TV GUIDE Previews (Part I)

Look Inside!! EXCLUSIVE

  The Middletown Insider gives readers a sneak preview at the new television season for Middletown 2014!   The list has a lot to pick from and if you read real carefully you may find yourself a treat like an Easter egg or two!

1)   The Mayor and His Mom (FOX)- This ½ hour comedy on the FOX network tells the tale of a former Mayor and his Mom who co-habitat together, argue with one another and basically drive one another batty in a style that is reminiscence of Neil Simon’s classic play The Odd Couple.

2)        Devoto and The Man- (Satire/Encore Vineyard Networks) Follow the adventures of a college professor turned politico as he uses his followers, known as the The Villagers, on his quest for domination of the town’s planning and zoning committee.  The  pilot episode focuses on the professor's many ambitions and shameless deal making techniques in order to become chairperson of an organization he  just joined.  Watch as  his beloved Dems chew him up and spit him up while in the same breath he hopes to dodge a political bullet by putting a “Vote Serra” sign on front lawn.

3)       P/Z Commissioner Russo in Charge (BET)- From the team that brought you Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Charles in Charge comes P/Z Russo in Charge.  Directed by the DMTC and their minions, after Commissioner Chisem is forced to stop down and settle in at his Common Council seat, the DMTC has a field day with this one by naming Daniel Russo, Chisem’s successor.  Watch as the entitled Villagers write letter after letter hoping to force a change against Russo who they openly dumped on (remember how nasty they were?)throughout both campaigns.  The second episode deals with Karma as it crosses over with Devoto and the Man as the viewers see the professor's reaction when he was told Russo beat him for chair.

4)        Bait Car-(Reality on F/X Network) Watch as Republican Town Committee Vice-Chair person William “Billy” Wilson drives a taxicab all around Middletown looking for trouble with the hopes that he can pick up a few fares while keeping his tire threads from going bald.

5)         Phillip Pessina- (Biography Network) The educational channel looks at former deputy chief Phillip Pessina and his rise to power.  Interviews with William Shatner and Lynn Baldoni are included.

6)         Baywatch- (TV Land) The number 1 syndicated show in America returns for a very special episode that features former State Representative Jim O’Rourke leaving the scene of a boating accident that left one innocent female dead.  Watch as Mitch and the gang attempt to unravel the threads of guilt in Mr. O’Rourke’s remarks and attitudes after the tragedy. The episode is based on an actual event that took place in Rocky Hill, Connecticut a few years back when the Mr. O'Rourke left a young woman to die after picking her up at a Rocky Hill bar.

7)   I Lead Two Lives- (Documentary/NatGeo) starring Tim Lennox as the once and future Republican/Independent who has composite view points on most social issues.

8)   Mr. Santangelo’s Neighborhood:  (PBS/Children) The producers of Mister Rogers Neighborhood have a new resident in the neighborhood, Mr. Santangelo and his wife Lisa.  Lisa talks to the children about all the important work she does with everybody while Bob follows her around and basically does what is asked of him. "Bob, get the dogs off the bed!"  Special Guest: Darryl Lucas as the Pizza Delivery Boy.

9)        Dateline (NBC/News) Keith Morrison takes a deeper look into the mysterious Connecticut Health Center CEO Mark Masselli and attempts to figure out why somebody in the non-profit field is making over $607, 000 a year.  What is Masselli’s hidden connection with Former Speaker of the house Christopher Donovan? Who paid for Masselli's trip to Tibet and his meeting with the Dali Lama?  The news-team will also conduct interviews with former employees that claim Masselli forced them to give Donavan’s campaign $100.00 donations. 

10)       Growing up Micciulla- ( E! Reality/Style Channel) Follow the adventures of a young Italian man running a massage parlor while running for office and hanging out at the Bada-Bing club.  Early episodes include cameos from: Jimmy Smits, The Lombardo Boyz, Kool Moe D,  James Caan, Big Pussy from The Sopranos and Frank Vincent.

Board of Assessment Appeals member 
 stars in the reality show "Growing up Micciulla"

11)                  Star Trek The Middletown Generation (SyFy)- Starring Councilman David Bauer as Spock, Billy Russo as Captain Kirk and John Killian as Q.  Early adventures include: plans to put the budget in space and beam Tribbles into the Mayor’s office with the hopes that the cute cuddly characters won't be eaten alive.

"Damnit Joe these friggin tribbles!!
Get me appropriation for the Council to rubber stamp STAT!!"

12)                  Dr. Fred Carroll is Dr. Who- (BBC/Drama)-  The traveling Doctor is back for his 50^th year.  This time the 10th Doctor Who morphs into an American, Fred Carroll.  In this episode, the new Doctor plans to grab a broom and sweep up the solar system.When things get rough, the Doctor fights a Demalak and zooms away in the TARDIS call box.

13)                  Who’s Line is it Anyway? - (GSN/Reunion) Anniversary edition that pits the improvisational skills of Richard Pellitier, Joyce Rossittier, Dan Russo and Stephen Devoto against one another.  Watch as the gang goes after Devoto and his selfish agenda of promoting his self as the expense of anyone. Blue House anyone?  Does anybody know what the hell is going on? Does anybody care? 

14)  Sons of the Village- (Fox/FX) From the Kurt Sutter the creator of Sons of Anarchy.  The show returns in October and Sutter promises fans that all plot lines will be resolved. he The creator told TV GUIDE, “Let’s just say that Ed ‘Jax’ McKeon’s team of bicycle riding social vigilantes attempt to defeat a Starbucks drive through proves to be quite interesting as he tosses tofu bars at cars that refuse to honk whenever the villagers are having a protest.”    Sutter also mentions the final story arch will look at the financial motivations behind some of the Villagers actions as they are forced to admit that are indeed capitalists like those they are publicly protesting.

15)                   Judge Joe Gallo (Court TV/30 Minutes)- Yep, another court show on Court TV, makes sense doesn’t it?  The producers claim unlike Judge Judy, Judge Joe Brown, Judge Alex or The People’s Court this show is different- the judge is worse than the defendants.   The first episode brings us inside Gallo’s court house as we watch Bailiff J. Milardo push Gallo’s eyes back in his head, cartoon style after an attractive paralegal walks by.  “This show is so much fun that after I hid my wife from Gallo, I had to pee,” claimed an employee from Call Before You Dig.

16)                  Little Blue House on the Prairie (PBS)- The award winning investigative news show Frontline takes a hard look at a group of creative capitalist people in a small town in Connecticut who claim they are buying and fixing houses for the joy of it and to bring quality folks into the city.  The special asks serious questions with regard to Blue House: Did the 7 principal owners make money off the deal?  What is their real reason (non-Villager political correct) to buying the property other than money? Could this be a case of elitism gone wrong or something more sinister?

17)                  Blue’s Clues: The Case of the Missing Midnight on Main (PBS)-  Host Donavan Patton as Joe sends BLUES on a special mission to figure out who is responsible for killing the Midnight on Main Street dream.  Did  Masselli pull the plug because he was angry at the Mayor? Was it something else, something more devious?  Be on the look out for money clues and other things that spell out C-O-R-R-U-P-T-I-O-N.

18)                   Somalis: When the Time is Right (Spice Channel/Adult Programming)  For $49.99 viewers can watch as the Mayor’s chief of staff Joseph Sherman Howard Somalis shows the world his inner John Holmes as it’s Wonderland all day and Boogey Nights, well, all night in this steam feast that will make Milton Berle’s third leg look small in comparison. 

19)                   The New Odd Couple (CW)- Starring William Wilson and Grady Faulkner as they live together above Vechitto’s Lemon Ice. Tonight’s episode has Billy refusing to do the laundry and watching the game, while in retaliation, Grady buries all the laundry inside Billy’s bed.  The laughs keep on flowing for 30 minutes of quality entertainment on the CW network.

20)                  Walking Dead: Middletown (MSNBC)- From Robert Kirkland and Dan Pickett comes a new chapter in horror.  It seems the voting machines in Middletown have been contaminated with a toxic waste substance which forces the voters to bitch and moan about taxes, jobs, and other important things but vote the same way.  Watch as the voters slowly become zombies and slaves but continue to keep the status quo the same making sure that a plate of JELLO has more smarts than them.

2 Term Treasurer Que Phipps (D)
on the set of the new Middletown "Walking Dead"

Stay tuned for  TV GUIDE PART II!

Legend Elton John Writes Tribute Song to Former GOP Councilmen

In light of the recent events surrounding the decision on part of the Middletown Republican Town Committee not to endorse two incumbent Councilmen for reelection, legendary singer song writer Elton John stopped by the Insider and wrote a special tribute to the councilmen. The Grammy winner stated this was a new original piece, but it feels like we have heard this melody somewhere before.

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Goodbye Phil and Joe

Goodbye Phil and Joe

Though yous should have left long ago

Yous retired as cops, then gave it another shot

Always playing  nice guys who got the top slots

But in your eyes, the GOP tried to bring you down

So yous started on the bipartisan path

And they made you change your dream

And it seems to us, yous lived your lives

Playing ‘yesmen’ in the end

Never knowing who to listen to

When the facts came in

And we would have liked to have understood your logic

But we never will know

Why your party loyalty burned out long before

Your council term ever did

Goodbye Phil and Joe

The GOP created a super slate, but teamwork was the price you paid

When you sold out for pats on the head

Oh but how the Dem’s still betrayed you

And the committee  had to say

Was that Joe and Phil were gone for good

At the end of the day

And it seems to us yous lived your lives

Playing ‘yesmen’ in the end

Never knowing who to listen to

When the facts came in

And we would have liked to have seen your logic

But we never will know

Because your sense of teamwork took a dive right before

Your cooperation ultimately did

Goodbye Phil and Joe

The China trip was all a a freakin’ sham

You praised the boy mayor

And said no problem!  five grand for dim sam

"It's a good way spend taxpayer public monies"

“It’s for the lil’ children excuses” have echoed on long before

The recovery of your lost conservative values ever will

Goodbye Phil and Joe

Baggin your fellow officials to the press is a no no

Claiming only yous twos cares about people is far from true

Bipartisanship is about compromise not giving in

Praising poor judgement, Dannyboy Drew’s lying ways

Having  secret chitty chats with Tommy, always being a no show

Makes people who put yous in office ‘touchy’ at the end of the day

And it seems to us yous lived your lives

Playing ‘yesmen’ in the end

Never knowing it’s your own people are who to listen to

When the facts come in

And we would have liked to have heard that voice in them heads of yours

But we never will know

How your concern for wasteful spending went down the pipes before

Your tenure as minority Grand Poobahas kinda did

Goodbye Phil and Joe
You let the "girls" write a decent budget

Then bagged the proposal on the floor
You endorsed Matty Lesser 'n' hiked up taxes

Joining departments creates more waste 'n' doesn’t add up

Them "girls" always had more balls then yous before

The GOP got it together taking the axes like they did

Goodbye Phil and Joe

From the local GOP

Stop listening to your faulty consciences, 

Maybe the D’s will pick yous up

And let yous play with them

Course that’s hard to say how far you’ll go

To please Zippy and Ol’ Godfather Joe

And it seems to us, yous lived your lives
Playing ‘yesmen’ in the end
Always listening to your misguided consciences
Even when the facts came in

And we would have liked to have understood your logic
But we never will
Your apprehension to grasp reality came out to stay long before
Your realization that the end is here ever will

Full house for dedication of the Katchen Coley Mount Laurel Preserve

Last night at 7pm the Common Council held a special meeting to dedicate the recent open space purchase of 50 acres formally known as the Bellfant property to longtime social, conservation, environmental, and animal activist local Katchen Coley. Over fifteen people spoke in honor of Coley with tales of her dedication to Middletown. Community Health Center CEO Mark Masselli spoke of Coley's perseverance in the founding days of The Connection Inc. and listed numerous occasions were Coley told him "exactly how it is and how it should be."

Rep. Matt Lesser speaks about Katchen Coley

Planning and Zoning Commissioner Beth Emery read a letter on behalf of the other commission members. 

Members of the Wadsworth Mansion Committee, the Rockfall Foundation, the Conservation Commission, the board of The Connection Inc., and the Garden Club of Middletown - all of which Coley is a member of spoke gave accolades on her behalf. Councilmember Joe Bibisi spoke about the brokering of the purchase and his joy in participating to make the dedication happen for Coley. Rep. Matt Lesser, once a tenant of Coley, presented Katchen with the proclamation signed by the mayor and council. Many members of the public, and Councilmen Phil Pessina and Bob Santangelo remarked about the annual daffodil party held at the Coley residence and her own diligence in keeping her property as a natural habitat for wildlife and plants to thrive. A expressed love for Coley's dog Benson who often accompanied her to meetings. Mayor Drew closed the public comment portion of the meeting with remarks.

Katchen Coley spoke at the end of the remarks bringing brevity to the dedication. She jokedly remarked how proud that the GOP members of the council allowed $100k to be drawn from the general fund for a environmental project on her behalf, Coley herself is a republican. Coley chided Masselli about his wife Jennifer Alexander, Kidcity CEO, as being a huge driving force behind changes in Middletown, and that everyone, especially Mark should listen to Jen more often. Coley imbibed the crowd to stay active, speak up,  be good stewards to the earth, and foremost not be afraid of opponents of their views.

As Mayor Delivers Budget Remember Promises Made in 1999 STILL Unfulfilled

Below is a piece written by Ken McClellan Middletown Republican Town Committee Chair reposted here on the Middletown Insider with permission. The piece, which has commentary on an actual piece of Middletown Democrat campaign literature (pictured below) was originally published on the MRTC website in 2009, but is still relevant as now 14 years later many of the same promises from the Middletown Democrats in power are still unfulfilled. 

We felt it was relevant to borrow this post for republishing because on Monday Mayor Dan Drew will deliver his budget raising taxes for citizens. 
We were already told by Drew taxes will be raised .9 mills, however, the actual budget won't be released until tomorrow.

The Common Council (still controlled by many of the same Spendacrat/Serracrats) will get a chance to review the budget- which has more holes than swiss cheese- and eventually vote to adopt or amend. When we as citizens receive the budget, will the promises made by the Democrats in power - most the same as the ones in power STILL today- be fulfilled?
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Promises Made - 1999
In the 1999 campaign, Mayor Dominique Thornton and the Democratic candidates for council made promises to the people of the City of Middletown.  Twelve years later, we're still waiting for results.
Here are the promises, in their words:

Take a few minutes and decide for yourself if they've done the things that they've promised.
Remember the motto:  Progress, not Politics.  Think about recent events in Middletown and on the Council.  Who is working for progress and who is playing politics?