Mike Falick's Blog

New York Post Reviews "Big Medicine"

Here's a review on "Big Medicine" from today's New York Post.  (See my prior post on Season 2 of Big Medicine here).

STORIES BEHIND BYPASS SURGERY ON 'BIG MEDICINE'

Father and son team, Robert and Garth Davis, perform bypass surgery on an obese person.

Rating:

January 9, 2008 -- ONE benefit of the writers' strike is that people seem to be turning more and more to shows and events on TV that we all know we should watch, but just don't - not when there's the opportunity to watch something easy and brainless, instead.

In fact, now's a great time to get a look at some of the brain-food shows you always meant to watch but just never got around to doing.

Take "Big Medicine" on TLC. When I first heard the name, I thought it was a show about the big drug companies. But, instead, it's a show about morbidly-obese people and the doctors who treat them. And one viewing has done for me what all the diets and Weight Watchers never did: I may never eat again!

It's really fascinating to watch, not just the docs, but the people who actually eat themselves into the - yes! - 1,000-pound category.

Season 2 of Big Medicine Starts Tomorrow (January 9) at 9:00p CST

The second season of Big Medicine, the show created by my brother, Stephen David, and his partner, Darryl Silver, starts tomorrow, January 9, at 9:00p.  The show airs on Wednesdays on TLC (in the Houston area, TLC is Channel 63 on Comcast, Channel 183 on Dish, or Channel 280 on DirecTV).  For the complete schedule, click here.  The show is based here in Houston.  More information is also available on the Big Medicine website.

Here's the promo for this season:

"BIG MEDICINE" is back for its second season! Tune in to see the father and son surgeon team, Doctors Robert & Garth Davis as they tackle extreme cases of obesity in Houston, TX. This season is jam packed with bigger, better, and more emotional stories than ever! Favorite patient Allen Matta, the bed-bound 1000lb man, is back in the season premiere as he continues his quest to walk for the first time in seven years.

Prior shows from Stephen and Darryl include God or the Girl and Bound for Glory.

Here's Information on Tonight's Episode of Big Medicine

Tonight's episode of Big Medicine (created by my brother, Stephen David, and his partner, Darryl Silver) is described below.  The show airs on Mondays on TLC (in the Houston area, TLC is Channel 63 on Time Warner, Channel 183 on Dish, or Channel 280 on DirecTV) at 8p CDT.  More information is also available on the Big Medicine website or my prior post.

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Big Medicine
Self Destruct
TV-PG

Rose is in dire need of gastric bypass surgery. Robert and Garth have their hands tied and may not be able to operate because Rose doesn't seem able to properly prepare herself for surgery. And Sheron is ready to have all her excess skin removed.

Here's Information on Tonight's Episode of Big Medicine

Tonight's episode of Big Medicine (created by my brother, Stephen David, and his partner, Darryl Silver) is described below.  The show airs on Mondays on TLC (in the Houston area, TLC is Channel 63 on Time Warner, Channel 183 on Dish, or Channel 280 on DirecTV) at 8p CDT.  More information is also available on the Big Medicine website or my prior post.

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Big Medicine
Doctor Doctor
TV-PG

Jim Quinn chooses Robert over Garth to perform his surgery, the Doctors Davis perform a Gastric bypass on Allen Mata and former patient Charlissa Moore is now undergoing plastic surgery by Dr. Lomonaco to have excess skin removed due to her weight loss.

Off Topic: Big Medicine Has Great Debut with 1.4 Million Viewers

Thanks to all of you who read my prior post and tuned in for the premiere of the latest show created by my brother, Stephen David, and his partner, Darryl Silver -- Big Medicine.  The next episode is on Monday at 8p on TLC (in the Houston area, TLC is Channel 63 on Time Warner, Channel 183 on Dish, or Channel 280 on DirecTV).

The Big Medicine website has the following teaser for Monday's episode:

Jim Quinn chooses Robert over Garth to perform his surgery, the Doctors Davis perform a Gastric bypass on Allen Mata and former patient Charlissa Moore, is now undergoing plastic surgery by Dr. Lomonaco to have excess skin removed due to her weight loss.

Off Topic: My Brother's Latest TV Show -- Big Medicine -- Based Here in Houston, Airs Mondays Beginning Memorial Day, May 28

My brother, Stephen David, and his partner, Darryl Silver, have a new show  -- Big Medicine -- airing Mondays on TLC (in the Houston area, TLC is Channel 63 on Time Warner, Channel 183 on Dish, or Channel 280 on DirecTV) at 8p CDT beginning this Monday, May 28.  The show, which is described in my brother's email below, is based here in Houston.  More information is also available on the Big Medicine website.

Prior shows from Stephen and Darryl include God or the Girl and Bound for Glory.

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Stephen David and Darryl Silver invite you to watch the world premiere of their new show, BIG MEDICINE which premieres MEMORIAL DAY, Monday, May 28th at 9:00 pm EST/ 8:00 pm CST on TLC.  Executive Produced by Stephen David and Darryl Silver, The Idea Factory.

BIG MEDICINE offers a behind-the-scenes look into the controversial world of bariatric surgery. The series chronicles the emotional journeys and transformation of obese people who have opted to undergo weight-loss surgery in an attempt to regain their lives. Patients are captured at various stages in the process – before and during the surgery, through recovery and post-op care and often through cosmetic procedures designed to remove sagging skin after dramatic weight loss.

Often as gripping as the patient stories is the colorful relationship between this father and son team where old school meets new school head on. Dr. Robert Davis, aka "big D," is true to the old ways of medicine and sometimes finds new techniques too flashy or unnecessary, while Dr. Garth Davis, aka "little D," is eager to modernize the business. Despite these differences, the pair unites in the operating room to fight a common enemy and change lives forever.

The 1st season of BIG MEDICINE contains 13 Episodes airing every Monday night at 9:00 PM EST/ 8:00 PM CST on TLC.  BIG MEDICINE premieres on Monday May 28th at 9pm EST and will run throughout the summer!

For More information please visit BIG MEDICINE on the web at: http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/big-medicine/big-medicine.html

Mythbusters: The Results of Every Single Myth Challenged Available Here

On of the more interesting shows on the Discovery Channel is Mythbusters (described below).  The  Mythbusters' website now has a complete listing of the results of every single myth.

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Mythbusters is a television program on the Discovery Channel. It stars special effects experts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman, who use their expertise to test the validity of various rumors and urban legends.

 Format

Hyneman and Savage often use their extensive engineering and construction expertise to construct complex devices with which to perform experiments. The tests are usually a two-step process. First, an attempt is made to recreate the myth to determine if the circumstances, as described, achieve the alleged outcome. If that fails, they attempt to expand the parameters as much as necessary - often to absurd lengths - until the desired results are duplicated. There are some myths and urban legends the MythBusters refuse to test. Paranormal concepts, such as aliens or ghosts, are not addressed because they cannot be tested by scientific methods. The program also avoids experiments that cannot be tested safely, such as whether a wet poodle could be dried in a microwave oven.

 Busted, Plausible, or Confirmed?

By the end of each episode, each myth is rated "Busted", "Plausible", or "Confirmed."

Confirmed: The MythBusters are able to recreate the myth's purported outcome with the described circumstances. A myth can also be confirmed with documented evidence that it actually occurred.

Plausible: The myth's results can only be produced by expanding the parameters within a reasonable margin (that is, if the circumstances needed to make the myth work are impractical, but still possible), or by the practical necessity of setting additional parameters that may or may not have been part of the myth described. This judgment is used if a myth is possible but unlikely, or if documented accounts of the myth exist that the MythBusters were unable to duplicate (for safety or cost reasons).

Busted: The myth's results cannot be replicated via either the described parameters nor reasonably exaggerated ones. The myth's results could not be reproduced or could only be reproduced with parameters so unusual that the validity of the myth is unlikely.

Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader: Take this Quiz and Find Out

 

One of my kids' favorite shows is "Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?" -- mostly for the opportunity to mock adults who miss the questions.  The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has posted a quiz designed to let you determine if you are smarter than a fifth grader.  Good luck.

* Update: I found this quiz and this one which are both good tests of whether you're as smart as a fifth grader.

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So. Are you smarter than a fifth-grader? Take our quiz and find out. The questions were compiled by people who ought to know what fifth-graders should know: local fifth-grade teachers!

THEY OUGHT TO KNOW

The Milwaukee Public Schools fifth-grade teachers who came up with questions for this quiz are Kaela Zielinski, who teaches at Cass Street Elementary School, and Liz Schoone, who teaches at Golda Meir School.

1. What is a hyperbole?

2. Which chamber of the heart receives blood from the lungs?

3. Is the equator a line of latitude or longitude?

4. What is a mixed number?

5. What organ in the body produces bile?

6. What kind of a root is a carrot?

7. Nomadic tribes of American Plains Indians lived in what structures?

8. What did American Indians of the Northwest coast use to symbolize their clan and tell family stories?

9. Which is larger: 3/5 or 5/8?

10. What are the three branches of the United States government?

11. What are the names of the five Great Lakes?

12. How many hydrogen atoms are there in a molecule of water?

13. "You are as strong as an ox." Is this statement a simile or metaphor?

14. What part of speech is "after": An adverb, conjunction or preposition?

15. Who invented peanut butter?

16. How many pints are in 2 gallons?

17. How many feet are in 9 yards?

18. What part of speech describes a verb?

19. What is a proper noun?

20. What is something found on a plant cell that is not found on an animal cell?

ANSWERS

From the March 14, 2007 editions of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Off Topic: More Great Reviews for "God or the Girl"

I received this email today from my brother, Stephen David, one of the creators of "God or the Girl."  It shows the tremendous press this show is getting. Tune in Sunday at 8pm CST on A&E (Time Warner cable channel 23, DirecTV channel 265 and DISH channel 118).

If you haven't seen the promo for the show, you can watch it here.

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From: Stephen David
Sent: Friday, April 14, 2006 9:57 AM
To: Stephen David
Subject: GOD OR THE GIRL PREMIERE - EASTER SUNDAY

BELOW ARE SOME REVIEWS.

PREMIERES EASTER SUNDAY AT 9PM EST/ 8PM CST ON A&E!

HOPE YOU GET A CHANCE TO WATCH AND HOPE YOU ENJOY,

STEPHEN

“…Great, riveting stuff…”

            -- NY Post

“…★★★½… out of four…”

            NY POST

“…delivers a mesmerizing portrait of sincere souls in quest of their true selves…”

            --Newsday

"...respectful, decent and moving...  "

-People

“…★★★… out of four…”

            People

“…stands out as a breath of sanctified air…”

            --

Hollywood

Reporter

"...watching these men wrestle with this life-changing decision should be required viewing for critics of the church as well as the faithful..." Tenley Woodman, The

Boston

Herald

"...a surprisingly reverential treatment of a profound life passage..." Catholic News Service

“…the most intimate and revealing treatment of the vocational process ever presented…” The Catholic Herald

"Whatever your convictions, you have to respect the decision facing these young men...  B+" Entertainment Weekly

“…offers interesting insight” The Vancouver Province

Off Topic: Cast of God or the Girl to Appear on Larry King Live Tonight

Tonight's Larry King Live will feature the cast of "God or the Girl" which premieres this Sunday at 8pm CDT.  The third and fourth hours are the next night, Monday, April 17, 9-10 p.m. CDT, with the finale Sunday, April 23, 9-10 p.m. CDT. A&E is available in Houston on Time Warner cable channel 23, DirecTV channel 265 and DISH channel 118.

"God or the Girl" has been getting a lot of press and now generates 90,300 hits on a Google search.