that you've seen, in either movies, video games, or cartoons?

Christian: Um... there was one that was pretty cool that had a guy's mouth filled up with gasoline, and a guy threw a match in it.

Thank you, guys! And now, on with THE CLICK as per usual.

Bleach
(YTV)
Saturday August 9 9:30pm - Episode 56

Innumerable, thunderous plaudits by way of my wonderful readers! YOU, yes, YOU keep me up to date on YTV's schedule shenanigans when their own schedule fails! Episode 56 of Bleach is airing this week, the one in which Yoruichi engages in some serious CAT-fights (GET IT because she is a cat half the time in the series!!!) with her former student, the nubile Soi Fong. Action, intrigue, mild lesbian overtones!

PREMIERES:

Bakugan Battle Brawlers
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday August 9 11:00am - Episode 24 "Secret of Success" (Repeats Sun Aug 10 10:30am)

Bakugan isn't all about battling and saving the universe from some non-threatening, kid-friendly conceptualization of evil; no, Bakugan can help us all learn and grow a little, such as this episode, wherein a young man discovers the strength HE ALWAYS HAD to overcome his rival. Thanks to Bakugan. Tune in later, to see if Bakugan can help overcome, say, cocaine addictions, jaundice, and Flabby Brain Syndrome.

Bleach
(Adult Swim)
Sunday August 10 12:30am - Episode 76 (Repeats Sun Aug 10 3:30am)

So-called "Mod Souls" run amok, leading Rukia towards the auspices of a former member of the Soul Society's elite 11th Division. Also Ichigo fights someone, and wins against impossible odds somehow.

Code Geass
(Adult Swim)
Sunday August 10 1:00am - Episode 16 "Nunnally Held Hostage" (Repeats Sun Aug 10 4:00am)

Lelouch is shocked - SHOCKED - to discover that his enemies have captured his sister Nunnally, and devises a little scheme to get her back. He's a clever little chap, that one.

Digimon
(Toon Disney)
Monday August 11 9:30pm - Episode 253 "The Royal Knights Assemble!" (Repeats Tue Aug 12 2:30am, Fri Aug 15 9:30pm, Sat Aug 16 2:30am)

Marcus and his D-Team of Digi-men heads towards the war-torn Digital World to put a stop to King Drasil's reign of Digital Terror. Will he put a stop to malicious spyware and gratuitous spam?!?

Ghost Slayers Ayashi
(ImaginAsianTV)
Wednesday August 13 10:00pm - Episode 2 "The Mountain God Descends" (Repeats Thu Aug 14 2:30am)

It's like the movie Ghostbusters! Except in feudal Japan, and with Samurai instead of Dan Akroyd and Bill Murray, and creepy ghosts called "Youi" based upon Japanese folk legend instead of fun-loving green ghosts named Slimer. So in fact, nothing like the movie Ghostbusters.

Gurren Lagann
(Sci Fi)
-Monday August 11 11:00pm - Episode 5 "I Don't Understand it at All"
-Monday August 11 11:30pm - Episode 6 "All of You Bastards Put Us in Hot Water"

Those oddball guys (and token, scantily-clad gal) of the Gurren Brigade haphazardly discover an underground village that is no doubt up to no good; nonetheless, the Gurren Brigade manages to recruit some new members amidst the fracas.

Kyo Kara Maoh
(ImaginAsianTV)
Saturday August 16 3:30am - Episode 78 "Until the Day We Meet Again"

And thus, Kyo Kara Maoh ends its altogether inconspicuous jaunt on US Television in that most ignominious of fashions: by airing at a deadly early timeslot. Too bad, especially since I mistook two of last week's premiere episodes as repeats. It's like I knew it was dead already and just didn't care. Life is cruel, sometimes. So, watch as Yuri makes a fateful decision to stay and rule in the Demon Kingdom, or return home to his family and loved ones.

Mai Hime
(ImaginAsianTV)
Wednesday August 13 8:00pm - Episode 2 "After-School Secrets" (Repeats Thu Aug 14 1:30am)

After all the chaos and commotion in the previous episode, Mai is called into question regarding the strange attacks by the strange girls and their strangely short skirts, and things get far stranger when one of the girls in the tiny, tiny outfits in question turns out to be a student herself.

Naruto
(Cartoon Network)
-Saturday August 9 9:00pm - Episode 186 "Laughing Shino"
-Saturday August 9 9:30pm - Episode 187 "Open for Business: The Leaf Moving Service"

(YTV)
Saturday August 9 9:00pm - Episode 149 "What's the Difference? Don't All Insects Look Like?"

IN USA: Naruto gets some of his strangest missions yet, including one involving an inheritance that is predicated upon laughter, and another that requires our ninja-in-training to act as both bodyguard and surly, professional mover. Being a ninja kinda sucks sometimes. IN CANADA: Hinata helps the gang look for the rare Bikochu beetle, but things get complicated when she gets kidnapped.

Now and Then, Here and There
(Sci Fi)
-Tuesday August 12 12:00am - Episode 5 "Murder"
-Tuesday August 12 12:30am - Episode 6 "Disappearance in a Sandstorm"

After a bungled assassination attempt, Shu's gaggle of child soldiers encounters one of the men responsible. There, they're faced with a grim task of capturing him, possibly alive, possibly dead. Sounds like a hoot!

Planetes
(ImaginAsianTV)
Wednesday August 13 9:30pm - Episode 2 "Like a Dream" (Repeats Thu Aug 14 2:00am)

Fresh-faced upstart Hachimaki wants very badly to get his own spaceship someday - but until then, he's stuck gathering garbage and space crap for The Man. Sucks.

Pokemon
(Cartoon Network)
Saturday August 9 9:30am - Episode 534 "Enter Galactic"

On their way to Veilstone City, Ash and his company of Poke-compatriots run afoul of Team Galactic, who aspire to steal... Meteors?! What the hell.

Scrapped Princess
(ImaginAsianTV)
Wednesday August 13 9:00pm - Episode 2 "March of the Half-Baked Knight"

Pacifica, the 15-year old Princess who's sort of like Sleeping Beauty from Bizarro Land, in the sense that she is destined to DESTROY THE WORLD on her next birthday instead of, uh, sleep, hires a new goofball knight to aid in her journey.

Shin Chan
(Adult Swim)
Sunday August 10 12:00am - Episode 44 "A Penny For Your Thoughts and Suicidal Tendencies / It's Raining Shin / Dildor, Sword Receiveth!" (Repeats Sun Aug 10 3:00am)

Shin drops his pants during a heavy rain storm, wagging his junk around. Later, he drops his pants and wags his junk in front of a scraggly, homeless samurai that he befriends. In a totally non-creepy way, either.

Speed Grapher
(IFC)
Friday August 15 11:00pm - Episode 24 "The Roppongi Crisis" (Repeats Sat Aug 16 2:00am)

Speed Grapher ends with a bang! Well, several bangs really - Tokyo is about to become an entrail-strewn, fiery battleground, stocked high with corpses and death and sorrow, unless Saiga can stop Suitengu from launching his fiendish plot.

Yu-Gi-Oh! GX
(CW Kids)
-Saturday August 9 11:00am - Episode 151 "The Power Within, Part 1"
-Saturday August 9 11:30am - Episode 152 "The Power Within, Part 2"

Jaden has vowed to save his friend Jesse, and I will give you a clue as to what Jaden needs to do to accomplish this goal. Two words. 10 letters. 3 vowels. Anagram: Lab Tact Red.

Zatch Bell
(YTV)
Saturday August 9 9:00pm - Episode 91 "Naomi's Evil Plot"

Kiyo's mom needs to run some errands, and Zatch and Ponygon come along to help. Sounds like a recipe - for WACKINESS! And does it ever.

MOVIES/FEATURES

Pokemon 3: The Movie
(Cartoon Network)
Sunday August 10 9:00am

Karas: The Prophecy
(Starz 2)
Wednesday August 13 12:50am

Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex: Solid State Society
(Encore 5)
Friday August 15 6:15pm

Nothing terribly exciting on the movie front, as usual, but Ghost in the Shell is always good. I think I've said that before, though. And speaking of repeating myself ad nauseum: Karas the Prophecy! Good God. Enough already. And Pokemon, which is exciting if you're young or just young enough to have just discovered nostalgia.

And that's all! I'll be back next week with some fresh new content, as per my stipulated contract.

REPEATS/STRIPS

Ayakashi
(ImaginAsianTV)
-Thu Aug 14 10:30pm - Episode 10 "Goblin Cat, Part 2" (R Fri Aug 15 2:00am)

Bakugan Battle Brawlers
(Cartoon Network)
-Mon Aug 11 8:00am - Episode 11 "Grampa's Got a Brand New Bakugan"
-Tue Aug 12 8:00am - Episode 12 "Bakugan Still"
-Wed Aug 13 8:00am - Episode 13 "Just For the Shun of it"
-Thu Aug 14 8:00am - Episode 14 "The Story of Vestroia"
-Fri Aug 15 8:00am - Episode 15 "Duel in the Desert"

Black Lagoon
(Starz 2)
-Sat Aug 9 6:30am - Episode 9 "Maid to Kill"
-Sat Aug 9 7:00am - Episode 10 "The Unstoppable Chambermaid"
-Sun Aug 10 5:15am - Episode 11 "Lock n' Load Revolution"

Cowboy Bebop
(Adult Swim)
-Sun Aug 10 1:30am - Episode 21 "Boogie-Woogie Feng-Shui" (R Sun Aug 10 4:30am)

Digimon
(Toon Disney
-Sun Aug 10 1:30am - Episode 194 "The Man in the Moon is You"
-Sun Aug 10 6:30am - Episode 195 "Bully Pulpit" (R Mon Aug 11 1:30am)
-Mon Aug 11 6:30am - Episode 163 "The Odd One Out"
-Tue Aug 12 6:30am - Episode 164 "Welcome to My Nightmare"
-Wed Aug 13 6:30am - Episode 165 "Can't Keep a Grumblemon Down"
-Thu Aug 14 6:30am - Episode 166 "A Hunka Hunka Burning Greymon"
-Fri Aug 15 6:30am - Episode 167 "Fear and Loathing in Los Arbol"
-Sat Aug 16 6:30am - Episode 196 "Jerks and the Beanstalk"

Dinosaur King
(4KidsTV)
-Sat Aug 9 10:30am - Episode 17 "Field of Screams"

Gunslinger Girl
(IFC)
-Fri Aug 15 11:30pm - Episode 7 "Protection; Protozione" (R Sat Aug 16 2:30am)

Inuyasha
(Adult Swim)
-Sun Aug 10 5:00am - Episode 1 "The Girl Who Overcame Time and the Boy Who Was Just Overcome"
-Sun Aug 10 5:30am - Episode 2 "Seekers of the Sacred Jewel"
-Mon Aug 11 5:00am - Episode 3 "Down the Rabbit Hole and Back Again"
-Mon Aug 11 5:30am - Episode 4 "Yura of the Demon Hair"
-Tue Aug 12 5:30am - Episode 5 "Aristocratic Assassin, Sesshomaru"
-Wed Aug 13 5:30am - Episode 6 "Tetsusaiga, the Phantom Sword"
-Thu Aug 14 5:30am - Episode 7 "Showdown! Inuyasha vs. Sesshomaru"
-Fri Aug 15 5:30am - Episode 8 "Toad Who Would be Prince"
-Sat Aug 16 5:30am - Episode 9 "Enter Shippo Plus the Amazing Thunder Brothers!"

Kirby: Right Back at Ya!
(4KidsTV)
-Sat Aug 9 11:00am - Episode 39 "Prediction: Predicament, Part 2"

Kyo Kara Maoh
(ImaginAsianTV)
-Sat Aug 9 9:00am - Episode 76 "Inside the Darkness" (R Sat Aug 9 3:00pm, Sun Aug 10 11:00am)
-Sat Aug 9 9:30am - Episode 77 "The Descent of the Demon King" (R Sat Aug 9 3:30pm, Sun Aug 10 11:30am)

Law of Ueki
(ImaginAsianTV)
-Sat Aug 9 8:00am - Episode 33 "Assault! The Law of Ueki vs. Li Ho" (R Sat Aug 9 2:00pm, Sun Aug 10 10:00am)
-Sat Aug 9 8:30am - Episode 34 "The Law of Team Marilyn" (R Sat Aug 9 2:30pm, Sun Aug 10 10:30am)

Oban Star-Racers
(Toon Disney)
-Sun Aug 10 2:30am - Episode 11 "Silent Like Spirit"
-Mon Aug 11 2:30am - Episode 12 "The Will to Win"

Pokemon
(Cartoon Network)
-Sat Aug 9 9:00am - Episode 533 "A Triple Fighting Chance"
-Mon Aug 11 7:00am - Episode 315 "Watt's With Wattson?"
-Mon Aug 11 7:30am - Episode 264 "Address Unown!"
-Tue Aug 12 7:00am - Episode 265 "Mother of All Battles"
-Tue Aug 12 7:30am - Episode 266 "Pop Goes the Sneasel"
-Wed Aug 13 7:00am - Episode 267 "A Claim to Flame!"
-Wed Aug 13 7:30am - Episode 268 "Love, Pokemon Style"
-Thu Aug 14 7:00am - Episode 269 "Tie One On!"
-Thu Aug 14 7:30am - Episode 270 "The Ties That Bind"
-Fri Aug 15 7:00am - Episode 271 "Can't Beat the Heat!"
-Fri Aug 15 7:30am - Episode 272 "Playing With Fire!"

Samurai 7
(IFC)
-Thu Aug 14 8:35pm - Episode 6 "The Fool"

Shinzo
(Toon Disney)
-Tue Aug 12 4:00am - Episode 4 "Day at the Park"
-Wed Aug 13 4:00am - Episode 5 "Kiri"
-Thu Aug 14 4:00am - Episode 6 "Battling Daku"
-Fri Aug 15 4:00am - Episode 7 "Into the Jungle"
-Sat Aug 16 4:00am - Episode 8 "Reptiles"

Sonic X
(4KidsTV)
-Sat Aug 9 10:00am - Episode 8 "Satellite Swindle"

Special Duty Combat Unit: Shinesman
(Encore 5)
-Tue Aug 12 9:30am - Episode TBA
-Wed Aug 13 6:50am - Episode TBA
-Wed Aug 13 7:25am - Episode TBA

Speed Grapher
(IFC)
-Mon Aug 11 8:30pm - Episode 23 "Tender Grave" (R Tue Aug 12 12:30am)

Transformers Animated
(Cartoon Network)
-Sat Aug 9 10:30am - Episode 7 "Nanosec" (R Sun Aug 10 11:00am)
-Mon Aug 11 6:00am - Episode 26 "Black Friday"
-Tue Aug 12 6:00am - Episode 27 "Sari, No One's Home"
-Wed Aug 13 6:00am - Episode 28 "A Bridge Too Close, Part 1"
-Thu Aug 14 6:00am - Episode 29 "A Bridge Too Close, Part 2"
-Fri Aug 15 6:00am - Episode 13 "Headmaster"

Yu-Gi-Oh! GX
(Cartoon Network)
-Mon Aug 11 6:30am - Episode 132 "A New World Order"
-Tue Aug 12 6:30am - Episode 133 "Friend or Fiend"
-Wed Aug 13 6:30am - Episode 134 "Dueling With the Dark Army"
-Thu Aug 14 6:30am - Episode 135 "Turning the Page, Part 1"
-Fri Aug 15 6:30am - Episode 136 "Turning the Page, Part 2"