CW's "Jane the Virgin" is Sweet and Funny

I've been watching "Jane the Virgin" promos and I thought it was going to be a hokey show. Well it is a little bit hokey, but it's also fun and funny, especially the guy who narrates flashbacks and adds his 2 cents to the on-screen action.

I love the way Gina Rodriguez portrays Jane. She's a grown-up, but she seems a little too sweet to be an adult. I know you'll probably hear this a lot, but her character reminds me a little of "Ugly Betty."

I like the show, which is going to be a problem for me. The last thing I need is to be hooked on another TV show. I'm at my limit.

The plot goes like this

Jane is a young Latino lady. She remained a virgin because she didn't want to turn out like her mother, but she's pregnant anyway. (Her mother got pregnant with Jane when she was 16 and never told her father--who is now a sexy TV star.)

A doctor inseminated Jane with someone else's sperm by mistake. That's probably for the best because the wife of the owner of the sperm is cheating on him. In fact he just asked her for a divorce. Of course you got some of this if you've seen any of the bizillion promos aired over the past few months

Jane is now engaged to her boyfriend. They're treating the pregnancy like a minor speed-bump in the road of life. They have a plan: She will have the baby and turn it over to the "loving parents."

Jane's fun family

Jane's quirky family members help keep the fun going.

• Her mother is young--remember she got pregnant with Jane when she was 16. She's youthful enough to be a sexy night club dancer.

• Jane's father--whom she'd never met--showed up out of nowhere. He's a TV star. He's easy on the eyes, and he's stressing Jane's mom a lot.

• Jane's Spanish-speaking only Abuela (grandma) is sporting a mellow transformation from the mean-ish mother she was when her daughter first announced her pregnancy. She wants Jane to keep the baby, even though she didn't quite get the idea of insemination. Jane couldn't think of a word for it in Spanish. 

It's a fun show that you don't have to have cable to see. It's on CW at 9:00 P.M. on Mondays.

'The Rifleman' Taught Me 5 Important Lessons About Life

It's Old School, Black & White TV, but You Still Might Learn Something

Chuck Conners and Johnny Crawford
as "The Rifleman" Lucas McCain, and his son, Mark.
Wikimedia. public domain. 1960

Since I don't have cable, I watch a lot of reruns. That's okay with me. I love reruns. They take me way back.

Today's TV dramas do little to inspire, motivate or teach me; that's why I was excited when original episodes of "The Rifleman" made a comeback. As a kid, I learned a lot of life lessons from Lucas McCain (Chuck Conners). He was hard working, fast with a gun, and a loving father to his son Mark (Johnny Crawford). Lucas' portrayal of a strong fatherhood role model reminds me of my own father. That's probably why these lessons stuck with me all these years.

Lesson #1- It's tough being a single parent

Lucas was a former union soldier, a rancher, and a widower. He was a single father long before single parenthood was trendy on TV. Money was tight and chores were never-ending. Both Lucas and Mark struggled to fill the void left by their absent wife and mother. Weekly slices of life with "The Rifleman" showed me the hardships of single parenthood long before it became my reality.

Lesson #2- Being original has its benefits

"The Rifleman" was so fast with his Winchester rifle that he could beat any cowpoke, bank robber, or gunslinger to the draw. Lucas was an original. He was tall, handsome, cool-headed, loyal, and an all round nice guy. He re-worked his rifle into an original as well. He gave it an unusual looking repeating trigger that helped him shoot faster than any bad guy around.

Lesson #3- Sometimes you have to get angry, wild and crazy to protect those you love

Lucas was cool-headed, except for when it came to protecting his son. Then he might just shoot a few holes in somebody and ask questions later. Mark was smart, but his innocence-bordering-on-stupidity got him into a lot of trouble. He routinely offered bad guys food and water, told killers the way to the ranch, and took the shortcut through the dangerous canyon where criminals hung out. Mark's troubles were often his own fault. Still Lucas would get wild and crazy with any culprit who'd dare take advantage of his son's poor judgment.

Lesson #4- Don't let anyone force you to give up what's yours 

People were always trying to buy the McCain ranch... or steal it, but Lucas wouldn't budge. The ranch belonged to him and his son, just like his horses, his rifle, his cattle, his shabby little home, or anything else with the McCain brand. Anyone who tried to take what Lucas and his son worked hard for got a personal demo of his shooting skills. (Rethink this lesson if the bad guys have a gun and you don't)

Lesson #5- Some guys do know how to say "I love you"

During the late 50s and early 60s, an era when TV men were tough and on-screen families included a mom, a dad and a few kids, it was just Mark and Lucas alone on the ranch. They worked hard most of the time, but they also shared lots of laughs, hugs, tender moments, and expressions of love.

You can learn everything you need to know about "The Rifleman" at therifleman.net. You can catch your own Rifleman wisdom with episodes on Memorable Entertainment Television (Metv), AMC, and other vintage TV networks.

Originally published on Yahoo Voices

Installing an Antenna is the Key to Free Digital TV Reception

Antenna Montage Photo: David Jordan: Creative Commons Share Alike 3.0 license

I gave up cable long ago, so it was hard to imagine that the simple act of kicking pay-TV to the curb might not be as simple as it sounds. 

It was also unimaginable to me that I might know more about non free TV services than most people, but a recent NPD Group survey showed me that only 16% of American households have made the free TV decision. That means 94% still use a monthly pay service to receive their television signals and probably never considered that there was an alternative.

I'm no expert, but I've been using antenna technology for several years. I also love watching television, and saving money. Those key facts motivated me to learn what I needed to know about digital TV reception. They also motivated me to share what I know so you can save money as well.

You'll need a replacement

Before you drop off the cable company's little black box, you'll need an antenna. It's an easy DIY if your TV is a newer digital model. If your television is old like mine, there's still a fix available that will let your TV antenna receive the free digital signals.

Installing a digital converter box

If you have an older model television, you'll need to purchase one of the digital boxes that came on the market just before the analog to digital switch. You can buy one for around $40. online or at discount department stores:

• Purchase a converter box. (It resembles a small cable box.) It will include a remote and a coaxial cord.
• Follow the instructions to attach the box to your television.
• Install your TV antenna.
• Follow the on-screen prompts to scan channels and set up screen preferences.

Installing an indoor antenna

A digital TV may pick up a few signals without an antenna, but an older TV with a digital box has to have a TV antenna before you scan for signals. They come in a range of prices. I purchased an inexpensive set of rabbit ears. It took minutes to attach it to my digital box and scan for signals.

I was amazed the first time I watched TV with a converter box and antenna. My TV jumped from receiving 5 channels to 37, including signals from 50 miles away. My favorites are the retro channels that air black and white shows like "The Rifleman" and "The Untouchables." I also really love the difference with the HD channels.

Installing a rooftop antenna?

If you live in an area with geographical or structural obstructions, you should learn more about rooftop antennas. I live in an apartment, where I'm not allowed to have a rooftop antenna, but I've learned that they receive signals from a greater distance and will receive even more free channels. Exterior antennas are a little more complicated to install. From reviewing an antenna installation blog, it sounded a bit complicated, but I was still able to pick up a few tips to pass along.

• You can purchase rooftop antennas for $30. to $300. dollars.
• Be sure to purchase coaxial cable, bands, connectors and other hardware you'll need.
• Assemble the antenna and mast (The metal Pole that elevates the antenna).
• Secure the mast to the best location: the eave of your roof or your chimney.
• Secure your cable to your mast with electrical tape, as a cable that moves freely in a breeze will hinder signal reception.
• Test for the best placement to receive the best signal.
• You can buy an optional rotor to rotate your antenna from inside the house when it needs to be adjusted for a better signal.
• Your digital converter box also has a signal strength indicator that can guide you to receive the best signal.
• If you're working on a roof, have a spotter, someone to look out for danger while you work and also to check the picture quality of your television as you make antenna adjustments.
• The range of channels you receive with a rooftop antenna will vary depending on your location.
• A directional antenna should face the direction of the most powerful TV signal.
• A multidirectional antenna can pull in signals from several directions.

Do you DIY?

There are lots of DIY people who may get excited about the idea of installing an antenna to save money, but the process probably sounds intimidating to most. That could be one reason why people haven't changed to antenna technology even though it would mean the end of monthly cable or satellite fees. If you're not the handy type, you may wish to contact your local TV Antenna professional or check with an online referral service to find a professional in your area.

Article originally published on Yahoo Voices

Dealing With Hundred Channel Withdrawal

Old TV with a digital converter. (The rabbit ears are in the window.)

I haven't had cable TV since the late nineties. I admit it, cutting the cord was tough. In fact, if former cable TV junkies had a 12-step program, I would have been there every night until my hundred-channel withdrawal mellowed.  

I had to let cable go. In my low-budget, self-employed life, the $80. it cost to keep entertainment flowing 24/7 was a week of grocery and gas money. Besides, cable wasn't a necessity; so I let it go and I haven't looked back.

Breaking up is hard to do

HBO movies and History Channel documentaries were my friends. I was divorced and often man-less, so commercial-less shows were the sweet background noise to my work-alone life. Letting them go felt like breaking up with yet another boyfriend. But I kicked my cable box to the curb and grieved a little. Then I moved on.

I filled my cable void with work and talk radio (Christian and secular.) I immersed my brain in PBS documentaries. Afternoons I took a break from work and dozed in and out with the semi-sweet dialogue of "All My Children," "One Life to Live," and "General Hospital." I hadn't watched soaps in nearly a decade, but it took only a few episodes to get caught up on years of plot twists. 

Talk Radio used to be entertaining

Obama and his cronies probably displaced
"Clinton and his Cronies" on Right Wing talk radio

Talk radio shows multiplied during the post Clinton years. I should have been happy for the free entertainment. But all those radio talk jocks had a thing about "...Clinton and his cronies...," and how they were pretty much responsible for everything wrong. Clinton had been an ex-president for a while, so eventually all that fascinating Right Wing political jibber-jabber got to be pretty boring.

Of course, these days it's probably "...Obama and his cronies..." I don't know for sure. I cut the cord on talk radio long before the 2008 Tea Party infusion shook things up.

Free TV is sweet

When the government cut analog signals in 2009, TV became digital broadcast only. It was an inconvenience for non-cable people like me. Free TV signals meant installing a cable connection, buying a new digital television, or locating a converter box plus an old-school "rabbit ears" antenna.

My no-frills life pushed me to the cheapest option-- a $40. government coupon to spend on a converter box. I got a cheapie set of rabbit ears, and witnessed a small miracle. My favorite shows were digital and crystal clear. Plus oldies I'd seen as a kid--"Rifleman," "Gunsmoke"--were back like they'd never gone away. 

DTV.GOV calls it "multicasting." Digital signals allow local TV stations to add sub-channels like Memorable Entertainment Television, Bounce TV, and Retro Television, which air old movies and shows I watched as a child.

Online TV is cool 

My computer also taught this old girl a few new TV tricks. Some network show sites offer recent episodes on line. If I miss "Scandal," I can see it the next day 8 days later or get caught up on HULU.com the next day if I want to pay for it.

And if I need a movie fix

The neighborhood Hollywood and Blockbuster video stores are long gone. But I can still get DVDs from Netflix. They will send my choice of movies by mail or I can watch them online. And Red Box is exactly that-- a big red box outside my grocery store that vends DVDs for a quick movie fix. And when all else fails, I can go for a walk in the park. 

Giving up Cable TV wasn't easy, but I did it. If I can survive this long without it, anyone can. 

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